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AP Poll: Fear of Terror Attack Persists; Sept. 11 Memories Almost Universal (Lies & Cheap Shots)
AP | 09.08.04 | Will Lester

Posted on 09/08/2004 12:34:54 PM PDT by ohioconservative

WASHINGTON (AP) - Memories of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 are burned deeply into the nation's consciousness, and Americans today are as fearful of becoming a victim of terrorism as they are of losing their job or having their home burglarized.

In a measure of the trauma of that day, an Associated Press poll found that 98 percent remember exactly what they were doing three years ago when hijackers flew jetliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing almost 3,000.

Those memories can resurface with the most routine cues, a plane flying overhead, a siren from a passing ambulance or news about the ongoing war in Iraq.

"I hardly go to Manhattan any more," said Andre Garcia, a 20-year-old student from the Bronx borough of New York City. "I don't call it a fear, I call it 'me being safe,' I don't want to be over there when it happens."

Dawn Davis, a 40-year-old working mother in rural Arkansas, remembers hearing about the attacks that day, turning on the television and staying glued to the set for the rest of the day, watching the Twin Towers collapse, people falling to their deaths, pedestrians fleeing in the streets.

"I just stayed on the couch, crying all day," she said. Now when she hears a plane go overhead, she sometimes wonders: "I think it could be a plane ready to bomb where we live."

For most, the dominant feeling about that day was deep anger that anyone would commit such an act against this country, the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs found. Republicans and Democrats were equally likely to say they felt that way.

Juan Jose Torres, a 32-year-old eighth-grade teacher from Laredo, Texas, says that after the attacks his students overwhelmed him with questions he couldn't answer.

"I had to admit I didn't know what was going on," Torres said. "I just freaked out.

"The memory pops up from time to time," he said. "If I hear a siren, the first thing I think of is 9-11. If somebody screams, I think about 9-11."

About four in 10 Americans say they worry about becoming a victim of terrorism. That's about the same level of concern people have about getting burglarized or losing their job.

Women were more likely than men to worry about being victimized by terrorists, but they were also more likely to worry about other things such as a burglary or having a car accident.

Heather Rojo, a 26-year-old wife and mother from Pierre, S.D., says she feels insulated from terrorism now, after feeling threatened when she and her husband lived in Orange County, Calif.

"The times the worry pops up with me is when we fly a couple of times a year," she said. "I actually have chosen to drive instead of flying."

When people are asked who they blame for the terrorist attacks, most name the terrorists, but seven in 10 said they blame the CIA and almost that many faulted the FBI and airline security.

"It's a little bit of everybody's fault," said Jeannie Cvetich, a 57-year-old leasing agent from Shoreview, Minn. "But I think it was unavoidable. How could you possibly think that was going to happen?"

Only one in five of those who worry about a terrorist attack say it affects how they live.

For Tony Volpitta, a 34-year-old father of three daughters from Curtis, Ohio, it's more of a nagging fear about the future.

"I just hope I can watch them graduate," Volpitta said of his daughters. "I hope we're not all on the run like in 'Terminator.'"

The poll found people who are most concerned about terrorism are more likely to support President Bush, but they're also more likely to blame him for the attacks.

Those who were not as concerned about a terrorist attack were more likely to support Democrat John Kerry.

The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 adults was conducted Aug. 27-29 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 3rdanniversary; september12era
"When people are asked who they blame for the terrorist attacks, most name the terrorists, but seven in 10 said they blame the CIA and almost that many faulted the FBI and airline security."

Umm... If most people blame the terrorists, how can SEVEN out of TEN blame the CIA, as AP claims? 7 out of 10 beats "most," doesn't it?

Just another AP lie?

"I just hope I can watch them graduate," Volpitta said of his daughters. "I hope we're not all on the run like in 'Terminator.'"

Cheap shot after his great speech at the RNC.

"The poll found people who are most concerned about terrorism are more likely to support President Bush, but they're also more likely to blame him for the attacks."

I'm not sure what they're saying above. Doesn't make sense. For instance, if the statement above were true, Spain wouldn't be run by Socialists right now.

"Those who were not as concerned about a terrorist attack were more likely to support Democrat John Kerry."

The enemy within cares little about the United States and therefore votes John Kerry. That's a better way to put it.

1 posted on 09/08/2004 12:34:57 PM PDT by ohioconservative
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To: ohioconservative
Help is on the way:


2 posted on 09/08/2004 12:38:05 PM PDT by SpeakingUp (Kerry lied, The NYT lied, and 1,800,000 Cambodians DIED)
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To: ohioconservative

Callers to the talk shows here in liberal Austin actually believe the terrorist threat is overblown. They actually believe people are being "scared" by a threat that doesn't exist.


3 posted on 09/08/2004 12:39:17 PM PDT by TXBubba ( Democrats: If they don't abort you then they will tax you to death.)
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To: TXBubba

Haven't these people heard about what happened in Russia?


4 posted on 09/08/2004 12:40:18 PM PDT by Merry
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To: ohioconservative

Perhaps they were allowed more than a single choice in answering the question.

The terrorists are of course primarily to blame, but recent administrations, Congress and Americans in general, along with the intelligence community, certainly have some responsibility for failing to imagine such an attack.


5 posted on 09/08/2004 12:42:14 PM PDT by Restorer (They have the microphone, but we have the remote.)
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For the 100th time - not hijackers - TERRORISTS!


6 posted on 09/08/2004 12:43:02 PM PDT by b2stealth
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To: Merry

You know, even if they did I'm sure they would deny say the Russians deserved it. In fact, someone tried to make that point on one of the national shows the other day. I can't remember which one though. Maybe someone here can remember that show and caller. It was either Ingram, Rush, Schnit(sp?) or Savage I think.


7 posted on 09/08/2004 12:43:49 PM PDT by TXBubba ( Democrats: If they don't abort you then they will tax you to death.)
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To: ohioconservative
.
NEVER FORGET! Here is my Tribute to the Victims of 9-11. My heart still breaks.
.
8 posted on 09/10/2004 8:40:49 AM PDT by christie (John F. Kerry Timeline - http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html)
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