[Gallup] Poll: Bush wins converts among speech-watchers

CNN ^ | February 3, 2005

[RWR8189]

CNN) -- President Bush's State of the Union address raised support for his policies on health care and Social Security among people who watched the speech, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Wednesday night.

The percentage of respondents who said the president's proposals in those areas will help the country rose 15 points from when the same question was asked of the same people in the two days before the speech.

In the post-speech sample, 70 percent of respondents said Bush's policies on health care were positive, while 66 percent approved of the president's plan for Social Security.

Bush showed almost as much improvement on Iraq, with 78 percent of respondents saying U.S. policy there is heading in the right direction, a 12 percentage point increase over pre-speech polling. Overall, 77 percent of respondents said Bush is taking the country in the right direction after the speech compared to 67 percent beforehand.

[snip]

Overall, Bush got very positive or positive reactions to his speech from 86 percent of respondents, his best numbers since the State of the Union address he gave January 29, 2002 -- just four-and-a-half months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 -- when 94 percent of those polled gave him positive marks.

[adam_az]

"And now topped by a splendid SOTU speech, capped with one of the most compelling images in many years as a new Iraqi voter hugs the mom of dead U.S. soldier."

...while Hillary looks depressed and Kerry visibly mopes.

[bioprof]

And little Tommy Daschle is deeply saddened.....oh, wait...he's not there anymore....

And little Johnny Edwards is deeply saddened.....oh, wait.....he's not there anymore.....

And little Dickie Gephardt is deeply saddened....oh wait....he's not there anymore.........

Heh, heh, heh.....just keep misunderestimating W's strategery guys.....we love it......

[GeorgeW23225]

Coax the President to the left???

You've got to be kidding. Obviously, you didn't hear the speech......

[CasearianDaoist]

Can you direct me to a photo of that moment?

[ohioWfan]

The MSM always hides good things about the President as soon as they can.

Don't expect to find this info anywhere.....

[ohioWfan]

[CasearianDaoist]

Thanks a bunch... pretty moving. Also sincere as opposed to those little vignettes from the audience that Clinton used to thrust on us during SOTU "speeches" of his.

[ohioWfan]

It was the real thing, alright. And one of the most moving experiences I've had in a long time.....

[Elsie]

beautiful homepage!

[PigRigger]

Thanks - They are my heart and soul, for which I will forever be thankful to my Lord for blessing me with...

[Antoninus]

Bully pulpit bump.

[Sir Gawain]

Of the 485 people surveyed, 52 percent identified themselves as Republicans, 25 percent as Democrats and 22 percent as independents.

Some poll.

[Howlin]

[Uncle Hal]

The pollster's interviews were broken down as follows: 52% republicans, 25% democrats and 22% independents. Believe it or not this poll is heavily skewed towards the GOP. If a story is too good to be true, it is probably too good to be true.

[Smartaleck]

This the same speech the Democrats booed and protests today? Looks like a good move. LOL

[sam_whiskey]

It already started overnight. On the CBS late night news they ran a hatchet piece on SS reform---comparing it to London's privitazation system that is now supposedly failing. Saying the Bush plan was an exact replica of this---basically LYING through their teeth.

[HHFi]

One of the most effective parts of this speech was when Bush pointed out that his plan for Social Security was basically the same deal federal employees get. It makes Democrats look really hypocritical to argue that your life is going to end if you start getting the same sweet deal that they already take advantage of (I often wonder how many of those rich Dems in Congress who talk about the stock market as if it's a roulette wheel don't have any of their money invested in stocks).

I think much of the general public weren't aware that there already are alternatives to SS for some people, and they are very happy with them. I was listening to a talk radio show last week, and a teacher called in from some mid-American state (can't recall which) where teachers get to put their money into a low-risk, carefully-regulated private pension fund instead of SS. She said people there become teachers because even though the pay isn't great, "you retire rich."

[marblehead17]

ping

[sam_whiskey]

I've got some family members who are teachers--and what you're describing sounds like how their private pension system works. I don't think that's where they put any part of their FICA taxes though. This is in Indiana though. Maybe in some other mid-western state??

[HamiltonJay]

Bush articulated his stands and reasons quite well.. and the Dem "response" was a joke.... The downward spiral to irrellivancy of the radical left in America continues...AND THAT'S A GOOD THING!