Washington Post poll: Everything Americans favor is off the table in debt talks

The Washington Post released a new poll today with one basic message: jobs.

Looking at these numbers, Greg Sargent writes:

The poll finds that the number who say Obama made the economy worse is up to 37 percent since October, a period during which the Beltway conversation has focused almost entirely on debt and “grand bargains” and voters have not heard lawmakers talking enough about jobs. Only 29 percent say Obama has made the economy better. Economic pessimism is soaring, with 90 percent saying the economy is not doing well, and a near record number say jobs are hard to find in their area.

It might not be just about jobs when you drill deeper into the poll internals. Here's one question in particular: "In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose [ITEM]? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?"

With one exception, means testing Medicare, everything the public supports is off the table in in the debt ceiling talks, and everything they oppose has been on the chopping block. They want higher taxes on the wealthy, on hedge fund managers, and on oil and gas companies. They do not want cuts to Medicaid, Social Security COLA changes, or raising the Medicare eligibility age. At all.

The debate in Washington over the debt ceiling is so removed from the real life concerns and policy desires of the rest of America that it's a wonder anyone's approval numbers are in double digits.