Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut
Most Americans oppose fully funding President Bush’s $190 billion request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a sizable majority support an expansion of a children’s health insurance bill he has promised to veto, putting Bush and many congressional Republicans on the wrong side of public opinion on upcoming foreign and domestic policy battles.
The new Washington Post-ABC News poll also shows deep dissatisfaction with the president and with Congress. Bush’s approval rating stands at 33 percent, equal to his career low in Post-ABC polls. And just 29 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, its lowest approval rating in this poll since November 1995, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate. It also represents a 14-point drop since Democrats took control in January.
Despite discontent with Congress this year, the public rates congressional Republicans (29 percent approve) lower than congressional Democrats (38 percent approve). When the parties are pitted directly against each other, the public broadly favors Democrats on Iraq, health care, the federal budget and the economy. Only on the issue of terrorism are Republicans at parity with Democrats.
Part of the displeasure with Congress stems from the stalemate between Democrats and the White House over Iraq policy. Most Americans do not believe Congress has gone far enough in opposing the war, with liberal Democrats especially critical of their party’s failure to force the president into a significant change in policy.
At the same time, there is no consensus about the pace of any U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq. In July, nearly six in 10 said they wanted to decrease the number of troops there, but now a slim majority, 52 percent, think Bush’s plan for removing some troops by next summer is either the right pace for withdrawal (38 percent) or too hasty (12 percent would like a slower reduction, and 2 percent want no force reduction). Fewer people (43 percent) want a quicker exit.
John Csanadi of Nanuet, N.Y., said he has mixed feelings about what to do next in Iraq. Asked about Bush’s proposal for a modest drawdown of troops, he said: “It’s a start. Not the best solution, but at least it’s a start.”
Sara Carter, a schoolteacher from Westland, Mich., called Bush’s plan “better than it might be, not as good as it could be.”
But Don Hiatt of Las Vegas said he sees the proposal as a holding action by a president stalling for time. “I think he’s trying to just play it until he gets out of office and let the next president handle it, and that’s not a good thing if that’s what he’s doing,” Hiatt said.
Overall, 55 percent of Americans want congressional Democrats to do more to challenge the president’s Iraq policies, while a third think the Democrats have gone too far. The level of agitation for more action in opposition to the war has not dissipated since August 2005, when Democrats were the minority party in Congress.
Lee Martin, an information technology consultant from Chicago, said that after last year’s midterm elections, he and others anticipated a change in Iraq policy. “The reason Congress is down is they’re [Democrats] in there and basically nothing is changing,” he said.
Robert Holtzman of Philadelphia said there is not much Democrats can do, given the ability of Republicans to block most action in the Senate. Still, he expressed frustration: “I’m satisfied with the Democratic Congress on small things, but they haven’t gotten it together on the bigger issues.”
More than eight in 10 liberal Democrats said Congress has been too restrained, while about the same percentage of conservative Republicans said it has been too aggressive. A narrow majority of independents, 53 percent, want more congressional action.
A central challenge for all policymakers is that those who want more congressional action are not unanimous in what they would like done. Almost all of those who would like congressional Democrats to do more to oppose the Iraq war disapprove of how the president has handled it, but about a quarter want U.S. troops to remain in Iraq until civil order is restored. More than a third see Bush’s plan to withdraw the “surge” troops by next summer as about right or even too fast.
There is broader public agreement on how Congress should approach war funding. About a quarter of adults want Congress to fund fully the administration’s $190 billion request; seven in 10 want the proposed allocation reduced, with 46 percent wanting it cut sharply or entirely. About seven in 10 independents want Congress to cut back funds allocated for the war effort, as do nearly nine in 10 Democrats; 46 percent of Republicans agree.
Democratic leaders are increasingly anxious about the perception that they are not accomplishing much on central issues. The House will vote tonight on a measure that would give the Bush administration 60 days to report to Congress on its planning for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, then require reports on withdrawal every 90 days.
Bush and the Republicans may also be headed for a political setback from the fight over the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), even if Congress does not override Bush’s threatened veto.
More than seven in 10 in the poll support the planned $35 billion spending increase, and 25 percent are opposed. About half of all Americans “strongly” support the increased spending; 17 percent are firmly against the additional funds. Eighty-one percent of Democrats, 69 percent of independents and 61 percent of Republicans are in favor.
Democrats hold a big edge over Republicans on health-care issues. Overall, 56 percent said they trust Democrats to handle health care, and 26 percent side with the GOP.
Democrats also have a greater share of the public trust on other key issues, including Iraq (a 15-point advantage), the economy (18 points) and handling the federal budget deficit (23 points). On the campaign against terrorism, 41 percent put more faith in Democrats, 40 percent in Republicans.
But when Americans look more broadly at Congress as an institution, they are increasingly unhappy. Barely a third of liberal Democrats approve of the job Congress is doing; in April, 59 percent approved. Among independents, 24 percent approve, equaling last year’s pre-election low mark for the GOP-controlled Congress.
Deteriorating reviews of congressional job performance are linked to a broad-based assessment that Congress has not accomplished much this year. Although Congress has passed four of the Democrats’ “Six for ‘06″ agenda items and a promised overhaul of congressional ethics and lobbying rules, more than eight in 10 Americans, including large majorities across party lines, said Congress has accomplished “not too much” or “nothing at all” this year.
By a 2 to 1 margin, those who see little accomplishment in Congress’s first nine months blame the inaction on Bush and the GOP more than they do the majority Democrats. Fifty-one percent place primary fault with the president and congressional Republicans, and 25 percent on the Democrats. Among independents, 43 percent blame Republicans, 23 percent Democrats and nearly three in 10 blame both sides equally.
The poll was conducted Thursday through Sunday among a national random sample of 1,114 adults. The results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.
Polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta and staff writer Jonathan Weisman contributed to this report.
© 2007 The Washington Post
I’m glad to see a mainstream source point out that discontent with the Democrats is over not opposing Bush enough. Usually they just report the bad polls and leave the impression the Democratic agenda goes too far. I suspect that’s part of why congressional Democrats have been so skittish about opposing Bush, along with the beltway bubble always repeating the warnings about going too far.
So?
We can talk until we’re blue in the face or march until our feet fall off — our government does not represent us, our government doesn’t care what we want, we’ll get what they want to give and better just be satisfied with that. The End
But the US public is “out of the mainstream” (according to Washington pundits) so it can be safely ignored.
kivals - that’s a good way to put it. “The US public is simply out of touch with the American people,” or something to that effect! LOL!
Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut
Some in Poll Want War Funders Cut
Dennis Kucinich has, for MANY months been calling for Congress to “JUST SAY NO” to funding. At least he is trying and continuing to call for an end to funding.
http://www.dennis4president.com/go/resources/kucinich-unveils-comprehensive-exit-plan-to-bring-troops-home,-stabilize-iraq/
celebrity, Actually Ron Paul has been against invading Iraq from the beginning. He voted against attacking Iraq in the original Congressional vote while 99% of Republicans AND Democrats voted to go in.
considerthis, — “We can talk until we’re blue in the face or march until our feet fall off — our government does not represent us, our government doesn’t care what we want, we’ll get what they want to give and better just be satisfied with that. The End”
That’s real clear, that they don’t give a damn what we want. There’s most likely only one way to take it back..revolution.
Ron Paul speaks from his heart, as does Kucinich. But Paul has something entirely different to say. He wants the kind of government we had, but lost when the anti-federalists fell apart.
The only thing that scares me is that even if Paul were to get the nomination and if he were to win, they would just assassinate him.
DUMP THE DEMOCRATS! They are complicit in the same war crimes as the Republicans.
Don’t let him fool you, if Ron Paul was a good guy he wouldn’t be a Republican!
Dennis Kucinich is the man!
Grousefeather, you just contradicted yourself, or had a breach in logic.
By your logic if Dennis Kucinich was a good guy he wouldn’t be a Democrat.
RichM,
The US public is out of touch with its programming.
We are entering another dimension. It is not one of sight and sound, but of spin and distortion. There is a signpost up ahead — “The Orwellian Zone.”
Sorry for the tired implied reference to an old television program, but I could not resist.
Mike Gravel suggested making the American Citizens the 4th branch of government. This is absolutely what is needed in this country so we can get things done !!!
RichM, Ha. That was a good one. You have reached…
The O r w e l l i a n . Z o n e
zxvtrp, I knew I liked Gravel.
4th branch of government? Christ man, the people ARE the government, or SHOULD be. Just goes to show how far we have lost control when we need to plea to be a 4th branch!!!!
rebelnow, you are right. We need to take our country back. But how? The only way I have any real hope for is in a third American Revolution. But before we do that, we need to come to an agreement on what kind of government we want. Personally, I want the government we had but lost. The one that started to go to hell as soon as the Jeffersonians fell apart.
How many lives is it worth to postpone a repeat of our Vietnam “withdrawal”? Political one upmanship is a killer.
mookie, I would start with an often quoted but rarely implemented premise;
“That government is best which governs least”
A quick google search attributed the quote to Thomas Paine, as well as to Thomas Jefferson, and Henry David Thoreau. It doesn’t matter to me which of them said it, they all believed it, and I greatly admire each of them.
As to your point about a third American Revolution, third? did I miss one? (maybe you are referring to the Civil War?) regardless, I agree, revolutions are good, if not essential every so often, like NOW.
The problem is with a complacent, unmotivated, demoralized population. Observing and talking with people in my community I hear dissatisfaction and frustration but very few are motivated to do anything about it.
Look at this article “Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut”. Now what? Nothing at all is done about it!
When gas prices hit $10 a gallon, banks close, homes foreclosure, and jobs are lost, then, and only then, will most people be motivated.
For now, Costco is packed with shoppers, and the roads are filled with SUV’s. Everything seems to be running smoothly, on the surface. Little do most people realize that their government no longer functions as “their” government, it’s a facade and only serves the corporate war machine which is taking us down George Bush’s wet dream of armaggedon.
Until people are really hurting, this charade will continue.
Rebelnow, I hear you. I love Thoreau, Paine and Jefferson, too. I believe, at this point, most people know that our government isn’t working to one extent or another.
You are absolutely right about this, though, “Until people are really hurting, this charade will continue.”
History bears this out. people have never had a revolution until they are hurting so bad, there is nothing left to lose.
nancy pelosi is a phoney and a criminal.she is a mole and an avatar,that posed a rally against bush and now it is obvious she is a covert member of the bush crime syndicate.her first official act was to TAKE IMPEACHMENT OFF THE TABLE..so the american people had no recourse,to stop the war(an invasion that never should be allowed)and the criminals that premeditated the lies to start the war.nancy pelosi then thru the doors wide open,and gave carte blanche to bush,to misapproriate as much money as he wants,from money that rightfully belongs to the american people.that wornout mantra, that it is money for support of the troops,IS A BIG WHOPPING LIE..i doubt that even 10 percent of the money goes to support the troops.it goes to bushes friends,the big contractors,it goes to terrorist private’security’the money is being given to people and things the american people would never agree to.even after 9/11,the american people would have liked to see their money spent on OUR HOMELAND SAFETY.OUR EDUCATION AND OUR HEALTH.NANCY AND GEORGE,Are A TANDEM TEAM,and they are criminals,supporters of genocide,bankrolling terrorists,robbing the coffers of the american people.nancy pelosi,as speaker of the house,could have stopped this tragedy awhile ago,nancy pelosi,as speaker of the house SHOULD have demanded an investigation into the billions and billions of dollars,of our money-THAT IS MISSING and unaccounted for.NANCY PELOSI IS A CRIMINAL AND SHE SHOULD SHARE A CELL OR A FIRING SQUAD..RIGHT NEXT,GEORGE BUSH !!
Kivals and RichM…
hilarious! thanks for the laugh. i expect to see it as a headline in the onion this week!
Man, what are we going to do with these damned Democrats? Their reluctance to take a strong stand against the Bush regime is infuriating, and all I can think about is lining them all up and slapping the hell out of everyone of them who doesn’t support cutting the funds for continued war.
The Pelosi-led Democrats are still allowing themselves to be politically bullied by Republicans who absolutely relish bullying wimpy Democrats, even when the Democratic position is supported by the majority of the population! Democrats have demonstrated that they fear being tarred as anti-military when some voted to condemn MoveOn’s ad, while they speak up weakly and meekly against Republicans who do the same (i.e., Rush Limbaugh).
Kucinich ‘08!!
rebelnow, The second American Revolution was the one fought by Daniel Shays and his militia. If it weren’t for those guys, who scared the hell out of the wealthy land owners, it may very well be that we would have no Bill of Rights now at all.
Some of you have just about hit it.
What the majority of American people want isn’t important to the members of any branch of “our” government - it’s what certain Americans want that counts: those in the oil industry, weapons manufacturers, the giant multi-nationals that can’t even be categorized because their subsidiaries are so varied - (and who aren’t paying the tax rate of the average American).
The truth is the our government does not represent us. They represent the Lobbist, Military Industrial Complex, and big business making them big bucks! “We the people” is a joke…we are no longer a democracy ~ if we have ever truly been one. I’m fed up with all the blab-blab-blah that comes out of Washington they are all talking fools full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
I agree with Emily Anne. So most Americans want funding for the war cut. What are they going to do about it? Our politicians sure as hell won’t do it.
After Clinton, Edwards, and OBama failed to show any leadership whatsover, and opposition to the current war funding, how can any competent person on the left vote for any of these three.
Kucinich all the way.
Has anyone seen KEM PATRICK or greengal?
Here I are. But there are a lot of regulars missing for some reason. We leave tomorrow for a three week fishing trip. I ain’t gonna be where I can read anything except the books I take with me.
On this article, when have most Americans gotten anything they asked for? We sure didn’t ask for owning Iraq, or for Bush to be our king.
I found this brief passage by Arthur Silber about the Democrats’ craven vote for majority Democrat support of a “sense of the Senate” to allow Bush to attack Iran to be the seminal example of the Democrat gutlessness, treason, and enabling of this whole friggin global corporate fascist Empire of “Vichy America”:
http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2007/09/depravity-of-empire.html
“You have to hand it to the Washington Democrats and those commentators and bloggers who continue to shill for them. The Democrats count on the American public and their lobotomized lapdogs not to remember significant events from one week to the next — and the Democrats’ enablers willingly render themselves deaf, dumb and blind. The Democrats first put on a phony show of aggressively questioning Petraeus and doubting his propagandistic claims, and very shortly thereafter they rely on Petraeus’s lies to set the stage for World War III.
I almost admire the Democrats’ defenders in a certain way. The Democrats stab them deep in the gut and, while the knife is disemboweling them, the Democrats continue to lie in their agony-ridden faces — and the victims still tell these bastards they will continue to support them. This collection of subhumans give sado-masochists a bad name. The commitment to cruelty, self-abasement and self-humiliation is all but perfect. It’s no wonder they can regard one genocide after another with equanimity. It appears none of these people has a conscience any longer to be troubled in the smallest degree.
I will not go over the significance of the Revolutionary Guard amendment. I went over that ground in detail in “The Worsening Nightmare.” Let it be noted that, if and when World War III destroys much of the world and the comfortable, ignorance-ridden lives of many Americans, neither the Democrats nor their defenders should look to any remotely civilized person for forgiveness. It will not be forthcoming.”
Silber says it very well indeed. The Democrats are as much the enemy of democracy as the proto-fascist Republicans. If the Democrats did not exist, the Republicans would have to invent them to keep the ‘rubes’ hooked.
The global corporate fascist ruling-elite Empire wouldn’t be able to keep their death-star war Empire going and hidden behind this facade of “Vichy America” if they did not have the active help of the deceitful and traitorous Democrats.
Goebbels must be saying to himself in his grave, “If I had just invented a totally gutless, foil-like, phony-second-party, like the Democrats, Mein Fuhrer, the Nazi Empire could have kept on living forever.” “Why, we could have fooled everyone inside and outside Germany forever, by simply flipping back and forth between the tougher Nazi party and the softer sounding Democrat party and kept them both under the very same ruling-elite Empire.”
I have never heard of funding a war-while at the same time ignoring basic human rights in this country.
I thought that is what socialism and communism were doing. North Korea, red russia and cuba care more for their own than usa.
amacd,
Great quote. The other thing Goebbels would have done differently is to de-symbolize fascism. Get rid of the crooked cross, the stiff-arm and the brownshirts. Slip fascism in slowly, so that the people don’t even see it creeping in. Perhaps build it into the economy, the workplace.
If the Dems didn’t exist, the Republicans certainly would need to invent them — lest a genuine populist/left counterweight to authoritarian/right radicalism should emerge. We’ll see how long the illusion can be maintained. I don’t give it more than 10-20 years.
Al Jazeera’s Rageh Omar (Witness Documentries) in Iran a great film:
http://tinyurl.com/2ta9tz
“Most in Poll Want War Funding Cut”,so lets see if I got this right?
We live in democracy and the morjority of the people say they want the funding cut!
So,what’s the problem,cut the funding and bring them home!
Unless of course we really don’t live in a democracy where the majority rules.
Since when do conservatives care about what the majority thinks?
Kem, you gave me an idea. Come tax time we write “Gone Fishin” on the tax forms. Somehow we need to stop funding these bastards. Have a good trip.
The big picture is that, although America is overwhelmingly against this war, and the 2006 elections basically served as a referendum against it, the preliminary vote in the Senate was 93-2.
The AIPAC lobby for Israel have done their job. Both parties have succumbed to their generous “campaign contributions” and if you do not accept their generosity, intimidation tactics.
The only recourse for us is to brand AIPAC as a “terrorist organization” and to cut off their influence on our elected officials.
I am beginning to think it is a Texas macho thing!
If you don’t get it by yet, maybe this will help. The Senate just gave Baby Caligula all the money he wanted to continue the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. That’s your money, by the way. The sham liberal Democrats have no more intention of discontinuing the murderous and entirely corrupt policies of the U.S. than the piece of human filth in the White House.
Hey Kem,
Have a safe trip. Enjoy your vacation and we look forward to seeing your posts again when you return.
Best regards,
Claudius
Very simply, the Democraps are the Washington Generals to the Republicons’ Harlem Globetrotters.
The sooner we stop deluding ourselves that the Dems are our allies, the sooner we can start making effective change.
don’t know if anybody mentioned that there is no stalemate. that both parties are funding war. might put a halt to the dow
mookie, Thanks for the info in the 2nd Revolution, Shay’s Rebellion. Ironically my ancestors were a part of that rebellion, they had moved to Western Massachusetts in the early 1700’s, themselves descendants of founders, along with Roger Williams, of the Rhode Island colony.
I should have known what you meant. So few know the significance of Shay’s Rebellion.