Houston Democrats

It's pretty clear that Americans are coming around to the fact that they aren't better off after four years of complete Republican domination. Unfortunately, this realization came a half-year late. Nevertheless there are always more elections (assuming of course that the rules aren't changed).

Here's a run down of the NBC/WSJ poll:
• 1,005 people were polled.
• There is a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Approval of Congress: 33%
• Down 6 points since April and down 8 since January
• That is the lowest Congressional approval since May of 1994, which was when Republicans first took control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
• 47% to 40% would prefer Democrats controlling Congress after the 2006 elections.

Congress' Priorities not those of Americans:
• Focus on judges, Social Security, Terri Schiavo, and ethical issues (i.e. Tom DeLay) are hurting its perception among average Americans.
• Should be focusing on the economy, gas prices, and health care.

Troubles ahead for Republicans:
• 20% say the economy has gotten better during the past year, an 11-point decline since January.
• 51% removing Saddam Hussein was not worth the cost and casulties of war.
• 36% support Bush's Social (In)Security plan to allow workers to invest in the stock market.

Federal judge nominations:
• 34% believe Senate should approve Bush's nominees if they are honest and competent.
• 56% believe the Senate should make its own decision about the qualities and abilities of each nominee.

Direction of the nation:
• 52% believe it is headed in the wrong direction.
• 35% believe we are on the right path.

Historically the party in power often receives the bulk of the liability when things aren't going so well, particularly in midterms during a second term presidency. However, one of the pollsters said that it isn't so much that the electorate is embracing Democrats, but possibly more that the general public is upset with where the country is today. Yet, if you notice, most of the percentages are outside the margin of error, which means there are some excellent opportunities for Democrats to move ahead and to be competitive with Republicans.

Another of the pollsters cautions that we can't assume that Democrats are a shoe in for the 2006 elections. It's still very early, and it takes more than dissatisfaction to become a viable alternative.

Remember 11-7-2006
WWYD--What Will You Do?