Yesterday both Arianna and KOS said "It's not the economy". It IS the economy!

Bonddad in My Left Wing:

First, Iraq/terrorism were always number 1 with "what issue concerns you most" or similar questions. However, the economy was always the second most important issue to people in the latest three polls. And the economy was the most important issue in an ABC news poll from September 5-7.

So - the economy is not the most important issue, but certainly not the least important issue either. Why is that? Well - how about we ask Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean who wrote an editorial yesterday in the Wall Street Journal?

Under Mr. Bush and the Republican Congress, incomes today are $1,000 less for the typical household than during Bill Clinton's final year in office; incomes for the typical working-age household have declined every year since the president took office. Black and Hispanic households have fared worse over the same period: Black household income has fallen every year, after rising every year (except for a one-year $60 dip) under Mr. Clinton. Incomes for Hispanic households are down $1,000, after rising more than $7,000 under Mr. Clinton.

Incomes have fallen because wages -- which provide 75% of income for typical families -- are stagnant for most workers. Under Mr. Bush, wages for college-educated workers increased only 1.3% between 2000 and 2005, as compared to 11.3% during Mr. Clinton's last five years. For the nation's lowest-paid workers, the situation is even worse, as the minimum wage is worth less now than at any time in at least 50 years.

Continued