Posted on 09/10/2014 6:54:09 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
An abundance of polls over the last week taking the temperature of the American public on the threat posed by the Islamic State have begun to paint a clear picture of how the United States was reshaped by a summer dominated by tales of ISIS’s horrors. Americans, it turns out, were profoundly affected by events overseas, disquieted by the apparent new threat to national security posed by this uniquely terrorizing force, and appalled at the slaughter of American hostages.
Two polls released this week showed that nine out of every 10 Americans believe ISIS represents a threat to national security. For independently minded Americans, that’s a strikingly uniform level of agreement on this issue. Now we know why: The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that the beheadings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were the most penetrating news events of the Obama presidency.
“While those surveyed weren’t asked directly about that event, the poll found that 94% had heard news of the two murders, a higher level of public attention than given to any of 22 news events the Journal/NBC News survey has tested since 2009,” a Wall Street Journal write up of the poll read.
Not even the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound drew as much interest or elicited the same level of emotion as had the Islamic State’s barbarism. Bad news travels faster.
New York Times columnist David Brooks has a good take on why the actions of ISIS, like the actions of all fanatical movements with which America has gone to war in the past, inspire such a visceral reaction.
“Our revulsion makes us different from the religious zealots who are prone to commit or celebrate acts like beheadings,” Brooks wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
“Revenge” is such and ugly word. We should follow Obama’s lead and call it “justice”. At least, that’s how it’s applied when calling for redistribution of wealth.
The cancer of liberalism as weakened us to the point that America’s days of being a “sleeping giant” are largely behind us.
It makes obama yawn with disinterest.
As flawed as they were the USA was in a better position of leadership when Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld were at the helm to fight terrorists. Obama/Jarett/Kerry leading us? God help us all.
PS. Old Joe chases only his mouth to the gates of hades.
Best part is thanks to ISIS, Obama’s future, legacy, and even his day-to-day decisions, are now completely out of his hands.
ISIS can jerk him around like a string puppet whenever they want to, just by releasing another video.
Most kids nowadays know nothing of what is happening in the news of the world around them. They walk around listening to their musics and texting the friends.
Well I remember W.W.II amd it was real. The Allies blew enemy military and civilians into hundreds of pieces at a time. Carpet bombing. Sometimes the pieces were cinders. I recall the whole neighborhood cheering Little Boy and Fat Man when they ended the war in the Pacific.
It was war. We won.
Full blown, foaming at the mouth idiot.
However, the reason ISIS is a threat to US interests is because they have crossed the threshold of the Carter Doctrine of January, 1980:
"Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force".
And if it takes the emotional reaction to a couple of beheadings to rally the nation to support legitimate, strategic interests, we'll take it...idiots and all.
Played right, “revenge” can be bantered back and forth for years, with no resolution to the problem. And this the gist of all the turmoil - Democrats are fond of keeping the controversy and adversarial positions alive, but any “compromise” which would solve the indecisiveness once and for all is studiously avoided. They would rather have the issue, to be kept alive and festering, than any conclusive solution once and for all. In domestic policy, in international relations, in open warfare, or in keeping the peace once won.
One would wish the Democrat-liberal-progressive playbook would change a LITTLE from time to time. They have been on the same one since, oh, Teddy Roosevelt, maybe?
“We shall tax and tax, and spend and spend, and elect and elect.” - Harry Hopkins, advisor to FDR.
I have to say, so what?
Watching 3,000 people be murdered in their offices by these barbarians I knew even then that the “never forget” outrage would be a long way short of never. I was more right than even I thought I would be.
The only permanent effect of these atrocities is to spur the government into demanding the people relinquish more liberties. And the people, in their ignorant outrage, eagerly agree.
I don’t believe this time will be any different. I will be proven correct.
Actually the Americans were already enraged by the evidence of Christian children being tortured and beheaded in Mosul. It was WIDELY known to the NON-MEDIA public. Ever hear of the internet? You know, the place where the Americans go to get NEWS????
Now the “powers that be” have an erection for Syria again. All Syria all the time now. Nothing about IRAQ. You know, the only place over there were we actually HAVE a little responsibility.
The Presidents speech tonight will ALL be about bombing Syria. They have a way in now and they are not going to pass up the opportunity. They couldn’t care less about Christian children being slaughtered. They see a chance to get into Syria and topple Assad like they wanted to do two years ago. They will spin it into what they want all the time telling the public it’s for YOUR safety.
Sounds to me that around 10% need to be DEPORTED!!
Let’s all try to figure out what (ahem) “religion” they follow! Three guesses and the last two don’t count!
That was back in the day when common sense prevailed. Nowadays, people want kinder, gentler wars where only the really bad guys get killed. There's a reason war is Hell but when it's done right, it doesn't last for decades.
In many respects liberalism is all about weakness. It seeks to reduce or minimize everything except for the size of government.
Page me when ABC NBC CbS etc. start making the president look bad. Until then, the polls don’t matter.
Vengeance is a dish best served cold and when the US can afford it.
Why not? It doesn’t matter what any of us thinks, the government doesn’t represent us any more, it only represents it’s buyers’ interests.
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