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                            December 19, 201349% Rate Obama Poorly on Deficit Reduction
Despite his support of the new bipartisan budget deal, nearly half of voters now rate President Obama poorly on his efforts to reduce the deficit, and he only fares marginally better when it comes to policies related to economic fairness.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters give Obama poor marks for his handling of issues related to deficit reduction, up three points from 46% in October and down just point from this year's high of 50% in July. Just 34% give the president good or excellent marks in this area, largely in line with findings throughout 2013. (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 12-13, 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 19, 201333% See China’s Moon Landing as Bad for U.S.
The Chinese landed a lunar probe earlier this week, the first landing on the moon in nearly 40 years, but U.S. voters show no greater enthusiasm for returning to the moon than they did a year ago.
Just six percent (6%) of Likely U.S. Voters think it’s good for the United States that China has landed a space vehicle on the moon, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-three percent (33%) see the Chinese lunar probe as bad for this country, but a plurality (45%) feels it has no impact. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 16-17, 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 19, 2013Look Back in Liberty 2013 by John Stossel
This wasn't a great year for liberty. A few disasters that government caused:
- Obamacare. It was supposed to "bend the cost curve" downward. The central planners had lots of time to perfect their scheme. For a generation, the brightest left-wing wonks focused on health care policy. The result? Soviet-style consumer service comes to America.
- Government shutdown. The real disaster was the unnecessary panic over it. Zoos would shut down, and baby pandas would starve. The media made it sound like America might not survive even slightly limited government. They were happy to echo the politicians' claim that there's no wasteful or stupid spending to cut.

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                            December 19, 201322% Think Federal Government Needs More Tax Money
Following the recent passage of a bipartisan budget deal by Congress, fewer voters than ever believe more taxes are needed to keep the federal government going. But the Political Class isn't so sure about that.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 22% of Likely U.S. Voters believe additional tax hikes are needed to fund the federal government. Sixty-two percent (62%) disagree and say no new tax hikes are needed. Sixteen percent (16%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 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 18, 201326% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 15.
That’s down two points from 28% the previous week which was the highest level of confidence since late September. In early October during the federal government shutdown, confidence in the country’s course fell to 13%, the lowest finding in five years. A year ago, 37% said the country was heading in the right direction.
During President Obama’s first months in office, the number of voters who felt the country was headed in the right direction rose steadily to 40% in early May 2009. In 2010 and 2011, confidence fell to the narrow range of 14% to 19%, levels similar to those measured in the final months of the George W. Bush administration. Optimism began easing up in again in mid-December 2011.
(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 on December 9-15, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 18, 201365% Say No to Cell Phone Chatting on Airplanes
The Federal Communications Commission is considering lifting the ban on in-flight cell phone use, but Americans are not on board.
One-in-five U.S. Adults (21%) thinks people should be allowed to talk on a cell phone while traveling in an airplane, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But 65% don’t think people should be allowed to chat on their cell phones during flight. Another 14% 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 15-16, 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 18, 2013What America Thinks: Reflecting on 2013: The Year in Foreign Policy
2013 will be known for plenty of domestic matters - most notably the rollout of the national health care law - but U.S. foreign policy was also in the spotlight for much of the year.

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                            December 18, 201313% Think Airline Mergers Good for Fliers
Nearly half of Americans believe airline mergers are bad for consumers and that the deregulation of the airline industry has made flying more expensive. But frequent fliers are more likely to think deregulation has made flying cheaper.
Just 13% of American Adults see the merger of airlines like the recent one between American Airlines and US Airways as good for fliers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% consider such mergers bad for fliers, while 15% say they have no impact. But a sizable 26% 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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 15-16, 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 18, 2013John Boehner's Successful Year on Policy and Politics by Michael Barone
All this year, House Speaker John Boehner has been taking criticism from all quarters.
He is a squish selling out to the Obama administration and the Democrats, many conservatives charged when he engineered bipartisan (mostly Democratic) approval of higher tax rates on high earners rather than go over the fiscal cliff.

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                            December 18, 201354% Will Send Christmas Cards This Year
Christmas time is here again, and many Americans will be celebrating yuletide by attending parties and sending cards to friends and family.
Ninety-two percent (92%) of American Adults celebrate Christmas in their family, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone 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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 13-14, 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 17, 201341% Are Having Difficulty Getting Into the Holiday Spirit
Most Americans are enjoying the Christmas season, but they’re almost evenly divided over whether it's a joyous or stressful time.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults are having difficulty getting into the holiday spirit this year, up from 37% a year ago. But most adults (53%) continue to have no problem getting into the holiday spirit, unchanged from last season. (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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 13-14, 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 17, 201321% Favor Amnesty for NSA Leaker Snowden
Voters aren’t enthusiastic about granting NSA leaker Edward Snowden amnesty to halt his release of U.S. intelligence secrets, even though most agree the continued disclosures are hurting national security.
Just 21% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should grant Snowden full amnesty from prosecution in exchange for his return of all classified information that he still possesses. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that twice as many (41%) oppose full amnesty for Snowden, although nearly as many (39%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15 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 17, 2013Living to Oneself in the Age of Twitter By Froma Harrop
Let us repair to the wild English hearth of 1821, where William Hazlitt is contemplating contemplation. 

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                            December 17, 2013New High: 66% View U.S. Economy As Unfair to the Middle Class
Most voters continue to believe the U.S. economy is fair to women, blacks and Hispanics, but more than ever view it as unfair to the middle class.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 32% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the economy is fair to the middle class, down from a high of 43% in January. A new high for the year of 66% describe the economy as unfair to the middle class. These findings include seven percent (7%) who say the economy is Very Fair and 26% who see it as Not At All Fair. (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 national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 12-13, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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 17, 201340% Work Some or Most Major Holidays
An overwhelming majority of workers say they have time off for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but a sizable number say they have to work at least some major holidays. 
Eighty-four percent (84%) of Employed Americans say their company gives them time off for Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone 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 623 Employed Adults was conducted on December 11-12, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 16, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 40%
As Congress works on a bipartisan deal to avoid another government shutdown, Republicans have lost their lead and are now running even with Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 15.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while another 40% would choose the Republican instead. This is the first time the two parties have run even since the first week of October.
Republicans held a 43% to 38% margin lead over Democrats for the last two weeks. It was their largest lead since June 17, 2012 and the highest level of support the GOP had earned since just before Election Day in early November of last year.
(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 9-15, 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 16, 201331% Have Finished Their Holiday Shopping
With just over a week left until Christmas, two-thirds of Americans have begun shopping, and nearly one-in-three are already finished.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults have started their holiday gift shopping, up from 48% at the beginning of the month and 37% a month ago. Thirty percent (30%) still have not started. (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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 13-14, 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 16, 201345% Favor Restoring Some Sequester Budget Cuts, 40% Oppose
Voters still strongly prefer a federal budget that cuts spending, but they’re closely divided over the new budget deal that would restore some of the across-the-board sequester spending cuts from earlier this year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases government spending. Sixty-one percent (61%) like a federal budget that cuts spending instead. Eighteen percent (18%) prefer one that keeps spending levels about the same. (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 12-13, 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 16, 201358% Oppose Health Care Law’s Individual Mandate
Opposition to Obamacare's requirement that every American must have health insurance has risen to its highest level ever.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe the government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance, showing little change from November. But 58% oppose that mandate, up from 54% last month and the highest level of opposition to date. Ten percent (10%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on December 14-15, 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 15, 201323% Name Pope Francis Most Influential, 21% Say Obama
Time magazine named Pope Francis its “Person of the Year” last week, and nearly one-in-four Americans agrees with that pick.
Rasmussen Reports gave Americans a similar list of influential people worldwide, and 23% said Pope Francis was the most influential person in 2013. But the new national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (21%) felt President Obama was the most influential. (To see survey question wording, click here.)