You can fool 18% of the people . . .

Good news from a survey that isn't explicitly about the election.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Eight in 10 Americans believe that the government's $110 billion effort to help consumers will not boost the economy, according to a poll released Friday.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted April 28-30 found that 82% of Americans believe the stimulus package will fall short - compared to 70% in February.

We can take it as a given that Bush does nothing for the good of the country, so it's obvious that his tax rebate scheme was done to make him and, by extension, McCain, look like Santa Claus. So then, when November rolls around, you'll go to the polls thinking, "These Democrats are going to raise my taxes, whereas Bush and his friends are actually making life better, so I'll vote for McCain."

The good news is that it isn't working. We may have identified how far the rulers can go before exceeding the limits of the credulity of the American people, and this may be it.

Of course, ask me again on November 5.