Posted on 10/08/2005 7:35:16 PM PDT by neverdem
Poll finds fears about gas prices, Iraq, the economy and disaster costs
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Evangelicals, Republican women, Southerners and other critical groups in President Bush's political coalition are worried about the direction the nation is headed and disappointed with his performance, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
That unease could be a troubling sign for a White House already struggling to keep the Republican Party base from slipping over Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, Gulf Coast spending projects, immigration and other issues.
"Politically, this is very serious for the president," said James Thurber, a political scientist at American University. "If the base of his party has lost faith, that could spell trouble for his policy agenda and for the party generally."
Sentiment about the nation's direction has sunk to new depths at a time people are anxious about Iraq, the economy, gas prices and the management of billions of dollars being spent for recovery from natural disasters.
Only 28 percent say the country is headed in the right direction while two-thirds, 66 percent, say it is on the wrong track, the poll found.
"There is a growing, deep-seated discontentment and pessimism about the direction of the country," said Republican strategist Tony Fabrizio.
Supporters uneasy
Among those most likely to have lost confidence about the nation's direction over the past year are white evangelicals, down 30 percentage points since November, Republican women, down 28 points, Southerners, down 26 points, and suburban men, down 20 points.
Bush's supporters are uneasy about issues such as federal deficits, immigration and his latest nomination for the Supreme Court. Social conservatives are concerned about his choice of Miers, a relatively unknown lawyer who has served as White House counsel.
The president's job approval is mired at the lowest level of his presidency — 39 percent. While four of five Republicans say they approve of Bush's job performance — enthusiasm has dipped over the last year.
Party backing slips
In December 2004, soon after his re-election, almost two-thirds of Republicans strongly approved of the job done by Bush. The AP-Ipsos survey found that just half in his own party feel that way now.
The poll of 1,000 adults was conducted by Ipsos, an international polling company, from Monday to Wednesday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
"banned" not "band". Doh!
"Count me among those who think Bush is leading the country down the wrong path. I've lost complete confidence in him.?
Bush is leading the country down the path that he was selected to do and that is racing America into the clutches of the NEW WORLD ORDER!
"Who said Bush was ever conservative?"
Tell me. Did you have your lower lip out, your head bowed, and your arms folded and stamping your feet as you wrote this?
Consider the amnesty issue though. As long as any solution is stymied, nothing gets done. At least put them on work permits and identify them properly.
I don't like giving someone amnesty for an illegal act. But, we gotta do something soon.
I agree that he could certainly show more attention, or at least publicize what the hell he is doing.
He is not perfect, but he's not as bad as some have made him out to be lately. That really is a tactic of the fringe.
"If your son is serving, you are, too. Thank him and thank you."
Thank you for your words. I know where my son was his last deployment. His mother and I were terrified every day.
Why? Hasn't fighting two wars, a war against terrorism, dealing with 9/11, Katrina, and dealing with the Senate, the news media, the UN, convinced you that Bush is worth having confidence in?
Maybe you think Bush needs to do a bit more. Is that it? I mean, maybe there's a little bit more Bush could do to show that he deserves "confidence."
Absolutely classicly clever statement you thought and wrote. Like your screen name too.
I agree. I would support a strictly enforced guest-worker program, but those Republicans who are trying to tell us that McCain/Kennedy bill is just that are absolutely lying to us. I just wish he would get serious about funding the border patrol so we can essentially get control of our borders, than we can start to worry about a guest-program for those already here.
Amnesty is the worng way though. It would not solve any of our problems, but only compound them. Sometimes I am very encouraged by his words, but at other times I'm just not sure what to make of him. IMHO, all he needs to do is recognize that the vast majority of public support is on the side of enforcement first and no amnesty. His best bet would be to listen to ignore the big interest groups on this one, and just listen to the people. I'm hoping he does.
BTW., I agree that he is not as bad as some have made him out to be. But I think this anger is just a manifestation of a couple major issues that have been boiling over for a while now, such as illegal immigration and spending. My guess is people are starting to see that his time in the WH will not last forever, and they would like to see him tackle these issues. I'm one of those people.
As a single question out of any context, I agree. I posted this story because it put in the context of Bush voters who have voiced disappointment for quite a number of good reasons.
The White House and the Congress needs to wake up and smell the coffee, or there may be rude shocks in 2006 and 2008. I'm not pleased at the prospect of dems winning because a demoralized base stayed home.
How do you fight a war on world wide terrorism, against those that claim to want to kill all Americans, and then readily accept, or ignore the fact that 5 million people have entered illegally, while hundreds of thousands continue to enter? I dunno. To me this is simple crazy, and a recipe for a disaster, that were just asking for.
OMG, now they're using the war to stifle dissent on this SCOTUS nomination! I've seen it all!!!
Yesterday we were accused by one FReeper of "ruining this woman's life". Can you believe it!
Yes I did. How did you Know?
I was asked this very question by a pollster last year, and that's exactly the way they ask the question. Which leads me to believe they don't really want any meaningful answer.
I think you are spot on with your positions. I am up in the air about amnesties (?) I just want them identified, licensed, insured, and taxed like me.
I did a little research on Posse Comitatus and all that, and GWB can't just close the borders. But I sure would like to see the Border Patrol treated as the Coast Guard and allowed to use military assets.
I would bet it is on his agenda. Remember, we don't know what Vincente Fox might have shared with him privately.
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