Posted on 03/20/2006 7:28:54 AM PST by CyberAnt
Beginning Sunday, GOPUSA initiated a comprehensive survey of grassroots conservatives to better quantify their mood, concerns, and outlook as we enter the 2006 election season.
A set of 25 questions were presented to GOPUSA’s Grassroots Survey Team. The responses, along with full demographic information of survey participants, allow GOPUSA to not only present raw survey results, but also easily analyze the response against many demographic characteristics.
Although completed surveys are still pouring in, over 1,700 have been received so far, and the results paint a clear picture of the pulse of the Republican base. There are signs of hope, but there are also significant causes for concern. Spending and immigration dominate the concerns of the respondents, and although President Bush fared well, Congress did not.
The survey started off by asking the question, “How satisfied are you with the job President Bush is doing?” With a level of 79%, respondents said they were either very satisfied (32%) or somewhat satisfied (47%) with President Bush’s job performance. Only 6% indicated they were very unsatisfied, and 15% said they were somewhat unsatisfied.
Congress, especially the Senate, fared much worse than President Bush. When asked “How satisfied are you with the job the Senate is doing?”, an overwhelming 74% said they were either somewhat unsatisfied (37%) or very unsatisfied (37%) with the Senate. Only 1% of respondents said they were very satisfied with the job the Senate is doing. On the House side, 60% of respondents said they were either somewhat unsatisfied (37%) or very unsatisfied (23%) with the job the House of Representatives is doing.
When asked to rate their own Republican senator and congressman, the legislators faired much better. A majority (63%) of respondents with at least one Republican senator said that they were either very satisfied (24%) or somewhat satisfied (39%) with the job their senator is doing. On the House side, a majority of respondents (71%) said they were either very satisfied (29%) or somewhat satisfied (42%) with their hometown Republican congressman.
On the topic of Iraq, 82% of the respondents strongly believe that the Iraqi people are better off now than they were before the ouster of Saddam Hussein. 81% either strongly believe (30%) or somewhat believe (51%) that Iraq will eventually have a stable, democratic government.
Regarding presidential picks for 2008, Sec. Condoleezza Rice led among respondents with 21% followed by Sen. George Allen at 16%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ranked third with 14%, followed by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 10%.
Respondents were asked to select the most important issue facing America today. Border Security/Immigration led among respondents with 34%, followed by the war on terror with 23%. Other issues of note are moral decline (9%), government spending (7%), and abortion, Iran’s nukes, and corruption of elected officials, each at 4%.
Respondents felt that Iran at 57% posed the biggest security threat to America. China ranked second with 27%. China was the overwhelming pick of respondents (81%) when asked which country posed the biggest economic threat to America.
Turning to illegal immigration, 89% of respondents say that illegal immigration is a “very serious” problem facing America. 86% do not believe that children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should automatically be granted U.S. citizenship. 96% of respondents say that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to obtain a drivers license.
On the topic of corruption, when asked whether recent reports of lobbyists bribing members of Congress represent isolated or common incidents of corruption, 15% of respondents felt the incidents were isolated. 79% felt that recent incidents represent common behavior in Congress. 62% of respondents feel that corruption in Congress is no different now than in the past, while 32% feel it is more common now.
On the political front, respondents are split on their feelings about Republican prospects for success in the 2006 elections. 51% are either somewhat worried (37%) or very worried (14%) about the Republican outcome in the 2006 elections. Only 12% were very confident about 2006 electoral success for Republicans. By 88% to 8%, respondents do not feel that Republican leaders have been strong enough in pushing for conservative legislation and policies. 68% of respondents feel that legislators who are Republicans In Name Only or RINOs represent a “very big problem” to the advancement of the conservative agenda. Another 25% feel that RINOs represent “somewhat of a problem.”
Respondents were asked to rank the biggest successes and failures of Republican-led Washington. On the success side, respondents chose Supreme Court justices (57%) as the biggest success. In second place was the war on terror (18%) followed by tax cuts (17%). On the failure side, government spending was picked by 50% of the respondents as the biggest failure of Republican-led Washington. In second place was immigration reform (34%) followed by energy policy (7%).
The survey paints a rather clear picture of the frustration felt by grassroots conservatives across the country. Despite control of the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, lack of progress on conservative issues has left the Republican base nervous about the future. With a majority of respondents worried about 2006 electoral prospects, Republican leaders should take note and realize that electoral success depends on turnout, and turnout depends on an energized base. If the base remains frustrated, many voters will simply choose to stay home on Election Day.
The importance of government spending and immigration to grassroots conservatives cannot be overstated. In written comments following completion of the survey, respondents were near unanimous in blasting Republicans for their propensity to “spend like Democrats.” In addition, it is clear from the survey that border security and immigration are not just regional issues. When respondents from border states such as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California were removed from the survey results, Border Security/Immigration still led as the most important issue facing America today at 31%.
Republicans want accountability; they want “Republicans to act like Republicans.” It seems like a simple concept, but getting Republicans to push conservative legislation, reduce spending, and implement strong border security measures is a different story. Grassroots conservatives want results, not rhetoric. There is still time to turn things around and get moving on the right track. It starts with Republican leaders paying attention to surveys such as this one and remembering that their loyalty belongs with the grassroots of Main Street and not the lobbyists on K Street.
Highlights (very happy+somewhat happy - or very unsatisfied+somewhat unsatisfied):
Bush: 79% approval [all those repub congress people who are running away from the President - ARE STUPID! The repubs who will vote for you will not be happy that you do not support the President. I predict those who distance themselves from Bush will have the most difficult time getting re-elected .. and if they publically whine about Bush too much .. they will find themselves challenged by a STRONG CONSERVATIVE - who will easily win the day.] This to me is the greatest threat to holding on to majority status in Congress.
Congress: 74% disapproval
Personal repub congressperson: 64% approval
Is Iraq better off: 82% approval
Believe Iraq will succeed: 81% approval
Most important issue: Immigration 89% and WOT
Biggest Threat: Iran and China
Corruption (whole congress): 15% isolated - 79% common
Repubs not strong enough on conservative issues: 88%
RINO's represent big problem: 68%
Biggest success: Courts and WOT
Biggest failure: Immigration and spending
BIGGEST KEY TO SURVEY: Republicans want their Republican leadership to ACT LIKE REPUBLICANS - want results.
Good survey -- pretty much hits all the real issues and the outcome is realistic. The self-serving pols in Washington had better take note -- they are on notice even if they don't realize it...
The poll is great, and our beliefs are great, but all these GOP congress types are gonna do is lip service and then, business as usual. They are spineless and know that conservative voters have no where to go. Unless it is to a spoiler, which is the only real decision a conservative voter has anymore in this country... GOP candidate or Independent spoiler, and a Rat in power.
Nice choices, huh?
Borders is the proof of this concept.
Excellent post. Articles with hair on them, like this one, make Freeping worthwhile. Cuts to the meat of the present situation.
Too bad the RNC won't pay attention to this.
This was an "internet survey" though, wasn't it?
Do you suppose that makes it valid?
And concerning our choices for President in '08: I hope someone new pops out of the woodwork, because the list of nonentities mentioned in this survey is a virtual guarantee of a Dimocrat President next term...
Flawed question. I consider Border Security to be a part of the WoT.
I agree .. and I'm very encouraged to see that most repubs know what the real problem areas are - but what surprised me the most is that 79% of repubs still approve - the last number I saw for that was right after 9/11 when we went into Afghanistan and made such a short war of getting the Taliban out. At that time his approval by repubs was approx 84%.
This shows me that it's not the real repubs who are distancing themselves .. but only those RINO's who probably never approved of him to begin with and are making a stink because they have to in order to appease their liberal friends and supporters.
IF YOU REPUBS ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FROM LIBERALS - YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE!! Liberals won't elect you!!
Turning to illegal immigration, 89% of respondents say that illegal immigration is a “very serious” problem facing America. 86% do not believe that children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should automatically be granted U.S. citizenship. 96% of respondents say that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to obtain a drivers license.
So do I. But apparently President Bush and the rest of our leaders do not.
Well .. anybody who chooses to be a "spoiler" has rocks for brains.
It isn't the repubs in congress who lose - IT'S US - WE'RE THE ONES WHO LOSE - SO CUTTING OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE IS JUST PLAIN STUPID!!
You make your congress person accountable. Get on the phone, email, letters; call their local office every day ans ask them when they going to start acting like a repub and not a whining liberal.
If we sit back and do nothing - WE ARE WORSE COWARDS THAN THEY ARE.
Well then .. it's up to us to get them to pay attention, instead of just sitting here whining about things.
WE NEED TO DO - IT'S GOVT "BY THE PEOPLE" - SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TELL OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE WHAT THE REAL ISSUES ARE AND REMINDING THEM THAT "K" STREET WILL NOT ELECT THEM - ONLY OTHER REPUBS WILL.
Call your reps local office and let them know - consistantly - how you feel about their actions.
Well .. this survey was only sent to REPUBS - and I would presume that makes it official.
This is not a survey that got stuck on the front pages of a website - for all comers.
But .. I can understand why people don't want to believe such positive numbers .. because the old media has been telling us just the opposite.
These numbers also tell me that Battleground's poll number for Bush at 46% is more accurate (using both dems and repubs), than CBS's 34%.
My reps office called here the other day. I told them, not only should he not count on my vote, he should count on me voting against him because the time for promises was long past.
Sorry .. I forgot to comment about your concern for the choices for President - you obviously haven't studied the possible candidates very much .. or you were hoping for McCain's name to be on the list.
And .. what makes these candidates a sure thing for dems in '08 ..?? I think you're way off base.
Republicans alwasy for FOR something. Dem's always vote against things - hence it is constant conversation you hear from both siade.
The GOP's problem is that Republicans in congress have given us nothing to vote FOR.
YOu pick any issue - the current crop has simply increased funding and continued the failure of every government system and when the fundraisers call and you challenge them on the issues the only respose you get is "well, we are better then the other guy".
The NRSC has not seen any donations from me is quite a while.
Well .. I don't agree with you!
Border issues have been in the forefront for a long time - and the WOT just started 3 years ago.
While their is a connectiion - because we know there have been several attempt to sneak people across the border - the 9/11 hijackers CAME HERE BY LEGAL MEANS.
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