With a nod to Bill Buckley, I’d rather have economic policy set by the first 400 people in the Boston phone directory than by Larry Summers. If you needed further reason to subscribe to this view, there is this:

In the new poll released this week, 55% said that “increasing taxes on any Americans will slow the economy and kill jobs,” CNBC said. Only 40% said the Bush-era tax cuts should be canceled for higher earners, as President Barack Obama advocates. … The CNBC poll also showed significant erosion of support for placing more regulation on business. Eighteen months ago, 47% said increased regulation would be good for the economy. Now, only 34% say so. In addition, 55% of Americans said Obama’s overall economic plans have made things worse so far.

Meanwhile, Obama is trying to change the subject. But, alas, the new topic isn’t a winner: “President Barack Obama sought Wednesday to reintroduce his signature health-care bill to voters who don’t much like it or even understand it six months after he signed it.”

I’m not sure what Obama is accomplishing on behalf of Democratic candidates at this point. If anything, he is reminding voters that they don’t like his economic policies, never wanted ObamaCare, and would rather he didn’t raise taxes. Maybe an overseas trip would be preferable. (Not to Israel, of course. Catcalls and whistles from Israeli protesters wouldn’t look so great on the evening news.) As far as Democrats are concerned, the longer the better.