All better now.
Posted on 01/16/2006 12:44:48 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON (AP) - Economic worries have decreased over the last six months as the American public has shifted its concern more to the war in Iraq and problems faced by political leaders, AP-Ipsos polling found.
The economy has been showing signs of strength in recent months. But the violence in Iraq has continued, before and after the latest round of elections in mid-December. And high-profile politicians in this country have been ensnared by scandal.
When people were asked in an open-ended question to name the nation's top problem, 25 percent named war, close to the level in October, but up from 19 percent in July. The number of people who named political leaders as the most important problem has almost tripled, from 5 percent in July to 14 percent as the new year starts.
"The war is a problem that fouls up what we need to do in the world," said Peter Palys, a lawyer from Wheaton, Ill. "My feelings about Iraq have solidified over the last six months. ... We can't stay; we can't leave, and we can't win. Our success or failure is not in our hands."
American troops are still dying at a rate of about two per day and the insurgency has shown no clear signs of weakening in recent months. But U.S. officials are heartened by progress they see in training Iraqi security forces - a key step toward disengaging U.S. forces.
While violence continues in Iraq, scandals involving prominent.
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is facing trial on felony charges in a Texas campaign finance investigation. He's one of several lawmakers who were close to lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff lavished favors on lawmakers and is now cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to corruption charges.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, sometimes mentioned as a possible 2008 presidential candidate, is under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York and by the Securities and Exchange Commission because of his handling of stock sales. U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., pleaded guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes.
"It's a steady drumbeat," said Walter Mebane, a professor of government at Cornell University. "People who aren't political junkies may not follow the names, but they're always hearing something about corrupt politicians in Washington."
Neal Bowser, a carpet technician from Westchester, Pa., said the bribery scandals are his top concern now.
"Money seems to be corrupting the whole bottom line," he said. "Our political leaders are not working for the people when they're working for their own pockets."
Public concern about the economy, while still relatively high, has been declining. About one in five, 21 percent, named economic issues as the top problem, down from 28 percent in July, according to the poll of 1,001 adults taken Jan. 3-5. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The economy has been bolstered by a strong housing sector, a rising stock market and relative strength in jobs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crept above 11,000 last week before slipping a bit at week's end.
Some still worry about the economy, however.
"I think the economy is still struggling now, and I won't be surprised if it gets worse," said Wes Byers, an engineer from Wellington, Colo. "I don't think jobs are there like they used to be, especially better-paying jobs. There's getting to be a bigger and bigger gap between low-income and high-income people."
Oh, gee, can't be that people aren't listening to the constant barrage of false-negative economic blathering by the media???
Exactly.
The sky isn't falling and the late Clinton recession is over.
Just "love" the brilliant Iraq quote by the lawyer "We can't win, we can't lose." Sounds like a liberal's head spinning because we ARE winning.
>>the American public has shifted its concern more to the war in Iraq<<
No, the American public has shifted its concern to dismissing BS like this, AP.
IPSOS
Ineffectual
Polling
Service
Owned by
Surrenderist
"the insurgency has shown no clear signs of weakening in recent months."
Total bull. Clue to AP: The insurgency is engaged in red-on-red attacks against Al Queda, b/c they are angrier with the foreign terrorists than the Americans, and realize they have a better chance of surviving by participating in the political process.
AP needs to read Micheal Yon, Belmont Club, and Iraq The Modle to find out whats really going on. The 25% who are defeatist cynics are the ones who get spoonfed prop by CNN, et al.
"Staff Writer from AP"
Doesn't even have the balls to sign his name to this BS.
AP-IPSOS has been completely discredited. As some wise author stated, an AP-IPSOS poll gives us a good understanding of what the French think. Hey, lets oversample democrats by 10, 20, hell even 30% to get the result we want, love and kisses, the AP.
All better now.
Must be a social engineer.
Just going by the headline I would call this a shift in the direction of more rational thinking by those surveyed. If I got to choose between an ideal economy for 2006 and the survival of western civilization forever, I would lean toward the latter.
IPSOS means lie is french. They have their offices there. It makes it easier for people to understand them that way.
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