Posted on 03/19/2003 9:07:47 AM PST by PhiKapMom
Polls Show Growing Support for Bush
2003-03-19
THE Bush administration couldn't rally United Nations Security Council support for military action to disarm Saddam Hussein. But it achieved something that probably is more important on the eve of war: solid backing from the American people.
Polls taken after President Bush's speech Monday night show 65 to 71 percent of Americans support going to war against Saddam's regime, even without the U.N.'s blessing.
Surveys taken by the Washington Post/ABC News, MSNBC and the Wall Street Journal reflect growing support for Bush in excess of the usual patriotic bump a president gets before the outbreak of hostilities.
For example, the Post/ABC News poll showed 71 percent support a war with Iraq, compared to 59 percent two weeks ago. Nearly 66 percent said they approve of the way Bush is handling the confrontation with Iraq, compared to 55 percent a week ago.
The surge in support is coming mostly from Democrats who've come over to the president's position. The Post/ABC News poll found 60 percent of Democrats now agree with Bush, compared to 40 percent in early March. A majority of women (66 percent) also think Bush is doing the right thing.
What seems clear is despite missteps -- Bush's diplomatic team lacks the deft touch displayed by the first President Bush in organizing the 1991 war coalition -- the American public believes this president is right to threaten Saddam with imminent war.
Bush deserves credit for identifying the war's mission and the stakes for America. Americans believe he gave the U.N. a proper chance to disarm Iraq peacefully but now is justified in jettisoning ineffective diplomatic processes to get the job done.
The poll results should give pause to Bush's political opponents, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota and 2004 presidential hopeful John Kerry, D- Mass. Both reacted to Bush's speech with strong criticism of the administration's U.N. efforts.
Daschle, who voted last fall for a congressional resolution ultimately authorizing war against Iraq, said Bush's diplomatic efforts have "failed so miserably." Daschle said it's bad to "give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that is so critical for this country." Kerry, who also voted for the war resolution, said Bush has "clumsily and arrogantly squandered the post-9/11 support of the entire civilized world."
Of course, both have partisan political reasons to blame Bush instead of France or Saddam for the U.N.'s failure to reach consensus. Neither gains much credibility on the issue by merely contending more or better diplomacy should've been exercised.
France's recent announcement that it would veto any Security Council resolution holding Iraq accountable suggests diplomacy ultimately was doomed to failure.
Those who oppose war should now make a decision to support not only U.S. troops, but also their commander in chief. There will be opportunity for constructive criticism of the war's management, if there is war. But partisanship isn't needed or constructive and will only aid Saddam. Daschle's comments may not give comfort to Iraq, said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, "but they come mighty close."
If for no other reason than smart politics, Daschle, Kerry and others would be wise to moderate their comments -- since polling clearly shows that right now they're speaking for only 30 to 35 percent of Americans.
They only CARE ABOUT POWER and everything they are saying and doing is with an eye to attaining that power - they do not CARE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS MIGHT DIE AS A RESULT OF THEIR TREACHERIES - as long as President Bush is blamed and is thrust out of office. THAT is their goal. THAT is the ONLY goal that matters to them.
The "tide" of public opinion has zero - repeat - zero implications to true Marxists - who head the Democratic party. THIS must be understood.
If either of them had suggested even one workable diplomatic solution that hadn't been tried, it would be another matter.
But they have contributed absolutely nothing to the process. Their self-righteousness is belied by their inaction before they even open their mouths.
I hope Daschle enjoyed his Congressional career, because I suspect that it will soon be over.
The music of truth.
You, sir, are a disgrace to your office, this country and the principles upon which it was founded. Do you recall what you said in 1998?"Look, we have exhausted virtually all our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so? The answer is, we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily."
What's the matter, Tommy? You problem appears to be that it isn't one of your own party doing the job - not that the Democrats - and surely not a President Gore - would have done this in the first place.
No, pal - what you're demonstrating is that you and the party you claim to represent is the party of appeasement and treason. You'd sacrifice the safety and prosperity of my family for the sake of power and control. You'd sacrifice the security of this nation for partisan advantage. You would dance in the blood of the brave men and women who will make the ultimate sacrififice in order to keep scum like yourself free to pursue your ambition to dictate the terms of existence to the rest of us.
Rest assured that my family and I will not let this happen under any circumstances. Many of us have sworn an oath to protect the United States and its Constitution against all enemies, foreign AND domestic. You and your party have clearly demonstrated that you are enemies of human freedom and dignity, of the United States and its constitution. In a better, freer world you and those like you would be swinging from the nearest lamp post. With luck and God's grace, you may just yet.
You may want to resubmit it after you've put it through Babelfish and hit "Francais".
To avoid legal hassles, you may want to leave off the last part. Alec Baldwin can get away with it, but we can't.
What forward areas did Daschle serve in again?
BAGHDAD TOMMY DA$$HOLE!
Exactly!
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