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                            December 31, 2013Americans Are More Pessimistic About 2014 – And About Their Health
2013 turned out to be worse than Americans predicted this time last year, and they’re slightly less optimistic about the year to come than they were back then. They’re more pessimistic about their health, too. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults expect 2014 to be a good year at the very minimum, with three percent (3%) who think it will be one of the best years ever, eight percent (8%) who say it will be an excellent year and 30% who predict it will be a good one. Twenty-three percent (23%) expect next year to turn out poorly. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 30, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 31, 2013Obama May Be Best Economic President Ever by Froma Harrop
Lend me your ears. I have come to praise President Obama and bury the myth that Republican presidents are better for the economy than Democratic presidents. Not only do Democrats produce superior economic results but they blow Republicans out of the water in the comparisons.
Let's turn the mic over to Bob Deitrick, a principal at Polaris Financial Partners in Westerville, Ohio. Deitrick crunched 80 years of numbers. Politically, 1929 to 2009 were exactly divided -- 40 years under Republican presidents and 40 under Democrats.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM

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                            December 31, 201335% Think U.S. Government Should Consider Selling the Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service has been plagued with financial problems for years, but fewer adults now believe the federal government should sell the Postal Service. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults think the U.S. government should consider selling the Postal Service to a private company in order to reduce the federal budget deficit. But that's down from 40% in 2011. Forty-eight percent (48%) oppose such sale, while 17% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 
December 31, 2013Peña Proves Himself an Efficient Reformer By Michael Barone
Most Americans have an image of Mexico as a nation convulsed by violent drug wars and sending hundreds of thousands of desperate immigrants across our southern border.
That image is out-of-date. The drug war has largely quieted down and scarcely affects most of the country while, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, net migration from Mexico to the United States since 2007 has fallen to zero.

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                            December 30, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 40%
As 2013 comes to a close, Republicans and Democrats are running even - for the second time this month - on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 29 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead. The previous week, the GOP candidate held a three-point lead.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 23-29, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 30, 201325% Used Postal Service Less This Holiday Season
One-in-four Americans used the U.S. Postal Service less this holiday season compared to past years, although the vast majority still rely on the post office to handle their holiday gifts.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of American Adults used the USPS about the same amount this holiday season as they did in previous years. Just 14% used the Postal Service more, while 25% used it less than they have in previous years. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. 
December 30, 2013Senior Data Scientist/Statistician
The polling industry is looking to decrease reliance on data gathering via landlines. Rasmussen Reports is seeking a hands-on, innovative thinker to lead our efforts in this direction. A background in polling is not required for the position. Innovative thinking about the future of polling, along with the quantitative and computational abilities to put your ideas into practice are definite must-haves. We aim to broaden our
polling reach over the next years, to introduce a greater amount of data from a wide range of nontraditional polling sources, and to carefully calibrate and evaluate our efforts as we proceed.

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                            December 30, 201349% Oppose Further U.S. Aid to Egypt
Most voters think Egypt is unlikely to assume a democratic course anytime soon, but they are slightly less opposed to further financial aid for the longtime U.S. ally. 
Egypt has largely been in political chaos since the United States helped pressure dictator Hosni Mubarak out of power in early 2011, and a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just seven percent (7%) of Likely U.S. Voters now think the changes in the government of Egypt over the past several years have been good for the United States. This finding has been steadily declining from a high of 29% in February 2011.
Forty-three percent (43%) believe those changes have been bad for this country, up from 20% in 2011. Twenty-seven percent (27%) say they have had no impact, but nearly as many (24%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 30, 201358% Expect Health Care To Cost More Under Obamacare
At the end of the year that Obamacare made its official debut, most voters still believe the new law will drive up health care costs, increase the deficit and hurt the quality of health care in this country.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters view the health care law at least somewhat unfavorably, with 41% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% share a favorable view of the law, including 17% with a Very Favorable one. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 29, 201353% View Marriage As A Religious Institution
Most voters now see marriage as a religious institution rather than a civil one and still overwhelmingly believe in the importance of marriage before having children.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters now view marriage as a religious institution, up from 48% in October.  Forty percent (40%) consider marriage a civil institution, a five-point drop from 45% in the previous survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 28, 2013What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 29, 2013
So where does the nation stand just before we launch into a tempestuous congressional election year?

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                            December 27, 2013What America Thinks: Reflecting on 2013: Obamacare’s Disastrous Debut
The national health care law passed back in 2010 finally rolled out officially beginning October 1, and to say the transition was rocky would have been an understatement.

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                            December 27, 201349% Support U.S. Military Aid for Iraq
The Obama administration has been quietly supplying the Iraqi military with missiles and drones to help fight an al-Qaeda led insurgency that is ratcheting up the violence in that country. Half of U.S. voters approve of that military aid, but they overwhelmingly oppose the return of U.S. troops to Iraq.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor the U.S. government sending drones and missiles to Iraq to help fight the terrorist-led insurgents. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% oppose that military assistance, but another 21% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 27, 2013Christmastime and the Family Structure by Michael Barone
Christmastime is an occasion for families to come together. But the family is not what it used to be, as my former American Enterprise Institute colleague Nick Schulz argues in his short AEI book "Home Economics: The Consequences of Changing Family Structure."
It's a subject that many people are uncomfortable with. "Everyone either is or knows and has a deep personal connection to someone who is divorced, cohabiting, or gay," Schulz writes. "Great numbers of people simply want to avoid awkward talk of what are seen as primarily personal issues or issues of individual morality."

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                            December 27, 201329% Say It’s a Good Time to Sell a House In Their Area
Just over half of Americans think buying a home is a family's best investment, but confidence that now is a good time to sell where they live has fallen to its lowest level in several months.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of American Adults say now is a good time for someone in their area to sell a house. That's down from 32% last month and from 39% in September, the highest finding in regular surveying since April 2009.  It's the most pessimistic finding since March. Forty-three percent (43%) disagree and say now is not a good time to sell, while 27% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 26, 2013Bill to Increase Sanctions on Iran by Michael Barone
Sometimes it seems like things are upside down.
Barack Obama and his Obamacare administrators are continually making laws, through blogpost (suspending the employer mandate) and bulletin (suspending the individual mandate).
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                            December 26, 2013Just 29% Are Socially Liberal
Fewer voters now identify themselves as “socially liberal” than they have in the past.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters now consider themselves liberal on social issues such as abortion, public prayer and church-state topics. That’s the lowest number of self-identified social liberals since early last year. Just as many (30%) consider themselves moderate on such issues, the highest since October 2012, while 37% say they are conservative, up four points from September. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 26, 201343% Think NSA’s Domestic Spying Will Be Big News In A Year
More voters than ever think the National Security Agency’s secret monitoring of Americans’ phone calls and e-mail messages will be the controversy that outlasts the others dogging the Obama administration.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the NSA matter will still be a major news story a year from now. That’s a jump from 26% in early July just after the spying program was first disclosed  and 30% in September.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 22, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 26, 2013Social Security Gets More Politically Secure by Froma Harrop
Proposals to raise Social Security benefits are a refreshing antidote to portrayals of the program as a mere drain on the Treasury. Details of some such plans are troubling -- for reasons I'll go into -- but the change in tone is most welcome.
Democratic Senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Sherrod Brown of Ohio are leading a campaign to raise benefits by about $70 a month and alter the cost-of-living adjustments to the beneficiary's advantage. The higher payments would be covered by raising the income cap, which is now $113,700, on paying Social Security taxes.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM

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                            December 26, 201310% Likely To Miss or Be Late With Upcoming Mortgage Payment
Most homeowners continue to say they have not missed a mortgage payment in the last six months, but their outlook for the next six months is less optimistic.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just seven percent (7%) of U.S. Homeowners admit to missing a mortgage payment or paying late over the last six months. Ninety-one percent (91%) have not missed or been late on a payment, up slightly from 89% in September which was the first time that number had dipped below 90% since March 2011. (To see survey question wording, click here).