In a Q&A last year with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, former Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey was asked what book he wanted Barack Obama to read. The Republican quickly recommended the work of Adam Smith, the 18th century economist and philosopher who held that individuals promote the good of society when they pursue their self-interest.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been pushing for a "truth commission" to investigate the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation" techniques like waterboarding -- until Republicans started shining the spotlight on Pelosi herself. Now she is not so adamant.
Twenty-four percent (24%) of Americans say they personally need to cut back on their use of credit cards and other borrowing, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll.
Americans have a little more confidence in the honesty of the average congressman this month, but they’re less confident that Congress as a whole will address the serious issues facing the nation.
Way to go! The majority of participants in this week's Rasmussen Prediction Challenge (68%) correctly predicted that Matt Giraud would be the contestant eliminated from "American Idol."
Just four contestants are left on 'American Idol': Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey. Rasmussen Reports would like you to predict which contestant will be the next person to be eliminated from the show on May 6, 2009.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of adults say a bigger economic problem than the current lack of credit is that Americans borrow too much money.
Barring a last-minute breakthrough, Chrysler appears headed for bankruptcy today as the only remaining way to stay in business, but just 25% of Americans say they would buy an automobile from a bankrupt automaker.
In the turbulent imagination of the hard-core conservative, American foreign policy should be about telling off the rest of the planet. According to the right-wing mind-set, a manly foreign policy would curtail any effort at seeking influence abroad, cut off assistance to developing countries, forget about improving our global image and, above all, withdraw from the existing international organizations, especially the United Nations, which is nothing more than a gargantuan waste of money and a hive of parasitic bureaucrats.
Only his most sycophantic admirers might compare Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter with Winston Churchill, but the two do have something in common. Both had long and turbulent political careers, and both switched parties twice.
In the early 1980s, Ronald Reagan's popularity and policies moved American politics firmly to the right. In only 100 days, Barack Obama's politics and policies have shifted America way to the left.
As Barack Obama serves his 100th day as president, the number of voters who say the country is heading in the right direction is up ten points from the week he was inaugurated and up sixteen points from when he was elected.
Just 42% of likely voters now believe the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
From April 28-29, 2009, Rasmussen Reports will ask 1,000 adults the following question "Because of his pro-choice views on abortion, some Catholics say President Obama should not speak at Notre Dame. Should President Obama cancel his appearance at Notre Dame?" We'd like you to please predict the percentage who will say "yes", Obama should cancel his appearance at Notre Dame.
From April 28-29, 2009, Rasmussen Reports will ask 1,000 adults the following question "Should 17-year-olds be required to consult a parent before taking a “morning after” pill?" We'd like you to please predict the percentage who will say "yes", 17 year-old minors should consult a parent before taking the "morning-after" pill.
From April 28-29, 2009, Rasmussen Reports will ask 1,000 adults the following question "In the United States, is it too easy or too hard for anyone to get an abortion?" We'd like you to please predict the percentage who will say it's too easy to get an abortion in the United States.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of U.S. voters say they are personally concerned about the threat of swine flu, including 20% who say they are Very Concerned.
“American Idol” is down to five contestants, and the majority of predictors (68%) in this week’s Rasmussen Prediction Challenge say Matt Giraud will be the next one eliminated from the show.
The Republicans don't want him. The Democrats do. They would have booted him out. We'll do everything we can to support his re-election. It's a tough day when you leave your party, but being a hero certainly beats being reviled.
Several events in recent months bring back to the forefront the perennial assertion that, on grounds of both efficacy and ethics, the public's "right to know" is the best guide to good government and good institutions.
