[Capt. Tom]

Our nation is a consumer nation. Ahead of principals and social issues, most of the electorate will vote on personal economic issues.

Well said.

A recent example is the Clinton impeachment. The reason Clinton survived was because peoples 401s were soaring, and the public didn't want To take a chance on throwing him out because that might cause the market to nosedive.

Had we been in a deep recession Clinton would have gotten the boot. - Tom

[backtothestreets]

Thanks for finding credence in my reply to the initial post.  Know what's encouraging? Someone in the press is reading posts to this site. I give coincidence little credit that the article "Gas Prices Taking Priority in Campaign" by CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer, was just released in the last hour.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAS_PRICES_POLITICS

Free Republic is more than a site where people of like beliefs can share their thoughts with one another.  It is a place to raise concerns, and ultimately, make the general population aware of those concerns.