Overall Economic Growth vs. Personal Finances
Does confidence in the direction of personal finances drive sentiment on economic growth, or is it the other way around?
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February 22, 2011
February 22, 2011
Favorability Ratings Up for Boehner, Down for Pelosi, Reid, McConnell
Now that the new Congress is fully settled in, favorability ratings have dropped for all of the top leaders except Speaker of the House John Boehner.
February 21, 2011
Daniels and Christie Light Fuse Under GOP Lawmakers By Michael Barone
As congressional Republicans mull whether to address the government's long-term fiscal problems -- House Republican leaders are being pushed by the 87 freshmen to do so, while some Senate Republicans are seeking some bipartisan accords with Democratic colleagues -- two Republican governors barreled into Washington with the message that the lawmakers better get moving. And that congressional Republicans might do just fine politically if they do.
February 21, 2011
Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 46%, Democrats 37%
Republicans now hold a nine-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 20, 2011.
February 21, 2011
Most Americans Are Still Buying Books at the Store
The rise of electronic readers and online outlets such as Amazon threaten to make the traditional bookstore obsolete, but new Rasmussen polling finds that most Americans still prefer the old-fashioned way of buying a book.
February 21, 2011
48% Back GOP Governor in Wisconsin Spat, 38% Side With Unions
A sizable number of voters are following new Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s showdown with unionized public employees in his state, and nearly half side with the governor.
February 21, 2011
56% Favor Repeal of Health Care Plan
Most voters nationwide continue to favor repeal of the national health care law, but one-in-five now believe the plan will have no real impact on the federal deficit.
February 21, 2011
Americans Like Washington, Lincoln A Lot More Than Their Holiday
Americans have an overwhelmingly favorable view of George Washington, the nation’s first president, but very few consider his birthday which we honor today as a very important holiday.
February 20, 2011
Oscar Watchers Want Bridges, Portman to Win Best Actor Awards
One-in-three Americans (33%) say they are at least somewhat likely to watch the upcoming 83rd annual Academy Awards, with 15% who say it's very Likely, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Their favorites for the best acting categories are Jeff Bridges in "True Grit" and Natalie Portman in "Black Swan."
February 20, 2011
37% Consider Reagan Most Influential President of the Last 50 Years
Americans view Ronald Reagan as America's most influential president in the past half-century.
February 20, 2011
Human Nature and D.C.-backed Loans By Debra J. Saunders
In 2009, when CNBC's David Faber asked former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan what lessons could be learned to prevent another great financial meltdown in the wake of the mortgage-financing collapse, Greenspan did not have a happy-face answer.
February 19, 2011
55% Say America's Allies Should Do What We Want More Often
Many people believe the United States and its allies should cooperate more, and a solid majority of U.S. voters still think that the better way for that to happen is for America's allies to follow our lead.
February 19, 2011
What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 18, 2011
Money, money, money. The conservative backlash witnessed in last November’s elections is now hitting the bottom line.
February 19, 2011
Endangered Women By Susan Estrich
Yes, Lara Logan was sexually assaulted and badly beaten. Yes, that is a terrible thing. She is, however, reported to be in "remarkably good spirits." Indeed. She is alive, not beheaded, not held hostage, not any number of terrible things. Being raped is bad, but it isn't the worst thing. Not getting out alive is the worst thing.
February 18, 2011
48% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Past
While a plurality of voters continue to feel America’s best days are behind us, most still feel U.S. society is fair and decent.
February 18, 2011
27% Say Reagan Most Deserving of a Federal Holiday, 20% Say JFK
George Washington is the only U.S. president who is officially honored with a federal holiday, but given a list of some of America’s most influential other past presidents, more than one-in-four Americans choose Ronald Reagan as the one if another were to be recognized with a holiday. John F. Kennedy comes in second.
February 18, 2011
67% Say States Should Be Able To Enforce Immigration Laws If Feds Are Not
In response to the Justice Department challenge of its effort to crack down on illegal immigration, Arizona has sued the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws. Most voters continue to support Arizona’s new immigration law and strongly believe states should be able to fight illegal immigration if the federal government is not.
February 18, 2011
Entitlements: A Debate Deferred By Howard Rich
Washington politicians have worked themselves into a fine lather lately debating spending cuts. Yet as familiar rhetorical jabs are exchanged over proposed reductions to things like NPR and the National Archives, the real spending debate is being ignored.
February 18, 2011
Profits Squeeze By Lawrence Kudlow
“Don’t fight the Fed” is an old stock market adage. Successful investors pay a lot of attention to it. It means that when the central bank is easy, it’s bullish for stocks. And when the bank turns tight, it’s bearish for stocks. Obviously, the Bernanke Fed has been ultra-easy for a couple of years now: The bullish stock market has just doubled its value from the early March 2009 bottom.
February 18, 2011
28% Say There Are Too Many Federal Holidays
Ask Americans about the number of federal holidays, and the answer is – enough is enough.
