A reader writes:
Yes, the public is incredibly discouraged about the economy and extremely angry at Washington. What everybody seems to be missing, though, is that the American people did this (created the dysfunction in DC) to ourselves. We voted for Barack Obama in 2008, then turned around and elected a huge number of radically conservative (actually, not conservative at all – reactionary) Republican House members in 2010. What did people think was going to happen? Was there any thought put into the implications of doing this? I’m not willing to just blame the Beltway; I also blame the American voter. We live in a democracy, and elections matter.
Another quotes me:
"It's also useful to see how even despite the horrific numbers, Obama is still beating or matching his likeliest GOP opponents, even if he is slightly trailing a generic Republican." You are right to focus on the specific head-to-head polls. The "generic Republican" number, while not meaningless, is not terribly important.
That question is effectively asking: "Can you imagine a Republican candidate whom you would prefer to Obama?" Apart from committed Democrats, the answer to that is always more likely to be "yes" than "no." Committed Republicans will always say "yes" to that question, and many independents will fantasize about their vision of an ideal candidate – perhaps a fiscally conservative, but socially moderate, reality-based, non-pandering candidate. The sort of candidate who is in the low single digits among Republican primary voters. Ideal candidates don’t run; real ones do. That’s why Obama’s numbers rise 6-7 points when pitted against real candidates.
The problem for Obama comes down to this: How does he both point out how insane the mainstream of the GOP has become and maintain his reputation as the mature, bipartisan, consensus builder? I think he has thus far erred on the side of the latter. If you fail to call out extremism, its unchallenged persistence leads to its acceptance and it becomes normalized. While I agree that Perry seems too extreme now, will he continue to seem so a year from now? Especially if Obama continues to blame "Congress" and "Washington," focusing not on GOP extremism but on a process argument that makes both sides seem equally responsible?
Tonight may be his last chance to draw clear lines between responsible political leadership and what Chris Christie rightly called "the crazies." If he fails to do so, I fear for his chances in 2012.
My take here.
The Dish 