I'm with Phil.
Yes -- liberals can only win when things are Bad. It is in their interest, therefore, to make everything look as Bad As Possible.
We have 95% employment, the so-called housing crisis has only affected 1/2 to 1% of homeowners and gasoline is still significantly cheaper in the USA than in most of the world. In fact, the raise in prices is starting to have some great positive results: alternatives to oil are becoming feasible and the nation is now paying close attention to the need for energy independence -- something it should have done in the 70s!
Things are good -- but that is NOT the message that can be sent by the MSM, hussein or, apparently, McCain.