WP: Optimism High About Obama Policies

What a shocking revelation from the DNC’s house organ, the Washington Post:

Optimism High About Obama Policies, Poll Finds

Majorities Concur on Economy, but Rifts Abound on Initial Priorities

By Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta
Sunday, December 21, 2008; A01

Most Americans are optimistic about the policies that Barack Obama will pursue when he becomes the country’s 44th president next month, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, and there is a widespread public desire that he quickly expand his focus beyond the economy, the dominant issue facing the country.

Majorities think Obama should help make major changes to the health-care system, enact new energy policies and institute a moratorium on home foreclosures. Majorities expect him to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, improve health care and turn around America’s image abroad…

Large majorities want Obama to pursue a wide range of issues besides the economy, including 84 percent who want him to drive an effort to require electricity companies to increase the use of renewable sources of energy. A majority, 55 percent, want him to tackle the issue right after taking office in January…

There is also bipartisan agreement that the federal government should increase spending on children’s health insurance, which President Bush twice vetoed last year before signing an extension to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which expires in March.

A majority want Obama to make big changes to the country’s health-care system, with 63 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of independents saying they want the changes right away…

One item on Obama’s agenda that few said he needs to pursue in the short term is the shuttering of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Only among Democrats do a majority want him to attempt to close the facility, and even among them, more said he should do so later in his presidency…

Nearly seven in 10 are optimistic about Obama’s overall policies, including substantial percentages of Republicans and those who backed GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in last month’s election (45 and 39 percent, respectively).

More than two-thirds said they think Obama will be able to make significant improvements to the health-care system, and as many expect him to implement policies to reduce global warming — which 75 percent said he should, including half of Republicans. Sixty-four percent of all those polled said Obama will be able to end U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Slightly fewer than half said they think Obama will be able to do a "great deal" or "good amount" to turn around the economy, but substantial proportions across party lines expect him to make an impact on economic problems that have been years in the making. More than half, 55 percent, think he is off to a good start dealing with the economy.

Overall, Obama’s work on the transition gets high marks — 76 percent approve of the way he is handling it…

Isn’t it funny how suddenly “vast majorities” now overwhelmingly favor ever single point of the radical liberal Democrat agenda.

You have to wonder why Mr. Obama only got 52 percent of the vote just a few weeks ago.

More than half, 55 percent, think he is off to a good start dealing with the economy.

Obviously this was a highly scientific poll among highly informed citizens.

Anyway, why should we worry? Happy days are here again, now that the Anointed One is about to ascend.

And even if we aren’t entering a new Golden Age, the media will never tell us otherwise.

After all, they have their job to do.