Poll: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis

[웃 910]

Poll: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

Americans are unimpressed with their political leaders' handling of the debt ceiling crisis, with a new CBS News poll showing a majority disapprove of all the involved parties' conduct, but Republicans in Congress fare the worst, with just 21 percent backing their resistance to raising taxes.

President Obama earned the most generous approval ratings for his handling of the weeks-old negotiations, but still more people said they disapproved (48 percent) than approved (43 percent) of what he has done and said.

Tune into the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley at 6:30 p.m. for the full poll results.

CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports there was no visible progress over the weekend, despite

warnings from debt rating agenciesthat the nation's credit rating could drop, even if there is a deal, if government spending isn't cut.

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Congressional leaders' inability to convince their own party members that concessions are necessary is likely driving the dismal approval for lawmakers involved in the testy negotiations.

Approval drops to 31 percent for the Democrats in Congress, and only 21 percent of the people surveyed said they approved of Republicans' handling of the negotiations, while 71 percent disapprove.

Even half of the Republican respondents (51 percent) voiced disapproval of how members of their own party in Congress are handling the talks. Far fewer Democrats expressed disapproval of their own party's handling (32 percent) or President Obama's (22 percent) of the urgent quest to raise the nation's debt limit ahead of a looming default on Aug. 2 if action isn't taken.

The Obama administration has pointed to the warnings from rating agencies as evidence that not raising the debt ceiling could have severe consequences for the economy, and even suggested the government might not be able to make Social Security payments if there's no agreement.

However, some remain skeptical; 36 percent said the administration is trying to scare people by painting the potential outcome if the debt ceiling is not raised as more dire than it really is. But slightly more, 40 percent, say the administration's warnings are valid.

While the poll shows little confidence in the men and women doing the negotiating, there still seems to be hope that the politicians will be able to stop politicking for long enough to avert financial disaster.

Sixty-six percent of those polled said they believe an agreement will be reached before the Aug. 2 deadline, while only 31 percent say it's unlikely.

http://www.cbsnews.c...250-503544.html

Edited July 18, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Funny how the Repubs got elected to the majority in the house by promising to do exactly what they are doing. Imagine that. Which poll do you take to be more accurate?

[dalegg 143]

What's amazing here is that what the GOP has offered to the President actually IS a compromise. There are members of the Republican party who are saying they will not raise the debt limit no matter what- even if the increase is matched dollar for dollar with cuts and there are no tax increases even amongst the rich.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have members of the Democratic party who not only want higher taxes on the wealthy, but are advocating more government spending to try once again to stimulate the economy.

Good luck!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Shut it down. Shut it all down.

I wonder how many are disapproving, because the Republican leadership is trying to raise the debt limit, without any real spending cuts. Even Erskine Boyles says the most draconian proposal under consideration won't even put a down payment on the problem.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What's amazing here is that what the GOP has offered to the President actually IS a compromise. There are members of the Republican party who are saying they will not raise the debt limit no matter what- even if the increase is matched dollar for dollar with cuts and there are no tax increases even amongst the rich.

So, you're saying that the GOP offering a raise of the debt ceiling in and of itself constitutes compromise? Even when a clear majority of the GOP caucus and a clear majority of GOP voters are clearly sane enough to know that NOT raising the debt ceiling is not an actual option? So, by offering to not go along with their insane, lunatic fringe which is hell-bent on destroying this country they are offering a compromise? Are you for real?

[dalegg 143]

So, you're saying that the GOP offering a raise of the debt ceiling in and of itself constitutes compromise? Even when a clear majority of the GOP caucus and a clear majority of GOP voters are clearly sane enough to know that NOT raising the debt ceiling is not an actual option? So, by offering to not go along with their insane, lunatic fringe which is hell-bent on destroying this country they are offering a compromise? Are you for real?

That's what I'm saying.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That's what I'm saying.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Of course, everybody is still waiting to see the President's plan.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's what I'm saying.

That's not compromise. Pushing the US economy over the cliff cannot be a starting position that anyone should have any reasonable expectation of being considered such. A starting position may be - all cuts at least dollar for dollar the ceiling is raised. Another starting position may be - new revenues dollar for dollar the ceiling is raised. And then you work it from there. No serious position can include the default on the faith and credit of the US government. If that's your starting position, you're a nut that should not be sitting at the table. It would be akin to Democrats going into this demanding a 99% tax on the top earners. Would you take that seriously and then consider them having offered a compromise if they bring that rate down to 50%?

Edited July 19, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[dalegg 143]

It would be akin to Democrats going into this demanding a 99% tax on the top earners. Would you take that seriously and then consider them having offered a compromise if they bring that rate down to 50%?

You've never seen my wife bargain in Vietnam. That sort of compromise is not unheard of.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You've never seen my wife bargain in Vietnam. That sort of compromise is not unheard of.

I've seen my wife bargain at Merkato (the largest open air market on the African continent). Or here at JC Penney or anywhere else she shops. I know exactly what you mean. But never has she started at the unreasonable position that she'll "buy" the item she was interested in for nothing at all. Obviously, nobody that wants to actually make a deal would entertain a negotiation with the other side holding such a ludicrous starting position. See what I mean?

[dalegg 143]

I've seen my wife bargain at Merkato (the largest open air market on the African continent). Or here at JC Penney or anywhere else she shops. I know exactly what you mean. But never has she started at the unreasonable position that she'll "buy" the item she was interested in for nothing at all. Obviously, nobody that wants to actually make a deal would entertain a negotiation with the other side holding such a ludicrous starting position. See what I mean?

I understand what you're saying, but I'm telling you that by agreeing to raise the debt limit the GOP is essentially ignoring a substantial caucus in their own party- including at least one Presidential candidate. If they were to go further and actually go back on their no-taxes stance, that would create an actual war in the party- and probably- not possibly - probably - splitting it.

Now imagine that the economy does not substantially improve by the next elections. The caucus you have thrown under the bus is now even more popular amongst the base and their candidate wins the primary. So, either two things happen. You hand the President another 4 years because your candidate is too far too the right to win, or you as Speaker of the House is at odds with the President of the United States, who happens to be a member of your own party.

So yes, this is a serious compromise. It's probably as far as it goes, which is why they are now wasting their time drafting this balanced-budget ammendment. There is no where else to go. I would be absolutely shocked if they offer any sort of tax hikes.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm telling you that by agreeing to raise the debt limit the GOP is essentially ignoring a substantial caucus in their own party- including at least one Presidential candidate.

There is no way around raising the debt ceiling. That's reality. If the GOP has a substantial portion of their party and some of their presidential candidates living in la-la-land and they can't get these people to accept what's going on in the real world but rather are left impotent to make governing decisions, then the party isn't fit to govern. All it can and wants to do, then, is push our and the world's economy into the abyss. It's really just that simple. That will be the choice voters will face next year.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[dalegg 143]

There is no way around raising the debt ceiling. That's reality. If the GOP has a substantial portion of their party and some of their presidential candidates living in la-la-land and they can't get these people to accept what's going on in the real world but rather are left impotent to make governing decisions, then the party isn't fit to govern. All it can and wants to do, then, is push our and the world's economy into the abyss. It's really just that simple. That will be the choice voters will face next year.

You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

71% of the American voters don't know the difference between debt ceiling, national debt and deficit.