Opinions

The 'Politically Obsessed' and the Rest of Us


The Tuesday winners in Florida’s gubernatorial primary elections will offer Sunshine State voters a stark philosophical choice. Conservative Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) will face Sandernista Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee.

But Floridians and voters elsewhere may not have much interest in such choices. Pollster Scott Rasmussen writes today:

For many obsessed with politics, the upcoming midterm elections are perceived as a fight between good and evil that will determine the fate of the nation… Most Americans (54%) don’t fit into that narrative. Just 27% Strongly Disapprove of the president and believe things would be better if Hillary Clinton had been elected. On the other side, 19% Strongly Approve of the president and believe things would be worse if Hillary Clinton was living in the White House today. The rest have more mixed views.

This eight-point advantage among committed voters is the reason that Democrats are expected to do well in the midterm elections this November. In the House of Representatives, likely outcomes range from Democrats falling just short of winning control to a Big Blue Wave earning a significant majority.

The final outcome may be determined by a group of voters that neither political team can begin to comprehend… Like most Americans, these voters overwhelmingly recognize that Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have had a bigger impact on the world than presidents of the United States. Perhaps their ambivalence about who is president simply reflects confidence in the belief that culture and technology lead while politicians lag behind.

Or perhaps it’s just a lack of faith in the political process. Only about 11% of them trust the federal government to do the right thing most of the time. Seventy-two percent (72%) believe that government agencies use their power to influence elections… These voters aren’t fans of the president—just 29% approve of the job he’s doing and only 19% believe he is a good role model. But, nearly half (45%) believe he is at least as ethical as most politicians.

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The Trump cut in the federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% is working better than previously reported.

The theory behind the December law, based on numerous studies conducted over a decade by current Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett and others, was that lower rates trigger more investment by businesses. This investment in turn makes workers more productive and allows them to earn more money.

The Commerce Department reports that economic growth in the second quarter was even stronger than originally estimated and the Journal notes that among the highlights is “fixed nonresidential investment rising at a 8.5% annual rate, up from an earlier estimate of 7.3%.”

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In a note to clients today, Greg Valliere of Horizon Investments assesses North American trade negotiations:

There really isn’t a done deal with Mexico, just an agreement in principle, and there isn’t a done deal with the EU, just a pledge to keep talking. Donald Trump often declares victories before there are any details (see: North Korea), but he generates momentum and right now his next target is Canada.

Trump’s relations with Justin Trudeau are chilly but the Canadian Prime Minister, facing elections next year, is under tremendous pressure to agree – at least in principle – to a deal by Friday. Trudeau will have to cave on dairy subsidies and a dispute resolution mechanism, which could embarrass him politically, but if he doesn’t Trump is prepared to go it alone with Mexico – while sharply increasing tariffs on Canadian autos coming into the U.S.

So we would put odds at slightly better than 50 percent that Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland will agree to something before this Friday’s deadline, which then would give Congress 90 days to consider NAFTA changes before a new government takes power in Mexico.

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Bottom Stories of the Day

He Still Hasn’t Built That
“Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at his foundation’s South Side offices on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the future of his presidential center and, in part, to assure residents that although there have been delays, he is pressing forward with plans to build the facility,” Chicago Tribune, August 29

The Year They Stopped Calling Him a ‘Maverick’
“Study: McCain coverage mostly negative,” Politico, October 22, 2008

No Need to Call Saul
“Lab: 13 pounds of white powder seized is sugar, not fentanyl,” WECT, August 29

Longest Books Ever Written
“Why Trump Sees Bias at the Justice Department,” RealClearPolitics, August 26

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Follow James Freeman on Twitter.

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(Teresa Vozzo helps compile Best of the Web. Thanks to Lisa Rossi, Wes Van Fleet, Clifford Crouch and Alan Kuska.)

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Mr. Freeman is the co-author of “Borrowed Time,” now available from HarperBusiness.





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