by Calculated Risk on 4/21/2005 02:36:00 AM

"There are serious pocketbook issues lurking in America," said Rep. Jim Leach (R- Iowa).

On the front page of Thursday's Washington Post is this analysis by Weisman and Balz, "Economic Worries Aren't Resonating on Hill" The authors make the argument that main street concerns are being ignored by Washington and the media.

The disconnect between pocketbook concerns of ordinary Americans and the preoccupations of their politicians has helped send President Bush's approval ratings on the economy down, while breeding discontent with Congress.

And more:

"Many are rather upset at the Terri Schiavo issue," [Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Michigan)] said, even "moderately pro-life" voters. "I'm getting a lot of the, 'Why are you spending time on that when we don't have jobs?' type of thing."

In Michigan, jobs and the economy have vaulted to the No. 1 concern of 34 percent of voters, with the closest other issues, health care and education, at a distant 15 percent, said Ed Sarpolus, an independent Michigan pollster. "I haven't seen anything like that since the early '90s and crime," he said.

And this piece only scratches the surface of the serious economic challenges facing America.