how does this make sense?

[Enrique]

someone 'splain it to me.

"French race may be bad omen for Obama"
http://news.yahoo.com/race-french-race-may-bad-omen-obama-163046896.html

Sarkozy on Sunday joined a growing list of leaders swept aside by Europe's economic crisis or by austerity measures hated by voters. Some 11 have now fallen, including Italy's Silvio Berlusconi and Spain's Jose Louis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Sure, many European economies are in worse shape than the U.S. But there are some similarities, including broad voter skepticism on both sides of the Atlantic that government programs are doing much to spur growth or produce jobs.

[abelenkpe]

1. It doesn't

Austerity in the US is pushed by the right. Most voters know that.

Democrats have not exactly been united or aggressive in opposing austerity measures here though. If democrats were smart they would make that distinction clear. I'm not about to accuse them of being smart though.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Because it's a LIE ...

Although I only read the highlighted segment, it directly counters itself. The european election results are a strong indication that the electorate is LESS THAN, or NOT AT ALL, skeptical that government programs do much to spur growth or produce jobs. Rather, these elections indicate that voters are skeptical that austerity measures will spur growth or produce jobs ... and for good reason.

[SoutherDem]

3. It shouldn't but...

I have seen people elected into office (local, state and national) who I would have bet my last dollar would NEVER get into office or would be kicked out of office, yet low and behold the American electorate chose to listen to the media rather than get the information themselves. They watch negative campaign ads, listen to catch phrases and slogans to make their decision. They will vote opposite what is best for themselves with a hope or belief what they have been told is real.

Yes, it is the Republicans who want austerity! Austerity on the poor while giving to the rich.

But does anyone else remember minimum wage earners supporting "trickle down economics"? While at the same time to shift the money up to trickle down took massive cuts to social programs which they depended on.

Truth no longer matters. Belief is what matters. Republicans are too often better at selling beliefs than Democrats are at selling truth.

I don't know one person who is wealthy enough that President Obama's tax plan would raise their taxes one penny but they THINK it will.

I don't know one person who would be hurt by "Obama Care" and many who would be helped but they are against it because "they shouldn't have to pay for someone else's health care".

I don't know one person who owns a weapon which the Obama Administration has wanted to restrict or take but they think they will (want to).

I don't know one person who would receive a tax cut from the Republicans but they think they will, they only hear tax cut and assume they will be included, ok maybe a token one which may give about the cost of one month of cable.

I don't know one person who won't one day may/will need the social programs which the Republicans want to cut but they don't think they will.

I live in a state that is at the bottom of every good list and the top of every bad list, yet we are red and getting redder. Each time I walk in to my polling place (not primaries) I know almost every, if not every candidate I vote for will lose or in the case of the POTUS our electoral votes will go to the Republican.

Most of the people I know are worried about preventing me from marring another man, preventing a woman from having an abortion, keeping creation in public schools while keeping climate change out, making sure no one receives one penny of public assistance, everyone pay for their own healthcare, and freedom to practice their religion while preventing others from doing the same.

With an electorate that those are their values, I would never be surprised who they vote into office.