DEMOCRACY SUCKS IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT:

Poll Finds Voters Against Obamacare, as Trust in Democrats Drops (Peter Roff, 8/14/09, Thomas Jefferson Street blog)

The summer congressional recess brings with it a bit of good news for the GOP. Pollster Scott Rasmussen reports that, "for the first time in over two years of polling, voters trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats on the handling of the issue of healthcare," 44 percent to 41 percent. [...]

Voters also don't like the specifics of the healthcare reform plan Congress is currently working on, also with the backing of the White House. Support for it has fallen "to a new low," with just 42 percent of U.S. voters now in favor of it. That represents a five-point decline in support just in the two weeks since the recess began.

Tempers fray as middle America finds its voice (Edward Luce, August 14 2009, Financial Times)

Something peculiar is happening at the grassroots level in America. Initially dismissed by Democrats as artificial “Astroturf” protests – because they were allegedly organised by groups opposed to universal healthcare coverage, such as Conservatives for Patients Rights – hundreds of ordinary voters are now being turned away at local meetings.

Many belong to organisations that oppose abortion or assisted suicide, which many inaccurately believe are sponsored by the healthcare bill taking shape in the House of Representatives. But others are ordinary citizens – almost always white, blue-collar workers – who are suffering from the recession and feel deep anger towards the federal government in general.

Obama criticizes media coverage of town halls (CAROL E. LEE, 8/14/09 , Politico)

Obama decried the media’s focus on contentious town halls and said the scenes that have been airing on cable TV are not representative of the many calm meetings being held across the country. “TV loves a ruckus,” Obama said.

You know, Rahm Emanuel works right next to the poor guy. You'd think he could explain that he recruited a bunch of conservatives to run for House seats because it was the only way the party could win a majority.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 14, 2009 4:07 PM