NYT: With Iraq Driving Election, Voters Want New Approach

[DeepModem Mom]

With Iraq Driving Election, Voters Want New Approach
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MEGAN THEE
Published: November 2, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 — A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday and say Republicans will maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold on to power on Capitol Hill, according to the final New York Times/CBS News poll before the midterm election.

The poll showed that 29 percent of Americans approve of the way President Bush is managing the war, matching the lowest mark of his presidency. Nearly 70 percent said Mr. Bush did not have a plan to end the war, and 80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy.

The poll underlined the extent to which the war has framed the midterm elections. Americans cited Iraq as the most important issue affecting their vote, and majorities of Republicans and Democrats said they wanted a change in approach. Twenty percent said they thought the United States was winning in Iraq, down from a high this year of 36 percent in January....

***

Beyond a quicker exit from Iraq, respondents said they thought a Democratic-led Congress would be more likely to increase the minimum wage, hold down rapidly rising health and prescription drug costs, improve the economy and — as Republicans have said frequently in these closing days of the campaign — raise taxes.

By a slight margin, more respondents said the threat of terrorism would increase under Republicans than said it would increase under Democrats....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/us/politics/02poll.html?hp&ex=1162443600&en=82575ff4b4393828&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[autorank]

1. NYT: Iraq War Frames ‘06 Vote in Last Poll Before Election (Good News)

Thanks NYT. This should just remind us that Kerry did a favor by bringing back Iraq to center stage. This is a poll about total loss of faith in the Republican Party. A majority of respondents did say that neither party had a plan to govern, despite a preference for support of Democrats on most issues.

Iraq War Frames ‘06 Vote in Last Poll Before Election
http://tinyurl.com/ylym3x

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MEGAN THEE
Published: November 1, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 — A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday, and say Republicans would maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold on to power on Capitol Hill, according to the final New York Times/CBS News poll before the midterm election.

The poll found that just 29 percent of Americans approve of the way President Bush is managing the war in Iraq, matching the lowest mark of his presidency. Nearly 70 percent of Americans said Mr. Bush did not have a plan to end the war, and an overwhelming 80 percent said Mr. Bush’s latest effort to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy.

The poll underlined the extent to which the war has framed the midterm elections. Americans cited Iraq as the most important issue affecting their vote, and majorities of Republicans and Democrats said they wanted a change in the government’s approach to the war. Only 20 percent said they thought the United States was winning in Iraq, down from a high of 36 percent in January.

Even beyond the war, the Times/CBS News poll, like most polls taken this fall, included worrisome indicators for Republicans as they go into the final days of a campaign in which many of them are bracing for a loss of seats in both the Houser and the Senate.

Snip

Nearly 75 percent of respondents — including 67 percent of Republicans and 92 percent of Democrats — said they expected Americans troops would be taken out of Iraq more swiftly under a Democratic Congress.

[truthisfreedom]

2. stupid rethugs don't realize AMERICA DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT TAXES.

we've been paying friggin' taxes ALL OF OUR LIVES. the petty stupid refunds and reductions we've been getting have been PEANUTS and we've had PLENTY of years to recognize that. god, it's just amazing to me how stupid bushco is. they fell directly into a steaming pile of their own sh*t.

[FredStembottom]

4. You may be right!

In my blue-collar world it has been "frickin' Democrats taking MY money to give to Welfare queens etc. etc." for 25 years.

But for the last 2 (or so).....nothing. Silence.

I have been wondering why lately and hadn't thought of what you point up: maybe they were insulted when they finally received their vaunted Republican tax cut - and it was a few hundred dollars!:spray:

I'm not kidding, the avid Rush listeners really believed that the Repubs were simply going to mail them into wealth! The contrast must have been humiliating! Combine that with the sky-rocketing gas prices, health care premiums and property tax increases we have all been slammed with (to the tune of thousands of dollars!) and they may simply have gotten over their tax fixation.
Maybe?

Excellent point, truthisfreedom!

[autorank]

3. Sorry Deep Modem Mom...

I'm 2 hours behind you on this one. My LBN skills are lacking!

:blush: