Half of U.S. Voters are Pro-Choice, But 53% Say Abortion's Usually Morally Wrong
Voters remain as divided as ever on the issue of abortion.
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February 17, 2011
February 17, 2011
Just One-in-Four Voters Have Favorable Opinion of Geithner, Holder
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is at the heart of the Obama administration's decisions about the economy, the issue voters consistently rate as most important, but more than one-third of voters now say they don't know enough about him to venture an opinion of the longtime government official.
February 17, 2011
Voters Think They’re Far More Eager To Cut Spending Than Politicians Are
Voters clearly don’t have much confidence in their elected leaders to make the spending cuts necessary to reduce the nation’s historic-level budget deficit.
February 17, 2011
Don't Buy Simple Talk on Budget By Froma Harrop
In politics, simple phrases can hide complex agendas. The budget debate offers the perfect stage for mouthing "home truths" that are not quite true. Let's air a few examples.
February 17, 2011
Why Do They Hate Social Security? By Joe Conason
Among the mysteries of modern politics in America is why so many of our leading pundits and politicians persistently seek to undermine Social Security, that enduring and successful emblem of active government. In the current atmosphere of budgetary panic, self-proclaimed "centrists" are joining with ideologues of the right in yet another campaign against the program -- and yet again they are misinforming the public about its purposes, costs and prospects.
February 17, 2011
Only 39% Expect Federal Spending to Exceed $4 Trillion in Near Future
The documents the White House includes with President Obama's $3.7 trillion proposed budget for 2012 project that government spending will top $4 trillion in the next two to three years, but most voters aren't aware of that increase amidst all the talk of spending cuts.
February 17, 2011
Obama Budget Offers Inertia, Not Hope and Change By Michael Barone
One way to judge the merits of the budget Barack Obama unveiled this week is by the comments of his political allies. "It's not enough to focus primarily on the non-security discretionary part of the budget," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad.
February 16, 2011
31% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 6. That’s down two points from the previous two weeks.
February 16, 2011
Just 28% Say Federal Government Has Consent of Governed
Most voters still feel there’s a disconnect between themselves and Congress, but they appear a bit more confident that members of Congress can outperform the average Joe.
February 16, 2011
55% Say Obama’s Budget Doesn’t Cut Enough
Most voters don’t think President Obama’s proposed $3.7 trillion federal budget includes enough spending cuts, and despite House Republican plans to cut substantially more, a plurality of voters don’t think the GOP goes far enough either.
February 16, 2011
It's the Deficits That Are Draconian, Not Their Cuts By Tony Blankley
After the riots in Athens, the Greek authorities decided to enact new laws to deal with their obvious problems. The new laws, which treat rich and poor alike for the first time, have been seen has harsh. The name of the legislator who wrote the laws is a man called Draco. The date is believed to be 621 B.C. And more than 2,600 years later, the adjectival form of his name -- draconian -- is still tossed around here in Washington anytime someone proposes real budget cuts.
February 16, 2011
44% Less Likely To Buy GM Because of Bailout
A sizable number of Americans remain less likely to buy a General Motors car because of the company’s government bailout. One-in-four says anti-buyout sentiment has kept them or someone they know from buying a GM vehicle.
February 16, 2011
Judicial Politics By Susan Estrich
There is a crisis in America's federal courts that has absolutely nothing to do with politics, although that is its cause.
February 15, 2011
Americans Want to Keep Postal Service Public But Cut Delivery to Five Days
Although many Americans today rely on electronic forms of communication, they still believe there is a need for the U.S. Postal Service. But they're okay with cutting back snail mail delivery to five days a week.
February 15, 2011
Just 33% Want Amtrak Subsidies to Continue
Americans like the general idea of investing in infrastructure, but most want to stop underwriting the Amtrak rail service.
February 15, 2011
52% Say GM Somewhat Likely to Repay Taxpayers
Just over half of Americans think General Motors and Chrysler may repay their taxpayer bailouts, but that doesn’t change the negative view of future bailouts.
February 15, 2011
Thankfully, the Egyptians Did It Without Us By Froma Harrop
As a rationale for invading Iraq, then-National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said: "The people of the Middle East share the desire for freedom. We have an opportunity -- and an obligation -- to help them turn this desire into reality."
February 15, 2011
Americans Ring in New Year with Improved Financial Security Sentiments
Americans are beginning 2011 with renewed confidence as financial security sentiments reached their highest level since April 2010. The COUNTRY Financial Security Index(R) rose 0.8 points to 64.9 in February. This marks the first time Americans have started the year with improved sentiments since the COUNTRY Index began in 2007.
February 15, 2011
NPR, PBS Federal Subsidies Should Go By Debra J. Saunders
The liberal group Moveon.org has been sending out e-mails to warn that Republicans are back in control of the House and to ask recipients to sign a petition that states, "Congress must protect NPR and PBS and guarantee them permanent funding, free from political meddling."
February 15, 2011
57% Still Believe Bailouts Were Bad for US
Most voters continue to believe that government bailouts were a bad idea, and a plurality still fears the government will do too much to help the economy.
