SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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1. SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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last updated at 09-08-2003 12:19 a.m. (1 times)
When is Enough Enough?
By Jennifer Barrett
Newsweek
Sunday 24 August 2003
Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the U.S. mission in Iraq, saying the United States should reduce its spending and scale back its efforts there, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll.
SIXTY-NINE PERCENT of Americans polled say they are very concerned (40 percent) or somewhat concerned (29 percent) that the United States will be bogged down for many years in Iraq without making much progress in achieving its goals. Just 18 percent say they're confident that a stable, democratic form of government can take shape in Iraq over the long term; 37 percent are somewhat confident. Just 13 percent say U.S. efforts to establish security and rebuild Iraq have gone very well since May 1, when combat officially ended; 39 percent say somewhat well.
Nearly half of respondents, 47 percent, say they are very concerned that the cost of maintaining troops in Iraq will lead to a large budget deficit and seriously hurt the U.S. economy. And 60 percent of those polled say the estimated $1 billion per week that the United States is spending is too much and the country should scale back its efforts. One-third supports the current spending levels for now, but just 15 percent of those polled say they would support maintaining the current spending levels for three years or more.
Against this backdrop, President George W. Bush's approval ratings continue to decline. His current approval rating of 53 percent is down 18 percent from April. And for the first time since the question was initially asked last fall, more registered voters say they would not like to see him re-elected to another term as president (49 percent) than re-elected. Forty-four percent would favor giving Bush a second term; in April, 52 percent backed Bush for a second term and 38 percent did not.
Despite the costs and the continued attacks against both U.S. and United Nations personnel, most Americans support maintaining current military levels in Iraq--for now anyway. Fifty-six percent approve of keeping large numbers of U.S. military personnel in Iraq for two years or less; 28 percent would support a stay of one to two years, while another 28 percent would support a stay of up to one year. Eighteen percent support keeping large numbers of troops in Iraq for three to five years, three percent for six to 10 years, and 11 percent for more than 10 years (just five percent want to bring troops home now).
Sixty-one percent still believe that the United States was right to take military action against Iraq in March; 33 percent do not. But respondents are split on how effective the U.S. war with Iraq has been in fighting Al Qaeda and terrorism in general. Forty-five percent say the war has reduced the terror network's power by removing an oil-rich regime that supported terrorism while 38 percent say the war has actually increased Al Qaeda's power by inspiring a new generation of terrorists to take up arms against the United States and its allies.
"I would have to ask the questioner. I haven't had a chance to ask the questioners the questions they've been questioning". The Resident- Jan.8 2001
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Date: 08-25-2003 on 03:31 a.m. |
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2. Re:SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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last updated at 08-25-2003 03:34 a.m. (1 times)
The failure to capture Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden, and the slow progress in Iraq have also affected Americans' views on the Bush administration's efforts to fight terrorists at home and abroad--but not drastically. A slim majority (54 percent) still approve of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, though Bush had a 74 percent approval rating in his handling of Iraq in mid-April
Fifty-seven percent say Bush is doing a better job than Democrats in finding and defeating terrorists abroad, while 21 percent say Democratic party leaders in Congress are dealing better with terrorists. At the beginning of last year, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed thought Bush was doing a better job than the Democrats on fighting terrorism overseas--just 9 percent gave higher marks to Democrats. Fifty-seven percent say Bush is best at handling the fight against terror at home, down from 74 percent in January 2002. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) now think the Democrats do a better job at handling homeland security, versus 11 percent in January 2002.
The biggest shift in opinion, however, comes in Bush's handling of non-terror issues. A plurality of voters now think the Democratic leaders in Congress have a better approach to dealing with the economy, tax cuts, healthcare, education, social security, the environment and energy policy. In January 2002, more thought Bush had the best approach to handling all the issues above, except the environment.
"I would have to ask the questioner. I haven't had a chance to ask the questioners the questions they've been questioning". The Resident- Jan.8 2001
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Date: 08-25-2003 on 03:32 a.m. |
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since: 03-10-2003
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3. Re:SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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last updated at 08-25-2003 09:04 a.m. (2 times)
Like a cheap aluminum pan, the teflon of 9/11 is wearing off the shrub. George Akerloff, Noibel Prize Laureate, and professor in economics has called "W" the worst president in 200 years. Americans clearly see Akerloff's logic.
Bush's record is like a shadow, the more light is shined on him the clearer becomes the dark failures of he and the right wing nut bags he surrounds himself with. Let us hope and work in 2004 to ensure that the shadow of the shrub never again darkens the threshold of the White House, and threatens the future of America.
-----------------------------------INVESTIGATE, IMPEACH, IMPRISON
mike kohr
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Date: 08-25-2003 on 09:01 a.m. |
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4. NEW ZOGBY POLL IS BAD NEWS TO ROVE & NUM-NUTS |
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last updated at 09-08-2003 12:19 a.m. (1 times)
President George W. Bush’s job performance ratings have reached the lowest point since his pre-Inauguration days, continuing a steady decline since a post-9/11 peak, according to a new Zogby America poll of 1,013 likely voters conducted September 3-5.
Less than half (45%) of the respondents said they rated his job performance good or excellent, while a majority (54%) said it was fair or poor. In August Zogby International polling, his rating was 52% positive, 48% negative. Today’s results mark the first time a majority of likely voters have given the president an unfavorable job performance rating since he took office.
Bush Job Performance
Positive %
Negative %
September 2003
45
54
August 2003
52
48
July 2003
53
46
March 2003
54
45
September 2002
64
36
September 2001
82
17
August 2001
50
49
January 2001
42
36
A majority (52%) said it’s time for someone new in the White House, while just two in five (40%) said the president deserves to be re-elected. Last month, 45% said re-election was in order, and 48% said it was time for someone new.
A like number (52%) said the country is heading in the wrong direction, while 40% said it is the right direction.
Overall opinion of President Bush has also slipped to 54% favorable – 45% unfavorable, compared to August polling which indicated 58% favorable, 40% unfavorable.
Just two in five (40%) said they would choose Bush if the election were held today, while 47% said they would elect a Democratic candidate. In August polling, respondents were split (43% each) over President Bush or any Democratic challenger.
In the same poll, likely Democratic primary voters give a plurality of their support to former Vermont Governor Dr. Howard Dean (16%), whose campaign has been gathering support in recent polling. He is followed by Massachusetts Senator John Kerry (13%), Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman (12%), and Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt (8%). No other candidate polled more than 3%.
"I would have to ask the questioner. I haven't had a chance to ask the questioners the questions they've been questioning". The Resident- Jan.8 2001
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Date: 09-07-2003 on 04:07 a.m. |
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Crockett |
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5. Re:SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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On CNN today, they gave Bush's re-elect numbers. 29% said they would definitely vote for Bush. 41% said they would definitely vote against Bush. 21% said they could go either way with the remainder expressing no opinion.
2004 is coming.
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Date: 09-08-2003 on 01:26 a.m. |
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SUPER-ULTRA GOOD NEWS FROM NEWSWEEK |
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