Democrats notice voters dissatisfied

NY Times:

There may be no better place to measure the shifting fortunes of President Obama and the Democratic Party than in the race being fought here this weekend for the Senate seat that had been held by Edward M. Kennedy.

When Mr. Obama was inaugurated one year ago this week, he and his party had big majorities in the Senate and House, enjoyed the backing of much of the country and were confidently preparing to enact an ambitious legislative agenda. Republicans seemed directionless and the conservative movement exhausted.

This weekend, Democrats are struggling to hang on to a seat held by Mr. Kennedy for 46 years in one of the most enthusiastically Democratic states in the country. Conservatives are enjoying a grass-roots resurgence, and Republicans are talking about taking back the House in November.

As Mr. Obama prepares to come here on Sunday to campaign for the party’s beleaguered Senate candidate, Martha Coakley, Democrats across the country are starting to wonder aloud if they misjudged the electorate over the last year, with profound ramifications for the midterm elections this year and, potentially, for Mr. Obama’s presidency.

Win or lose in Massachusetts, that a contest between a conservative Republican and a liberal Democrat could appear so close is evidence of what even Democrats say is animosity directed at the administration and Congress. It has been fanned by Republicans who have portrayed Democrats as overreaching and out of touch with ordinary Americans.

“It comes from the fact that Obama as president has had to deal with all these major crises he inherited: the banks, fiscal stimulus,” said Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr., the Democrat who holds the Massachusetts seat on an interim basis pending the special election. “But for many people it was like, ‘Jeez, how much government are we getting here?’ That might have given them pause.”

Senator Evan Bayh, Democrat of Indiana, said the atmosphere was a serious threat to Democrats. “I do think there’s a chance that Congressional elites mistook their mandate,” Mr. Bayh said. “I don’t think the American people last year voted for higher taxes, higher deficits and a more intrusive government. But there’s a perception that that is what they are getting.”

...

The Republicans did not stir up this reaction. They are struggling to harness the rage of voters many of whom are planning to take over the party infrastructure. This is a grass roots movement that Democrats cannot blame on anyone but themselves.

It started with the bloated stimulus package which Democrats thought would fix the economic and jobs issues, that have only gotten worse since it was passed. It is evidence of the clear failure of liberalism to create jobs and move the economy.

The Democrats further outraged voters when they insulted and ignored the objections to their health care package as registered at Town Hall meeting in August. They are now noticing the two by four aimed at their majority as voters make it clear they do not want what Democrats are trying to give them.

Obama is dead wrong that they are going to suddenly change their mind after the monstrosity is passed. Everyday it is looking like a special interest bill the Democrats are buying with other peoples money. The union payoff is just the latest example.

They will also make a mistake if they blame what is happening on Coakley and not liberalism. Brown also should be given credit for running a very effective campaign.