The all important poll question in election years - right track or wrong track

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Are you voting For something or Against something? Yes = continue or No = stop.

Chris Mathews just said something along these lines on Morning Joe and I can't say that I disagree with him

Personally, I don't things look good for Democrats RIGHT NOW just because of a confluence of events:

Unemployment rising, the deficit hysteria, the media manipulation of Tea Bagger types, the disenchantment of some of the traditional Democratic base, the Gulf Oil spill, and the continuance and expansion of 2 wars.

This pivot going on with a group of Republicans now positioning themselves as anti-war is fascinating. They have to be seeing polls that say Americans are sick to death of nation building elsewhere as we crumble. Democrats try to prove their "fierceness" and willingness to be war hawks just as the Republican deficit hawks respond to the disconnect of they can't be small government and pro war at the same time and make any sense.

The Democrats have one unassailable asset - they appear to be sane while the Republicans frequently look and sound like lunatics

The Dems and President Obama should IMHO:

Find and capture Osama Bin Laden
Address the COST of healthcare and insurance premiums
Protect Social Security and Medicare
Pass a gigantic JOBS package
Pass extended unemployment with or without Repubs
Address the mortgage crisis in a meaningful way. All the programs passed and promoted so far have done squat.