CNN poll points to a Dem mandate

January 4, 2007

The conventional wisdom suggests the midterm elections were an example of voters telling Washington that they want to see Dems and Republicans working together. It sounds pleasant enough, but Matt Stoller pointed to a CNN poll (.pdf) that suggests what voters really want to see is Dems passing their own policy agenda.

These are results on the support for various policies likely to get a vote this year:

* Allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies to attempt to lower the price of prescription drugs for some senior citizens: 87% support, 12% oppose

* Raising the minimum wage: 85% support, 14% oppose

* Cutting interest rates on federal loans to college students: 84% support, 15% oppose

* Creating an independent panel to oversee ethics in Congress: 79% support, 19% oppose

* Making significant changes in U.S. policy in Iraq: 77% support, 20% oppose

* Reducing the amount of influence lobbyists have in congressional decisions: 75% support, 21% oppose

* Implementing all of the anti-terrorism recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission: 64% support, 26% oppose

* Maintaining the current Social Security system to prevent the creation of private investment accounts: 63% support, 32% oppose

* Funding embryonic stem cell research: 62% support, 32% oppose

* Reducing some federal tax breaks for oil companies: 49% support, 49% oppose

* Changing the rules to allow Congress to create new spending programs only if taxes are raised or spending on other programs is cut: 41% support, 54% oppose

The last one, obviously referring to “pay go” rules, would probably have polled better, if respondents heard a better description of the policy and what it means to the budget process.

But nevertheless, in what’s rumored to be a 50-50 nation, Democratic policy goals have broad support. They’re the kind of results that could, if Dems wanted, have a considerable effect on the process moving forward.

As Stoller noted, “Nine out of eleven of these has more than 2:1 public support. Six out of eleven have 3:1 public support, and four out of eleven has 4:1 public support. This is a popular agenda. In other words, the arguments about bipartisanship put out by Bush, business lobbyists, insiders, and the pundits are just an excuse to ignore the public.”

I think that’s largely true. Results like these suggest the public actually wants Dems to do what they said they would do. This isn’t about how quickly Dems can compromise on their agenda; it’s about delivering a series of progressive policies that enjoy considerable public support.

Kos’ perspective was also helpful.

The Democrats’ number one task is to serve the American people and demonstrate that they are responsive to their needs. That’s our whole reason for existing.

Let the Republicans oppose the Democratic agenda, whine that they’re being shut out.

Republicans shut out the people’s agenda for the last decade. The people finally got fed up and got rid of them en mass.

It’s our time to be responsive. And as the numbers show, it’s not even a close question.

It’s why I think House Republicans are making a mistake by turning the first week into a whine-a-thon. The public has never shown a moment’s interest in congressional procedure. When Dems pass a minimum wage increase, who wants to hear Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) complain, “But I didn’t get to add a bunch of amendments!”

I’m not suggesting Pelosi & Co. rule with an iron fist because they’re offering a popular agenda, but if given a choice between accommodation and accomplishments, particularly right out of the gate, I don’t think it’s a tough choice.

I think Pelosi should rule with an iron fist in a velvet glove (as she always has incidentally).

  • Reducing some federal tax breaks for oil companies: 49% support, 49% oppose

    wow. I never would have guessed that that item would be dead-even. I wonder what the rationale is for supporting the big tax breaks for oil companies. Any guesses anyone?

    Perhaps its a matter of framing: we should refer to it as “ending corporate welfare as we know it” or “corporate welfare reform”.

  • It would be nice if they eliminated the process of adding all kinds of non-relevant amendments to bills anyway. Let’s face it, Republicans are not going to try to build a better bill.

  • Welcome to the first day of the Republican’t Whine-a-thon.
    With any luck we will be hearing the impotent bleating of these losers for years and years.

  • This isn’t about how quickly Dems can compromise on their agenda;

    So to maintain political power Dems have to keep Republicans from diluting their policy initiatives to the greatest extent possible.

  • Republicans shut out the people’s agenda for the last decade.

    Make the Republicans as irrelevant as possible.

  • ON TOPIC: Agreed on all points.

    OFF TOPIC: But something bothers me about these poll numbers. . . why the split on oil company tax breaks?

    Where in the hell does that come from? I need to look at the poll in question but WTF? At a minimum, I would say that stem cell research would be a topic more likely to produce such a split. . .but where does oil company sympathy come from?

    Like I said, I need to go look at the poll in more detail, but?????

  • I never would have guessed that that item would be dead-even. I wonder what the rationale is for supporting the big tax breaks for oil companies. Any guesses anyone?

    Because the minute those tax breaks are taken away is the minute the oil companies just raise prices to make up for it.

    Don’t get me wrong — I’d love to see ALL of those tax breaks yanked away and the companies put on trial for defrauding the government since they’re not paying the appropriate royalties to which they agreed.

    But the simple fact is that until this country’s leaders pull their heads out and find alternative, renewable, and home-brewed energy alternatives, the oil companies have our collective nuts over a barrel.

  • Tax breaks to oil companies.

    Big Oil Welfare Decreased = Gas Prices Increasing.

    No one wants to pay more then we are right now and Big Oil knows it and uses it. Let’s face it, Big Oil is not going to decrease it’s profits.

    By the way, how oil has the war wasted. I have yet to see someone do a study on oil usage in Iraq and how that is decreasing the US supply.

  • These polling numbers point to George W. Bush’s dilemma (and to lesser extent a dilemma for the Republicans in Congress).

    Does Bush go along with all of these issues (except for embryonic stem cell research)–including Iraq–or does he oppose 9 out of 10 of these issues? With his approval poll numbers mired in the thirties, would Bush’s approval rating rise by going with the Democratic agenda or by opposing it?

    I don’t think that Bush gains very much by playing opposition. If Bush and his handlers feel the need to boost his poll numbers, I expect Bush will be more agreeable than in the past. In fact, the Democrats ought to be able to railroad a large part of their agenda through–due to a weaken President Bush. Let’s remember: He is a lame duck.

  • Pelosi should copy Bill Clinton. He was a master of taking Republican ideas and turning them into successful Democratic legislation. That’s a big reason he was so hated by the GOP. That, and their belief that he stole his first term.

  • Reducing some federal tax breaks for oil companies: 49% support, 49% oppose
    Perhaps if the proposal was eliminate all federal tax breaks for oil companies, it would have received overwhelming support.

  • “Has anyone noticed that the Declaration of Independence is mostly just whinging about King George?” – Dale

    Yep, but as you know it wasn’t written until a year after we started fighting the Revolution, so the ‘whining’ was backed by some real effort.

  • I think the public does not support “pay go” because they realize that tax cuts for big business or rich people are never cut, military spending is never cut, the only things that get cut are items that people support like Pel grants, community policing, medical research, Americorp, etc.
    That is why pay go will always be a bad idea. The bridge to nowhere will be built, but support for half way houses for the mentally ill will be eliminated. Pay go will never work unless the general public gets a line item veto (which is not possible).

  • Now if the media would do its job and tell the American people which party supports their values, we’d be all set.

    And if Republicant’s want Dems to be “bipartisan”, then they need to start pushing for things that the American people actually want. If they can’t do that, then why should the Democrats give them the time of day?

    Any complaints? See Cheney’s advice to Leahy.

  • I don’t think Tim Grieve at WAr Room over at Salon got the memo about a Democratic mandate. He’s still saying it was all about Iraq.

  • You’d think we’d be strutting around proclaiming our mandate, wouldn’t you?

    Congressional Dems still have a habit of shrinking back — though many victims of assaults probably share this characteristic….

  • John Edwards knows a lot about poverty, after all, he’s helped throw a lot of people into it with:

    – his co-sponsorship of H-1b visas,

    – his support for illegal aliens,

    – his vote for MFN-China

    but what about stuff like iraq war, and the patriot act?

    well, he voted for them too

    About the only thing you can say for Edwards is, he spent so much time running for president that he didnt have time to do more damage as senator

    You’ve got to ask yourself – ‘what did he do, with the power he had, when he had it?

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