Replies

Wolfstar:
Thank you for posting the DOSE tonight! . . . I find it interesting the President is received warmly and enthusiastically EVERY WHERE he goes — kinda’ makes you wonder about the veracity/validity of MSM polling data!!
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Speaking of polling data, Cliff May provides an interesting ‘re-interpretation’ of recent MSM polling results vis a vis the Iraq War:

VOX POPULI [Cliff May]

Some interesting polling results in recent days. For example:

According to a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, 61% of Americans oppose “denying the funding needed to send any additional U.S. troops to Iraq,” and opposition is up from 58% in February. (3/23-25, 2007).

A Bloomberg poll reveals 61% of Americans believe withholding funding for the war is a bad idea, while only 28% believe it is a good idea (3/3-11, 2007).

A recent Public Opinion Strategies (POS) poll found that 56% of registered voters favor fully funding the war in Iraq, with more voters strongly favoring funding (40%) than totally opposing it (38%); (3/25-27, 2007).

POS found also that a majority of voters (54%) oppose the Democrats imposing a reduction in troops below the level military commanders requested (3/25-27, 2007).

A separate POS poll finds 57% of voters support staying in Iraq until the job is finished and “the Iraqi government can maintain control and provide security for its people.” And 59% of voters say pulling out of Iraq immediately would do more to harm America’s reputation in the world than staying until order is restored (35%); (2/5-7, 2007).

A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll show 69% of American voters trust military commanders more than members of Congress (18%) to decide when United States troops should leave Iraq. This includes 52% of Democrats, 69% of Independents and 88% of Republicans (3/27-28, 2007).

According to a recent Pew Research survey, only 17% of Americans want an immediate withdrawal of troops (4/18-22, 2007). That same poll found a plurality of adults (45%) believe a terrorist attack against the United States is more likely if we withdraw our troops from Iraq while the “country remains unstable”

Should a date for withdrawal be set, 70% of American believe it is likely that “insurgents will increase their attacks in Iraq” starting on that day. This is supported by 85% of Republicans, 71% of Independents and 60% of Democrats. (FOX News/Opinion Dynamics, 4/17-18, 2007).

An LA Times/Bloomberg polls reveals that 50% of Americans say setting a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq “hurts” the troops, while only 27% believe it “helps” the troops (4/5-9, 2007).
http://corner.nationalreview.com/

FYI: Today, Rasmussen puts the President’s JA rating at 41% — adjusted for oversampling of Democrats/Democrat-leaning Independents, the President’s ‘Rasmussen’ rating is approximately 48%, almost exactly where Rasmussen put the President’s JA rating before he (the President) won re-election with more votes than any other President in history!!
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MUST READ . . .

BUSH RISING
By Scorpion410 Posted in Republicans

First, let me say that I do not read polls. Even if I did read them, I would not believe them. My methodology for political calculation is more the “stick finger in air and see which way the wind is blowing” methodology. I did, however, blog back in the late spring of 2006 “The Coming Republican Bloodbath” so I am on a one in a row winning streak.

I am sure GWB is at some historically low approval rating. Six years of pounding by the left wing media and the dems have certainly taken their toll. My theory is the guy is about to get on a roll. The reasons are the economy and the fact that he has outmanuevered the dems on Iraq. I will explain.

First, I am not one to believe that whoever is in the WH has all that much to do with economic success or failure during their tenure. Right or wrong, though, there is that perception. George Bush’s leadership on the economy has been historically phenomenal. Think back to where we were in the months following 9/11. There was real despair. The thing that I like best about GWB is that, I think, he is, like me, an optimist. I think his leadership is Reaganesque, in that, he just inherently believes in the rightness of the American way. I think the president believes that a rising tide will lift all boats and that, since the US economy is the highest boat in the water that we stand to be lifted the most. I heard a statistic recently that every economy in the world showed positive economic growth lst year for the first time in history. Now, the American electorate may be dumb but they are not stupid. Already, don’t you think there must be a little squeamishness about putting the dems in control after just a few months of watching Queen Pelosi in action? More than 50% of Americans own stocks or mutual funds. I think the economy will stay on a roll, GWB will start to get some of the credit he deserves, and people will grow increasingly nervous about turning the reins over the lefties.

Secondly, on the war, Bush has taken an extremely difficult issue for him and let the dems paint themselves into the corner with it. Make no mistake. This coming battle over war funding and timelines and such will be the defining battle of his presidency. But, I believe, for the first time, Bush has the winning argument AND the American people know it. Nobody I have spoken to, including the anti-Bushies I know, think that setting a timetable for withdrawal is a good idea. It is inherently stupid. Bush will correctly veto this stupid idea. What will the dems do? If they vote to cut off funds and I am the CiC, I say, “Fine, I am bringing our people home and you idiots own the result.” If they, as will likely happen, give in and cave to the president, he will be seen as once again having gotten the best of them and they will have to deal with the leftie wingnuts who have been propping them up. If the surge is successful and Iraq starts to progress, Bush will look like a strong and steadfast leader heading into his retirement. That is what I think will happen.

In any case, could you imagine the mental state an Al Gore or John Kerry would be in if they had to take the beating that has been heaped on Mr. Bush? Do I wish he was more conservative and more of a fighter for things I believe in? Yes. But, more and more, GWB is earning my respect as a guy that has taken the toughest beating of any president in history and stayed the course. I think history will get kinder to the President.

http://redstate.com/blogs/scorpion410/2007/apr/27/bush_rising
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HEADS UP . . .

Tomorrow is TONY SNOW’S first day back after his surgery/cancer diagnosis . . . WELCOME BACK TONY!