Budget Blues: Wirthlin survey reports 69 per cent of Americans believe country is “on the wrong track”—highest percentage since Carter Administration. George Bush’s approval rating now down to 48 per cent, lowest during his tenure, from mid-August high of 76 per cent. Some 56 per cent disapprove of the President’s handling of the economy. . . . Evans & Novak reflect on budget deal: “the reluctance by Democrats to really cut back on domestic spending is now fully confirmed.” Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder on Democratic chairman Ron Brown’s support of budget: “With whom did you speak before you put the Democratic Party in favor of a backroom tax deal which puts the biggest burden on the middle class and those with moderate means?” . . . Deal has also split GOP. At meeting of Republican House members, E&N found many incensed with Minority Leader Bob Michel, who reminded attendees that party is minority and therefore cannot expect to control policy. … In making case for more Republicans in Congress, Bush argued it’s tougher working with Democrats than with members of his own party, “no matter what little philosophical wing of the party they’re from.” . . . Human Events reports Bush would not accept resignation of HUD Secretary Jack Kemp over budget fiasco for fear Kemp would be harmful to President as outside antagonist.
Talk is Elizabeth Dole’s move from Labor Department is step toward running for office in her home state of North Carolina, for either Senate or statehouse. . . . Conservatives in California are urging that Jack Kemp— born and raised in Golden State—consider a 1992 run for Senate. Field poll shows Alan Cranston, up for re-election in 1992, with a 67 per cent disapproval rating. . . . The state will soon have 52 House members, or 12 per cent of total; combined with Texas and Florida, the three will hold more than a quarter of the 435 House seats. Over the past decade, California gained as many new residents per year as South Dakota has (approx. 700,000). . . . Support for limiting number of terms for members of House and Senate is now stronger than ever. Movement to defeat “careerism” in Washington is fueled by what political consultant Eddie Mahe calls “a sheer frustration with a system that seems out of control or totally frozen, with so many special interests controlling so much of it.” Opponents, like Nelson Polsby of the University of California, say, “Term limits merely guarantee that the good will disappear along with the bad.” He adds that 55 per cent of representatives who held office in 1980 are no longer in office. Both Bush and Vice President Quayle are in favor of limiting terms.
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