Domestic Issues Hurt Bush in Poll

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29858-2004Jan19?language=printer ^

[Bush Cheney]

President Bush delivers his State of the Union address tonight to an American public that has become broadly dissatisfied with his domestic agenda, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found that, on the eve of his annual address to Congress, Bush continues to enjoy a huge advantage over Democrats on matters of national security, besting them by 2 to 1 in the fight against terrorism and by nearly as broad a margin on his handling of the conflict in Iraq.

Bush's speech tonight will address this anxiety by giving greatest emphasis to his domestic proposals. Aides said the president will reverse the order of his annual address from last year -- when he closed with the case for war in Iraq -- to put his closing emphasis on domestic issues such as health care, the economy, Social Security and immigration.

[anniegetyourgun]

Welcome to FR. Also here.

[AmishDude]

Why'd ya change the title?

[over3Owithabrain]

Funny how Bush seems to enjoy big leads in areas where he has sharply disagreed with Dems/libs (foreign affairs, taxes). Where he kisses up (education, other domestic issues) he is weaker. Too bad he and Rove haven't figured that out yet.

[Terpfen]

President Bush delivers his State of the Union address tonight to an American public that has become broadly dissatisfied with his domestic agenda...

Too much liberalism for the conservatives, not enough liberalism for the liberals themselves. Though I think here the Washington Post is right, but for the wrong reasons: it's trying to paint Bush in a negative light, but not because his targeted voting blocs aren't satisfied with his agenda.

[Keith]

Approve 58, dissaprove 39....the only figures that count...the rest is wishful thinking by the WaPost.

[LS]

Unbelievable headline. 58% is landslide territory, yet the Compost singles out ONE issue where he is in a "dead heat" with a Dem---and one that most Americans have fairly well down on their list of priorities right now.

[aegiscg47]

Unfortunately for the Dems there will be a "named" candidate and they are all trailing by 15-20 points.

[The_Eaglet]

Campaign finance initiative fails to make ballot -Campaign Finance Reform thread-day 39

[ninenot]

Yup. GWB has also to figure out that "Free Trade" benefits only the Fortune 250, NOT their employees, and certainly NOT small/medium manufacturers.

So while the Upper Midwest slowly sinks into an economic graveyard, Bush talks about 'retraining:' $120MM so that ex-machinists can become brain surgeons, I suppose.

[section9]

They have figured it out.

It just hit me. What Bush and Rove are up to, that is.

Bush's numbers are averaging at 55% approval. That's monster. That usually translates into forty or more states.

Kerry, Dean, etc., expect Bush to run as a mushy moderate. That is not Bush's strength, as you make clear in your post. I suspect that the spring and summer will be all about ginning up the base and getting it ready to hit the beaches in November. Bush will run as a conservative, he will run on judges, he will run to restrain the growth of government after the "necessary" spending increases have take place, he will run on making tax relief permanent, and most of all, he will run an uncompromising campaign on war and victory. If you look at it in this regard, the Recess Appointment of Charles Pickering can be seen as a first shot over the bow.

Bush's strength is strength. People gravitate to that.

To gin up his base, Kerry will have to run to Bush's left. So, iow, if Conservatives are upset about Bush's spending, think of how appalled they'll be when Kerry's inner Massachusetts liberal comes out.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Aetius]

What is surprising is that the public prefers Democrats on immigration issues. If the public were well informed they would realize that as horrible as the President is on the issue, the Democrats are even worse. While I think Bush is being dishonest when he says his plan is not an amnesty, at least under his plan there is a tiny, microscopic chance these 'guests' will go home eventually. The Democrats, however, would pretty much offer immediate amnesty and path to citizenship.

Bush's immigration proposals were big news, and as such the public was made aware of how different they are from thier own views (which is preference for less legal immigration and no amnesty for illegals). The Democrats have gotten a pass on it so far because their even more unpopular ideas haven't got the spotlight shined on them yet.

[uncbob]

You mean despite pandering to the democrat voters and independents by signing CFR , pouring tons of money into Dept of Education, proposing to bankrupt medicare and amnesty for hispanics Carl Roves tactics ain't working

[Conspiracy Guy]

The plan is actually very good. How would you deport 8-10 million people when you don't even know who they are? This will ID the ones who want to be more legit which will make it a little easier to ferret out the ones who don't.

On the surface it looked bad but I have yet to see a better proposal.

CG

[Alberta's Child]

I used to think that articles like this (especially coming from the Washington Post) reflect an inherent liberal bias in the media, but I've changed my mind in the last few weeks.

The predominant bias in the major media is not a liberal one, but one that elevates even second-rate candidates to the level of strong contenders -- simply because they want to attract readers/viewers for the next ten months. The last thing the Washington Post wants is a Democratic primary race that will be over before mid-February, or a presidential race that will be over by the time the GOP convention rolls around in early September.

Look at how much the media propped up Howard Dean over the last six weeks -- even though the guy is turning out to be a certifiable loony-tune who makes Al Gore look like a model of mental stability.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Domestic issues won't mean a damn thing if there's no USA left due to a terrorist attack.

[DrDeb]

"Approve 58, dissaprove 39....the only figures that count...the rest is wishful thinking by the WaPost."


You hit the proverbial nail on the head!

Only other important piece of information provided by this poll -- OVER 93% OF REPUBLICANS APPROVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S JOB PERFORMANCE!

[Finalapproach29er]

You understand the lead will be gone by the convention. Bush's people admit it will be close.

He'll pull away in the last week of the horse race.

[over3Owithabrain]

Re: post 11. From your keyboard to God's monitor. Well put.

[AmishDude]

Interesting, so when the Democrats move rightward for the general, so will Bush, befuddling them again as they expect him to move leftward.

This goes with some of the reports that the White House had to change strategies when Dean started going down. Dean would have had to do a massive, battleship-like turnaround.

At this point, Kerry and Edwards are running as sorta-kinda-moderates. At least compared to Dean. I think with the race this competitive, somebody's going to have to pick up the left and the person who does it successfully will win the Dem nomination.

The strategy you cite is good, but would have been ideal against Dean -- who is not knocked out yet.