by David Safier
The January 20 NY Times/CBS News Poll (analysis here) says people don't especially care about lowering the deficit right now, would rather see cuts to the military than to Medicare or Social Security, and would rather see the rich pay more for Medicare and get lower Social Security benefits than change things for the rest of us like raising the eligibility age or cutting benefits.
Amazingly, even Republicans tend to agree, though at lower rates than Democrats and Independents.
Republicans always have bluster and sound bites on their side, but it looks like Democrats have public opinion going for them in these debates. Here's a thought. Maybe Dems can take strong stands people agree with and keep fighting the Republican onslaught of money and rhetoric. We might just win the argument and let people see whose interests the Rs are fighting for.