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August 31, 2009

Rasmussen Reports Daily Prediction Challenge

Due to the tough economic climate, the company that provides our prediction software is no longer in business. For this reason, we will temporarily be suspending the Rasmussen Daily Prediction Challenge. We look forward to providing this feature again in the near future. 

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August 31, 2009

Climate Change Bill Gets Mixed Reviews

Since the flurry of activity surrounding its passage by the House in late June, little has been heard about the historic climate change bill aimed at curbing global warming. But the Senate will be tackling the controversial measure when it returns to Washington next week.

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August 31, 2009

Americans More Confident About Money They Have In The Bank

Despite their reservations about the government bailout of the financial industry, Americans are clearly less worried about their own money in the bank.

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August 31, 2009

Most Voters Say War in Afghanistan Will Worsen In Next Six Months

Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters now expect the war in Afghanistan to get worse during the next six months, a 14-point jump since the beginning of the month. Confidence is also down in America's conduct of the War on Terror.

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August 31, 2009

The End of America's Experiment With Royalty By Michael Barone

Edward Kennedy was buried Saturday, the last son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the longest-serving member of the only royal political family our democratic republic has ever produced.

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August 31, 2009

29% Confident That Congress Knows What It’s Doing on Economy

Two-out-of-three American voters (67%) lack confidence that Congress knows what it’s doing when it comes to the economy.

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August 30, 2009

57% Would Like to Replace Entire Congress

If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, just 25% of voters nationwide would keep the current batch of legislators.

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August 30, 2009

President Obama Should Pardon CIA Interrogators By Debra J. Saunders

When he served as deputy attorney general, now Attorney General Eric Holder gave a "neutral leaning positive" recommendation that led to President Bill Clinton's pardoning of gazillionaire fugitive Marc Rich, who was on the lam in Switzerland hiding from federal charges of fraud, evading more than $48 million in taxes, racketeering and trading oil with Iran in violation of a U.S. embargo.

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August 29, 2009

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending August 28, 2009

The death this week of longtime Democratic Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy means one of two things for the troubled health care reform plan proposed by President Obama: Either the plan has lost one of its most powerful advocates or now its supporters have an emotional rallying point to successfully push for passage. Only time will tell.

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August 28, 2009

52% Oppose Plan to Sell Beer Cans With School Colors

At least 25 well-known colleges and universities nationwide have asked Anheuser-Busch to drop its “Fan Cans” campaign, which features school colors on Bud Light cans, amidst fears it will promote underage drinking.

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August 28, 2009

51% Rate Alcohol More Dangerous Than Marijuana

Pot or not, that is the question.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of American adults say alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 19% disagree and say pot is worse.

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August 28, 2009

62% Like Tax Cuts Over More Government Spending

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Americans say it’s always better to cut taxes than increase government spending because taxpayers, not bureaucrats, are the best judges of how to spend their own money.

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August 28, 2009

The State Prison Mess By Debra J. Saunders

Earlier this month, three federal judges -- Stephen Reinhardt, Lawrence Karlton and Thelton Henderson -- ordered the release of more than 40,000 of California's 160,000 inmates. No lie: They claimed that releasing one-quarter of state inmates would not have "a meaningful adverse impact on public safety."

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August 28, 2009

Law, Not Torture, Protects National Security By Joe Conason

Predictably as always, the Republicans in Congress and in the conservative media are berating Attorney General Eric Holder for deciding to investigate the CIA's use of abusive interrogation methods on terror suspects.

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August 28, 2009

39% Like “Cash for Clunkers” Program for Appliances

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Americans favor a “cash for clunkers”-like government program to give cash rebates to people who buy new, energy-efficient appliances, but 49% think it’s a bad idea, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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August 27, 2009

Rasmussen Reports Daily Prediction Challenge: Congressional Understanding of Legislation

The daily Rasmussen Reports Prediction Challenge for Thursday focuses on Congress' understanding of legislation.

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August 27, 2009

60% Say Media Covers Obama’s Personal Life Too Much

Sixty percent (60%) of Americans say there is too much media coverage of President Obama’s personal life and family, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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August 27, 2009

Support for Health Care Legislation Has Stopped Falling, But Most Still Opposed

As August winds down, the good news for President Obama and congressional Democrats is that support for their proposed health care legislation has stopped falling. The bad news is that most voters oppose the plan.

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August 27, 2009

49% Oppose Justice Department Probe of Bush-era CIA

Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters disagree with the Justice Department’s decision to investigate the treatment and possible torture of terrorists during the Bush administration, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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August 27, 2009

The Liberal Lion, With Asterisks By Froma Harrop

They called him "The Liberal Lion." Ted Kennedy deserved that title, though with some asterisks added. There's no reconciling Kennedy worshippers with the Kennedy haters. But those who can deal with shades of gray will pay tribute to the legendary Massachusetts senator who championed landmark legislation through bipartisan cooperation -- but whose sense of family privilege didn't always serve the interests of democracy.