Freakonomics

Treas. Sec. Tim Geithner's claim 11/19 at a heated House hearing that "I can't take responsibility for the legacy of crises" the GOP "bequeathed the country" is running up against a harsh reality: The public and Congress no longer see this as George W. Bush's economy.

-- A new CNN/ORC poll shows just 38% blame the GOP for the current economic problems, down from 53% in May. Dems don't get all the blame (27%), but an increasing number see both parties as culpable. While Geithner gets hit from the left and right, oversight of the stimulus is becoming a bipartisan frustration. Meanwhile, Congress is anxious about going home for the holiday break w/out much to show in the way of work on jobs and the economy. And many are going home to states that have unemployment figures above the nat'l average.

-- Meanwhile, is Chris Dodd regretting that he stuck w/chairing Finance instead of HELP? His regulatory reform bill has fallen flat, w/even some Dems voicing concern over parts of it.

-- Will this growing concern among Dems to pivot to the economy give Harry Reid a boost in corralling his 60-votes this weekend? After all, a vote for cloture helps to at least get the ball rolling. The longer this sits in limbo-land, the tougher it will be for folks like Blanche Lincoln to change the debate in '10.