General Politics

Occupy Wall Street Protesters: 36% Favorable 41% Unfavorable

Most Americans still aren’t following news of the Occupy Wall Street protests very closely and have mixed opinions of both the protesters and their authenticity.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of the nation’s Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of the Occupy Wall Street protesters while 41% offer an unfavorable opinion. Last week, a survey of Adults found a slight plurality offering a favorable opinion.  Because  the new survey was of Likely Voters and the prior one was of adults, the results are not precisely comparable. Additional tracking will measure whatever trends might emerge.

51% Say Democratic Agenda In Congress Is Extreme, 47% Say Same of GOP's

Voters still tend to see the congressional agendas of both major political parties as out of the mainstream and view President Obama and the average member of Congress as out of step with them ideologically.

72% Think Presidential Campaigns Run Too Long

As the nation braces itself for another race for the White House, voters say enough is enough.

Just 6% Think Most Politicians Keep Their Campaign Promises

Voters remain overwhelmingly convinced that most politicians won’t keep their campaign promises, but they’re a little less convinced that their elected officials deliberately lie.

Only 36% Think GOP Debate Moderators Ask Mostly About Important Issues

Voters are fairly satisfied with the number of debates in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, but most don’t think debate moderators ask enough about the major issues facing the nation.

56% Favor Balanced Budget Amendment

It’s an idea that’s been around for decades of deficit spending and most voters nationwide like the idea of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But they don’t expect it to happen.

71% Favor Term Limits for Congress

Voters strongly support term limits for all members of Congress but don’t think it’s very likely the national legislators will vote to limit how long they can serve. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters favor establishing term limits for all members of Congress. Just 14% oppose setting such limits, and 15% are undecided about them. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

60% Still Favor Death Penalty

The execution of Troy Davis last week for murdering a Georgia policeman prompted controversy here and abroad, but it did little to shift opinions on the death penalty. Still, a sizable majority of Americans worries that people may be executed for crimes they didn't commit.

39% See 'Pro-Gun' As Positive Label, 27% Say It's A Negative

Rasmussen Reports periodically asks Likely U.S. Voters to rate political labels, and the latest national telephone survey finds that 39% consider it a positive when a political candidate is described as being “pro-gun.”

35% Say Legal System Places Individual Rights Over Public Safety

More than a third of voters believe the U.S. legal system worries too much about individual rights when it comes to public safety, but fewer believe it puts those rights over protecting national security.

Most Voters Think Democrats Led By the Left, GOP Led by the Right

Most voters see a clear ideological divide between the leaders of the two major political parties: The Democrats are led by liberals, and the Republicans are helmed by conservatives.

49% Think Neither Party in Congress Represents the People

Voters are more convinced than ever that neither major political party in Washington, DC is on their side.

44% Conservative, 40% Moderate, 11% Liberal on Fiscal Issues

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters remain conservative on both fiscal and social issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

39% Give Obama Good Marks on Libya

Now that anti-government rebels appear to have won in Libya, support for President Obama’s decision to aid them is up slightly, but voters are still dubious that the change will be better for the United States or the Libyan people.

64% Say Boeing Should Be Allowed to Operate Plant in South Carolina

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may be upset with Boeing’s plan to operate a non-union plant in South Carolina, but most Americans think it should be allowed to.

53% See Third-Party Candidate As Likely President in Next 10 to 12 Years

Voters see little chance of a third-party candidate being elected president next year, but most think one has a shot at the White House a little further down the road.

38% Favor Obama Jobs Plan, 36% Oppose

Voters think Congress may pass at least some of President Obama’s latest jobs plan but have much more confidence in reducing government regulations to create new jobs.

Just 21% Say 9/11-Driven Mission in Afghanistan Has Been Accomplished

Less than one month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to end that country’s harboring of al Qaeda terrorists training against the United States. Nearly 10 years later, with Afghanistan now America’s longest war, most Americans think that mission remains unfinished.

34% Say 9/11 Directly Impacted Their Family or Friends

One-in-three Americans (34%) say their family or friends have been directly impacted by the events that took place on September 11, 2001, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of adults say their family or friends have not been directly affected by the events of that horrific day.

66% Think America Has Changed for the Worse Since 9/11

More Americans than ever believe the nation has changed for the worse since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but most also still think the world would be a better place if more countries were like the United States.