Posted on 11/12/2002 8:00:09 AM PST by DoozerDude
Edited on 04/13/2004 1:40:05 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...
WASHINGTON -- A majority of Americans support President Bush's push for war against Iraq and say Democrats are not tough enough in dealing with terrorism, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows.
The poll over the weekend also found that most surveyed believe that Republicans have a clearer plan for managing foreign affairs and the economy. Even a majority of Democrats in the survey say their party is too liberal.
The poll suggests that public support for Bush's leadership on Iraq and terrorism, and the Democrats' perceived lack of a plan for the economy, may have been significant factors in the GOP election sweep that gave it control of Congress.
''This election doesn't give Bush a mandate, but it certainly means that his political enemies should never underestimate him again,'' said Stephen Hess, a political scholar at the Brookings Institution.
Overall, 57% of those polled said Democrats are not tough enough on terrorism, while 64% said Republicans are. And 54% of Democrats polled said the party needs to moderate its liberal message.
''Democrats are holding back more than Republicans on attacking Iraq, and we need to clamp down on Saddam Hussein,'' said Democrat Bill Howard, 68, a retired equipment operator in San Angelo, Texas.
However, Democrats do not appear to be moderating their leadership after the elections. House Democrats are expected to elect a liberal, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, as their new leader over moderate Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee.
Pelosi is the only Democratic leader in Congress who voted against the resolution to authorize the use of force against Iraq.
Now that Republicans are in control of Congress and the White House, their chance of staying in power will be determined by whether they can solve key problems.
Overall, 50% of those polled said the GOP has a clear plan for curing the country's ills; just 30% of respondents said the Democrats do.
And with one party in charge, three of four respondents, 74%, expect things to be accomplished. Among them:
* The creation of a Cabinet-level homeland security department.
* Making tax cuts that were enacted last year permanent.
But 52% of those polled oppose additional tax cuts being considered by Bush to stimulate the economy.
I don't think so and I certainly hope not.
I saw Ford on Fox yesterday morning and although he is young, he is very articulate, and could be a good spin machine for the Dems.
Pelosi on the other hand is a rabid, foaming at the mouth liberal, and I believe she will display that completely if she is elected as House leader, that could quite possibly put the election in the bag for conservatives in 04.
What did she do the other day that makes you think that?
Ford voted, I think, for the Iraqi resolution so that will probably ruin his chances since the majority of the dems voted against it.
I hope Pelosi wins and moves the party waaaaaay left. It will help insure that the democrats become a minority party for years to come. I would also suspect some conservative dems to jump the aisle or at least vote with the GOP.
Pelosi is the perfect spokesman for the democrat party. I hope she prevails. If so, it's very good news for the GOP.
It has been rather strange to watch this gentleman change his stripes, moderate his speech, remain calm and appear statesmanlike in his recent appearances on the TV screen.
I well remember a rabid, angry, extremely obsessed Rep Ford DEFENDING the bent one during the impeachment. His support of that rapist was intense. Too bad.
Wonder which persona is the real Ford. The one we see now with the klintons fading into hyperspace or the one that could not brown nose this couple enough only a short time ago?
Pelosi is unable to find a moral compass-like Gore-she respects no higher legal ruling authority. I expect, if she wins, the liberals are going to be kicking themselves from here to Sunday as they watch fellow Americans continue to wake up and feel replused at the socialist assault upon their nation.
A sad commentary on the gross ignorance of Americans concerning economics.
And a testimony to the success of liberal lies.
Yeah but I think what you are seeing is that Ford is just positioning himself for the house minority whip position, which for his age would still be a good coup.
But as for Nancy getting the minority leader position, I think that is pretty much a done deal. I have been monitoring some of the liberal boards, which will remain nameless, since the election, and the general feeling there is that the party needs to be more liberal in it's stance. There are even quite a few who think that Nancy is not liberal enough for the position.
And of course their position on Ford, seeing how he is a black guy who has actually tried to make something of himself, is that he is an Uncle Tom, and a Republican puppet. If you can use these boards as any kind of an indicator as to which direction the Democrats are going, I'm beginning to believe that Rush is right, this party is in full self destruct mode.
I just love the sound of that!
As to Ford, you may be right about the whip position. Personally, I hope he doesn't get that either. I would love to see the Dems trash Ford. It would be further evidence that the Dems take the black vote for granted. Their abandonment of McCall in New York, their unwillingness to name Paige as the replacement for Wellstone, their refusal to elect Maynard (something, can't remember his name) as DNC chairman, and then a slap at Ford should make the black voter think twice.
Yeah it does kind of warm the heart doesn't it?
"and then a slap at Ford should make the black voter think twice. "
One would think so but the Democrates having been doing that to blacks for years and have been able to get away with it.
"And you, watch the double negatives!!!" -Phil Conners
I agree with your wish for Pelosi, HOWEVER, I worry about "jumping Dems".....they will dilute our conservatives even more, IMHO.....How's your side of the hill doing?
LOL....Thanks for pointing that out. Sometimes I don't edit thoroughly enough before posting.
Things are fine over here. Lots of republicans elected to office. I still cannot believe that Ref 51 went down in such a resounding fashion. Seems to me that the WA voter has no interest, whatsoever, in any new taxes!
Yeah, I know and I don't want to appear overly optimistic. However, there are many reports about young blacks and how their allegiance to the democrats is not nearly as strong as for older blacks. Also, there seems to be some fractionalizing between blacks and Jews. And finally, Al Sharpton was really hard on clinton saying this notion of clinton being the "first black president" is absurd. He also excorciated him and the democrats for their 11th hour campaign swing through black districts as if that were enough to get the voters out. Many are pointing the way to being fed up with being taken for granted. Whether that translates into votes for the GOP remains to be seen but I do think there may be a window of opportunity for the GOP.
It certainly can't hurt to try. If the GOP can just muster up 20 to 25% of the black vote, we can walk away with most elections. I just hate the notion that so many elections hang on the black turnout.
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