You know all these polls about how happy people are with their lives or the country. I’ll go out on a limb here and say if trump was out of the picture, you’d get a much happier response from folks, much happier!!
I think it also has to do with the fact that it is dawning on many Boomers that they don’t have enough for retirement, that Social Security will cover less than they would like, and that their health is not as good as they expected it to be.
I chalk up much of the dissatisfaction of older folks (and to be clear, I am in my 50s) with poor choices that they may have made in their younger days (e.g. not saving enough, eating too much, not exercising, smoking, etc.) AND with the Republican led destruction of the social safety net, under investment in public infrastructure, and hollowing out of the middle class.
I've become convinced that the MAGA GOPers will never give an honest answer to a pollster. They will always say everything is bad, their lives are miserable, the economy is in the tank, etc. Me? I'm just an old, retired, very happily married retired guy who is enjoying the best years of my life. That kinda messes up the MAGA GOP narrative but -- thank you, Lord -- I'm not a MAGA GOPer.
I enjoyed the POD w/ Mona Charen . Re Haley, it's important to recognize that it's a difficult task to pull voters away from Trump .Christie's full throttle method got him love from the media but few votes. I watch daily as Trump & his cohort sink lower. Did you see Don Jr's vile post re Michelle Obama? There is no depth to which these folks won't sink. For most of my life, pols tried to have some semblance of dignity.Trump showed that there is a ready market for lowbrow , personal attacks. As I've said before, Trump's highest & best use would be as an insult comic in a rundown Vegas lounge.
Separately, I see a couple of folks keep trying to browbeat you into writing views that conform to theirs. I remain happy to read your thoughts regardless of whether I agree.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed a couple of those “comments” above. And I agree with you, I like the Cilizza POV, even when I rarely don’t agree with it.
As you have pointed out, Trump is who he is. He's been consistently an awful person. That, to be blunt, is why so many of his supporters adore him. It speaks to a very, very dark part of American society.
You are so right about that. And other R pols follow in Trump’s footsteps. People like Gaetz, MTG, Boebart , etc insult , lie, and engage in lunatic conspiracy theories , and that’s exactly why they are popular. It’s a sad statement about our country
Nikki Haley is no fool. If Trump gets convicted on criminal charges before the November election, she'll be the only one left standing in the race. If she's got the money to keep going, she will press on. She was the first candidate to announce her run for the presidency, and she is in this for the long haul.
Will Haley endorse Trump if/when she does drop out of the race?
If she ends up endorsing him then these attacks will have been for nothing and actually may have the perverse effect of giving skeptical Republican voters the permission to go ahead and vote for Trump.
I had a very similar thought when Haley blasted Trump for belittling her husband’s service. This was unacceptable but she happily served for him after he trashed John McCain at every possible opportunity. The only thing that has changed is that she wants to be president.
If you're going to hang yourself on your own petard (comments I see at other sites would have me worried if I was you), could you at least do it for something IMPORTANT? Which "Newsflash! Biden is 81!!" is not it. If it was he wouldn't be doing what you report him doing.
You're gone from Hudson Yards, you're not a member of the Cretin News Network anymore! But you continue taking two step forward and three in reverse!
If Dumpy ends up dying from a massive heart attack or stroke (thank you, Golden Arches), or is convicted for one of his many indictments and the RNC decides to replace him, they're not legally bound to choosing his VP pick. I think Nikki Haley is betting that one of those things will happen and she's positioning herself to be his replacement.
And that scares me, because I don't think Pres Biden can beat her. My husband, a conservative, hates Dumpy and won't vote for him, but I think he'd vote for Haley. Just as an example.
I'm 73 years old and have never been asked to participate in a poll. I don't believe in them, frankly. They frequently say people are unhappy with their lives and the direction the country is going in. Guess I'm fortunate. Me, my family and my friends are all doing well and are happy with our lives, and I don't mean just financially.
I, like some of your readers, believe that Haley is hanging on until (god willing) Trump is convicted and in jail. Boy! i sure wish this was a possibility. I think she is waiting for the shoe to drop, but i doubt that the MAGA crowd will nominate her if that happens, they will pick some winner like Jim Jordan.
I totally agree with the reader that identified the cause of our low opinion of our lives. I think i read this in NYTimes, but i am exhausted by Trump. I am like an addict, i can't stop reading this sh*t, but it makes me so unhappy. If Trump were not part of the picture, i think i'd be pretty OK. While I am exhausted by all of this, i will still vote, donate, and work as hard as i can through my local Dem party to make Trump a horrible footnote to history... but gawd, it is really taking a toll on me.
Thank you for the work you are doing. I also read the Bulwark (yes... a lib reading Kristol- i NEVER thought that would happen-he is still a confused person, in my book- but here we are. What was it that Rumsfield said? you go to war with the army you got? i guess Bill Kristol, Mona , Charlie... they are part of the army we got. ) whew!
Haley thought she had a game plan on walking the tightrope, slightly going after Trump but not full throttle. It not only didn’t work but she never really took off. She now has to throw it all out there but it still won’t make a difference, IMO. I guess time will tell.
I’m assuming that Haley is continuing her campaign and going after Trump in order to position herself for 2028. This would require that Trump loses bigly (sorry, couldn’t resist) and Dems take over both chambers of Congress. She then becomes the presumptive fave for 2028.
Iam not being rough with Chris . I know is Gallup's poll. But there are lots more positive and uplifting polls and graphs and charts out there but Chris keep bringing up these phony depressing polls trying to sour the moods of people so that Biden can be blamed for them. Mam, I know Chris has been very rough on Biden especially about his age. You watch and read in between the lines of his posts.You will see what I mean. I honestly wish Chris a BLESSED birthday and less harping on Biden's age
Ok. But do you really think Chris is anti-Biden, & pro Trump or are you just tired of the harping on Biden's age? I don't see that as any nefarious plot on Chris' part, it's his opinion. But maybe I'm wrong and you see it differently. It's late here on the east coast and I'm going to retire. Pleasant dreams, Doctor.
I listened to that Bulwark episode, Chris. Was flabbergasted about the comment about Catholics not supporting Biden. A lot make abortion the only issue to care about especially depending on some bishops. Doesn’t make a difference if Biden is a “faithful Catholic.”
You know all these polls about how happy people are with their lives or the country. I’ll go out on a limb here and say if trump was out of the picture, you’d get a much happier response from folks, much happier!!
I think it also has to do with the fact that it is dawning on many Boomers that they don’t have enough for retirement, that Social Security will cover less than they would like, and that their health is not as good as they expected it to be.
I chalk up much of the dissatisfaction of older folks (and to be clear, I am in my 50s) with poor choices that they may have made in their younger days (e.g. not saving enough, eating too much, not exercising, smoking, etc.) AND with the Republican led destruction of the social safety net, under investment in public infrastructure, and hollowing out of the middle class.
Absolutely!
I've become convinced that the MAGA GOPers will never give an honest answer to a pollster. They will always say everything is bad, their lives are miserable, the economy is in the tank, etc. Me? I'm just an old, retired, very happily married retired guy who is enjoying the best years of my life. That kinda messes up the MAGA GOP narrative but -- thank you, Lord -- I'm not a MAGA GOPer.
same here, Wayne!
I enjoyed the POD w/ Mona Charen . Re Haley, it's important to recognize that it's a difficult task to pull voters away from Trump .Christie's full throttle method got him love from the media but few votes. I watch daily as Trump & his cohort sink lower. Did you see Don Jr's vile post re Michelle Obama? There is no depth to which these folks won't sink. For most of my life, pols tried to have some semblance of dignity.Trump showed that there is a ready market for lowbrow , personal attacks. As I've said before, Trump's highest & best use would be as an insult comic in a rundown Vegas lounge.
Separately, I see a couple of folks keep trying to browbeat you into writing views that conform to theirs. I remain happy to read your thoughts regardless of whether I agree.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed a couple of those “comments” above. And I agree with you, I like the Cilizza POV, even when I rarely don’t agree with it.
Good attitude!
As you have pointed out, Trump is who he is. He's been consistently an awful person. That, to be blunt, is why so many of his supporters adore him. It speaks to a very, very dark part of American society.
You are so right about that. And other R pols follow in Trump’s footsteps. People like Gaetz, MTG, Boebart , etc insult , lie, and engage in lunatic conspiracy theories , and that’s exactly why they are popular. It’s a sad statement about our country
Nikki Haley is no fool. If Trump gets convicted on criminal charges before the November election, she'll be the only one left standing in the race. If she's got the money to keep going, she will press on. She was the first candidate to announce her run for the presidency, and she is in this for the long haul.
Funny you mention this, because you just summed up why I continue to donate $$$ to her.
I agree, Joy!
Here is the essential question though…
Will Haley endorse Trump if/when she does drop out of the race?
If she ends up endorsing him then these attacks will have been for nothing and actually may have the perverse effect of giving skeptical Republican voters the permission to go ahead and vote for Trump.
I had a very similar thought when Haley blasted Trump for belittling her husband’s service. This was unacceptable but she happily served for him after he trashed John McCain at every possible opportunity. The only thing that has changed is that she wants to be president.
Somehow we may need to overlook her transgression.
If you're going to hang yourself on your own petard (comments I see at other sites would have me worried if I was you), could you at least do it for something IMPORTANT? Which "Newsflash! Biden is 81!!" is not it. If it was he wouldn't be doing what you report him doing.
You're gone from Hudson Yards, you're not a member of the Cretin News Network anymore! But you continue taking two step forward and three in reverse!
If Dumpy ends up dying from a massive heart attack or stroke (thank you, Golden Arches), or is convicted for one of his many indictments and the RNC decides to replace him, they're not legally bound to choosing his VP pick. I think Nikki Haley is betting that one of those things will happen and she's positioning herself to be his replacement.
And that scares me, because I don't think Pres Biden can beat her. My husband, a conservative, hates Dumpy and won't vote for him, but I think he'd vote for Haley. Just as an example.
I'm 73 years old and have never been asked to participate in a poll. I don't believe in them, frankly. They frequently say people are unhappy with their lives and the direction the country is going in. Guess I'm fortunate. Me, my family and my friends are all doing well and are happy with our lives, and I don't mean just financially.
I, like some of your readers, believe that Haley is hanging on until (god willing) Trump is convicted and in jail. Boy! i sure wish this was a possibility. I think she is waiting for the shoe to drop, but i doubt that the MAGA crowd will nominate her if that happens, they will pick some winner like Jim Jordan.
I totally agree with the reader that identified the cause of our low opinion of our lives. I think i read this in NYTimes, but i am exhausted by Trump. I am like an addict, i can't stop reading this sh*t, but it makes me so unhappy. If Trump were not part of the picture, i think i'd be pretty OK. While I am exhausted by all of this, i will still vote, donate, and work as hard as i can through my local Dem party to make Trump a horrible footnote to history... but gawd, it is really taking a toll on me.
Thank you for the work you are doing. I also read the Bulwark (yes... a lib reading Kristol- i NEVER thought that would happen-he is still a confused person, in my book- but here we are. What was it that Rumsfield said? you go to war with the army you got? i guess Bill Kristol, Mona , Charlie... they are part of the army we got. ) whew!
Haley thought she had a game plan on walking the tightrope, slightly going after Trump but not full throttle. It not only didn’t work but she never really took off. She now has to throw it all out there but it still won’t make a difference, IMO. I guess time will tell.
I’m assuming that Haley is continuing her campaign and going after Trump in order to position herself for 2028. This would require that Trump loses bigly (sorry, couldn’t resist) and Dems take over both chambers of Congress. She then becomes the presumptive fave for 2028.
Is she attacking Trump to haul in never-Trump cash? Is it just a grift?
You have a good shot of being correct if you assume that anything to do with Republicans is a grift.
In Chris opinion we are an unsatisfied nation. Remember that's Chris Cilliza's opinion/view.
Man, you are really rough on Chris, even on his birthday. It's not Chris' opinion, he's quoting Gallup.
Iam not being rough with Chris . I know is Gallup's poll. But there are lots more positive and uplifting polls and graphs and charts out there but Chris keep bringing up these phony depressing polls trying to sour the moods of people so that Biden can be blamed for them. Mam, I know Chris has been very rough on Biden especially about his age. You watch and read in between the lines of his posts.You will see what I mean. I honestly wish Chris a BLESSED birthday and less harping on Biden's age
Ok. But do you really think Chris is anti-Biden, & pro Trump or are you just tired of the harping on Biden's age? I don't see that as any nefarious plot on Chris' part, it's his opinion. But maybe I'm wrong and you see it differently. It's late here on the east coast and I'm going to retire. Pleasant dreams, Doctor.
For the record, except for this sinus infection, I’m very satisfied.
And Adrianne Lenker is phenomenal.
Me too. Very satisfied
I listened to that Bulwark episode, Chris. Was flabbergasted about the comment about Catholics not supporting Biden. A lot make abortion the only issue to care about especially depending on some bishops. Doesn’t make a difference if Biden is a “faithful Catholic.”