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Nearly three out of four Americans think that at least half of the money spent in the federal stimulus plan has been wasted, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday morning also indicates that 63 percent of the public thinks that projects in the plan were included for purely political reasons and will have no economic benefit, with 36 percent saying those projects will benefit the economy.
Time's Joe Klein agrees with Americans it was wasted alright - on them:
Indeed, the largest single item in the package--$288 billion--is tax relief for 95% of the American public. This money is that magical $60 to $80 per month you've been finding in your paycheck since last spring. Not a life changing amount, but helpful in paying the bills.
...It is very difficult to have a democracy without citizens. It is impossible to be a citizen if you don't make an effort to understand the most basic activities of your government. It is very difficult to thrive in an increasingly competitive world if you're a nation of dodos.
But Mr. Klein, I do make an effort to understand government - I look to CNN!
But political analyst Jennifer Donahue thought the [SOTU] speech was "very underwhelming."
...Donahue said the speech would have resonated better if it focused more on "tax cuts that have teeth" instead of deficit reduction over the next 10-20 years.
So, the precincts aren't closed yet, but the numbers are starting to gel. Obama's winning big, Edwards and Clinton are fighting it out for second, but a far distance behind the Senator from Illinois.
All Precincts Reporting
Senator Barack Obama : 37.58%
Senator John Edwards : 29.75%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.47%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.11%
And as a reward for having to tune into the talking heads for info on Iowa, a priceless screengrab from the CNN.com webstream when they were yakking about what comes next:
I wasn't going to blog about Dodd's brilliant move in creating a YouTube question for the GOP debate, because, well, Team Dodd has been consistently ahead of the game with New Media, and this is just another chapter in that story:
But this really drives me up a wall:
But based on what David Bohrman, executive producer of the debate, told us last week, Mr. Dodd's question won't seriously be considered for prime time. CNN and YouTube want to keep the focus away from Democratic talking points, and anyway, the senator is too famous.
Something's happened to Dennis Kucinich. There's a newfound confidence; a deeply resigned, yet boldly assertive tone gathering in his voice. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's his recent progress in major polls and grassroots support. Maybe it's the fighter coming out, now that impeachment has gained some life. Maybe it's the realization that a majority of Americans side with him on the issues and that he is the one pushing this party back to the people. Or maybe it's that he's been the candidate who has best exercised the leadership and judgement on huge issues, such as Iraq, the Patriot Act, Iran, Trade, and Impeachment.
We cannot forget who we are. We are a nation of, a nation welcoming and built by immigrants. And though this Administration wants to divert attention from its current mistakes, we cannot forget who we are in the process. To Dennis Kucinich, America means "give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses...". To Dennis Kucinich, in an open and free democratic nation there must be a path to citizenship. To Dennis Kucinich, there is no such thing as an illegal human being.
Growing up in New York I was a serious hockey fan. (Anybody remember the N.Y. Islanders' dynasty of the early 1980s?) Watching hockey on TV is an excruciating experience: the camera's angle of view is either too wide to see the puck or too narrow to see the unfolding play. It turns out that presidential candidate debates have the same property. On TV a debate looks about as dynamic as a police lineup. In person it's a whole 'nother story.
I had the good fortune to attend the Democratic presidential debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester last night, where the event was staged, appropriately enough, inside the school's ice rink. After talking my way past a dozen mostly-friendly cops I was able to park just a few feet from the entrance to Sullivan Arena. That gave me time to photograph the zoo of protesters, activists, volunteers, press, and hangers on outside. (My year-old Mac laptop chose today to start freezing every few minutes, so the posting of those images will be delayed.)
Meanwhile, Political Wire has learned that although the position of the candidates on stage was supposed to be according to random drawing, the leading three Democrats -- John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- will be in the center and next to each other, providing for some possible "made-for-televison" exchanges.
Well, whatever. If they really want made-for-television moments they should let Gravel be the moderator.
I am looking forward to this though, the first real debate. Will it be better run than the last event, which fleshed out the real story on the hair of Edwards and cited LTEs as question sources?
Well, yeah. This is New Hampshire, right?
Blue Hampshire will have Elwood there as press, and the rest of us liveblogging here. Stop by about a half hour before it starts...
(If this is true, it cannot stand. - promoted by Mike)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Mike Gravel has apparently been excluded from the New Hampshire debates. Gravel previously has appeared at various Democratic debates and forums along with the other candidates.
