Posted on 02/24/2006 12:05:56 PM PST by Thud
"Seventy-two percent (72%) of Americans say they have been following news about the Dubai Ports deal somewhat or very closely."
PAGING KARL ROVE--EMERGENCY! [John Podhoretz]
Rasmussen has a new poll up in which -- hold on now -- Democrats in Congress are outpolling President Bush on national security. By a margin of 43 to 41 percent, Americans say they trust Congressional Democrats more than Bush when it comes to protecting our national security. And by a margin of 64-17 percent, they oppose the sale of the ports to Dubai.
The deal is dead. It won't survive after a 45-day extension or a 450-day extension. Congressional Republicans have no choice but to be extremely aggressive and nasty toward the president and the White House, because they will be properly terrified of looking like Bush's lapdogs on a hugely unpopular matter that goes to the heart of the Republican party's political advantage in the United States.
If the White House doesn't handle this well in the next three days, the political consequences could be catastrophic. (Hat tip: Tom Bevan at Real Clear Politics.)
Posted at 12:52 PM
RE: PAGING KARL ROVE [Rich Lowry ]
Emergency, indeed: if Bush loses his edge on national security, he has nothing left.
Posted at 01:00 PM
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/2006/02/new_rasmussen_poll_dems_favore.html
New Rasmussen Poll: Dems Favored Over Bush On National Security
Everyone has been saying the politics of the Dubai Ports World deal is bad news for President Bush. Well, now we have an idea of just how bad. Rasmussen Reports has just released a poll showing that Americans now trust Democrats in Congress more than President Bush on the issue of national security by a margin of 43% to 41%. Only 17% of those polled favor the DPW deal, 64% oppose.
Let's stipulate something up front: this is a single poll taken at the height of both the Congressional and public outburst over the realization of the DPW deal. That said, it does give an idea of how deeply negative the public's initial reaction to the deal was.
The debate in the press seems to have moved back in favor of the President's position, at least to some degree, but whether the public follows along with that shift in the coming weeks is another matter. I suspect there is a substantial block of people (on both the left and the right) whose opposition to the deal won't be shaken no matter how effective the White House is at putting on a full court press - if that's what they decide to do.
If the numbers Rasmussen produced on DPW and national security are confirmed by other polls, the political implications are pretty darn big. There's no way Republicans in Congress - especially those up for reelection this November - are going to stand by and let this single deal (irrespective of the merits) erase a 10-20 point advantage over Democrats on national security. Ain't gonna happen. Unless the numbers change significantly, there is no way Congress is going to let this deal go through as is.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/February%20Dailies/Dubai%20Ports.htm
Just 17% Favor Dubai Ports Deal
February 24, 2006--Just 17% of Americans believe Dubai Ports World should be allowed to purchase operating rights to several U.S. ports. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 64% disagree and believe the sale should not be allowed (see crosstabs).
Just 39% of Americans know that the operating rights are currently owned by a foreign firm. Fifteen percent (15%) believe the operating rights are U.S. owned while 46% are not sure.
From a political perspective, President Bush's national security credentials have clearly been tarnished due to the outcry over this issue. For the first time ever, Americans have a slight preference for Democrats in Congress over the President on national security issues. Forty-three percent (43%) say they trust the Democrats more on this issue today while 41% prefer the President.
The preference for the opposition party is small, but the fact that Democrats are even competitive on the national security front is startling. In Election 2002, the President guided his party to regain control of the Senate based almost exclusively on the national security issue. On Election Day that year, just 23% rated the economy as good or excellent, but the President's Party still emerged victorious.
In Election 2004, national security was again the decisive issue as the President won re-election. Voters consistently expressed a preference for George W. Bush over John Kerry when it came to issues surrounding the War on Terror.
Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Americans do not believe foreign firms should be allowed to buy any companies in the U.S. Fifty-five percent (55%) disagree. However, even among those who believe foreign ownership should be allowed in general, 61% oppose the Dubai Ports transaction.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of Americans say they have been following news about the Dubai Ports deal somewhat or very closely.
No F-ing way!!! Not possible!!!
To how ruthless, Dishonest, Foolish & out-right Traitorous the MSM can be with any news pertaining to a matter even slightly bordering on National Security???
I think what surprised President Bush & Co. is just How Much the Media, Libs & Democrats would spin this story into an overhyped, sobbing, hair-ripping, teeth-gnashing, doom-n-gloom apocalypse of
"How our Nation is being sold off piece by piece"
&
"How President Bush is betraying our National Security"
As opposed to the permanent Administration no men who reside at this forum.
The UAE need us MUCH more than we need them. Same with Saudi. Those kingdoms will not stand long should we back off and let the Muslims blow the hell out of them.
That's a fact
Yep.
I agree with you, and disagree with NR as I usually do. It's going through because it's not a political issue. I realize NR is incapable of looking at anything minus politics though. This trumps domestic politics and the idiots in Washington are now realizing just how important this actually is.
(Resurrecting an old tag line)
The deal is dead. It won't survive after a 45-day extension or a 450-day extension. Congressional Republicans have no choice but to be extremely aggressive and nasty toward the president and the White House, because they will be properly terrified of looking like Bush's lapdogs on a hugely unpopular matter that goes to the heart of the Republican party's political advantage in the United States.
step out of the bubble you girlie men and prepare to eat crow.
Especially you John Podhoretz.
The Panama Canal Treaty was a good thing too, but supporting it was a career-ending move for lots of GOP elected officials.
The facts don't matter sometimes, and this is one of those. GOP elected officials who don't realize this deserve defeat.
And it might be a good idea to deal with the underlying issues. Peggy Noonan was right that the public bases its opinion about the effectiveness of domestic security measures on daily, in-our-faces, offensive and demeaning encounters with ludicrously ineffective airport security. The Europeans and Israelis do a far better job with airport security both in terms of effectiveness and public relations.
Wow, more FReepers who are suddenly putting all sorts of credence and importance on polls.
Amazing...
"The Chinese have never prepetrated a terrorist act that killed three thousand Americans."
No, but the Saudis, who supply us with a good chunk of our energy needs had 15 of their own fly into the WTC.
Maybe we should stop buying Saudi as well as Nigerian, Venezuelan and Iranian oil.
So, lets withdraw and forget trying to include Arabs as friends. Lets just admit right now, we are loosing the war on terror. Thanks to the ignorant and the RATS. Get ready. Let's antagonize the world. Lets kick all foreign interest in our ports including the cruise ships. And lets include kicking out all foreign interest that have a hold on our industry such as cars, rial transportation and such. Close and not allow any foreign airlines have any contact with our airports. After all, they could fly into buildings since we don't know who is flying. A@@holes. Talk about ignorant. The stupid win again.
The way I understand it, a few Chinese companies rent space at the port of L.A. These companies are not Chinese government-owned. The Dubai company is owned by the UAE.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! For the sake of success in the war on terror, the deal must go through. Like Bush cares about polls...especially in his second term.
..shuuush can't have them yelling about that...you have to understand..IT'S PILE ON BUSH TIME...No body got wet in the shorts over clinton Ok'ing missile guidance systems to the Chinese either....see how long it was in the works for the LA port to go Chinese.. (operations wise)....and see if we got the concessions and assurances that their talking about now
What they think they know:
DPW = UAE = Arab = Terrorists
How so?
Terrorists are frightening, granted- but the GOP is full of bedwetters.
*sigh* I guess all the logical, brave ~men and women enlisted and or are avoiding poll takers.
Sad, but true.
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