OBAMA POLLING BADLY ON DEBT-CEILING, BUT GOP NOT WINNING THE ISSUE: “It’s no surprise that even President Obama doesn’t get majority support on this issue. Given the generally public distaste for raising the debt ceiling to begin with, they’re likely not pleased with anyone just about now. Nonetheless, the GOP’s hardline would seem to be appealing to the ‘no debt ceiling increase’ crowd. And, yet, that doesn’t appear to be the case. The GOP should take that as a warning, I think.”

Why doesn’t the GOP propose a 5% across-the-board cut in spending? I doubt that very many voters will believe that there’s not 5% that can be cut in any department of the federal government, and compared to the cuts most households have made it’s minor indeed. Then they could do it again next year . . . .

UPDATE: Prof. Stephen Clark emails: “Until I hear a better explanation, I’m inclined to your ‘not enough opportunities for graft’ as the best explanation for no one in DC proposing an across-the-board 5% cut or the like in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.” Probably right.

ANOTHER UPDATE: CBS’s sample includes only 24% Republicans, so maybe the GOP isn’t polling as badly as it seems. At least, if they have to resort to that kind of chicanery to get a good number, you have to wonder. . . .