Nearly half of Americans wouldn't vote for Bush again

AFP ^ | 08-23-03

[Brian S]

Sunday August 24, 6:48 AM

A growing number of Americans don't want to see US President George W. Bush re-elected next year, and fear US troops will be drawn into a long, costly occupation of Iraq, according to a Newsweek poll.

For the first time the poll has found that more registered voters -- 49 percent -- would not want Bush to return for a second term in office if the elections were now, compared with 44 percent who would.

Only 23 percent said terrorism and homeland security would be the most important issues for them in the November 2004 election, compared with 48 percent who said deciding factors for them now would be the economy and jobs.

Meanwhile, 69 percent are now convinced the United States will become bogged down in Iraq, without achieving ostensible goals in getting the country back on its feet.

Some 40 percent of them are now "very concerned" US troops will be there for the long-haul.

A majority also fears that US forces will be overextended in the event of a security threat elsewhere, according to the poll in the latest edition of Newsweek -- 29 percent very concerned and 30 percent somewhat concerned.

Americans also think that reconstruction costs in Iraq are too high at one billion dollars per week -- 66 percent said they do not support such spending, compared with 34 percent who said they support current spending levels.

And 53 percent said they would oppose an increase to the figure being spent, with only seven percent not opposed to an increase.

Almost half of people polled -- 47 percent -- said they were very concerned that maintaining troops in Iraq is too expensive and will cause a higher budget deficit, seriously damaging the US economy.

Despite some indications the US president's popularity is on the wane, a majority still approves of the way Bush is handling his job. Some 53 percent supported him compared with 36 who did not, with 11 unsure.

In a Newsweek poll released a month ago, 49 percent said they would like to see Bush re-elected compared with 43 percent who would not.

Voters said they prefered Republican President Bush's stance for dealing with terrorists than what they have seen so far from leading figures among the Democrats.

Some 57 percent said they prefered Bush's position on terrorism to 21 who prefered the Democrats. But 45 percent felt the Democrats had more to offer on stimulating the economy, compared with 36 percent who thought Bush had a better approach.

The survey was taken between August 21-22 on some 1,011 adults aged 18 and above. The poll has a plus or minus three percent error margin.

[Dog Gone]

Hey, nice first post at this forum, idiot.

[cmotormac44]

yes indeed--where are the 'oil profits'??---gasoline is up 20 cents a gallon in the past 2 weeks here in Penna and over 30 cents this summer---are we sending our oil to iraq now?--i am a bush supporter but he sure is hammering me down--at 80+ my ss doesn/r tke care of this crap but i recognize that at least i have some income which is more than many workers are getting these days--something better break quickly for the working stiffs and retirees-

[Brian Allen]

<< You don't even know if Condi Rice wants to export more manufacturing jobs yet. >>

Even if she was to do so, how would she accomplish it?

Put 'em in 40' ocean freight containers, maybe?

And what will she put on the manifests?

Jobs for American Corporations in their overseas' customers' markets, perhaps?

Or will she fool everyone and airfreight 'em?

[Everybody knows, of course, that every American politician, wants to get rid of his constituents' incomes. After all, the bastards might vote for yah if you left them with a means to earn a buck to bless themselves with and to feed and educate their children!]

[Texas_Dawg]

[Everybody knows, of course, that every American politician, wants to get rid of his constituents' incomes. After all, the bastards might vote for yah if you left them with a means to earn a buck to bless themselves with and to feed and educate their children!]

We're all doomed. Every electable politician is a liar and a crook and a RINO or worse. Only I would be perfect because I'm the most loyal American patriot ever and the most honest perfect human being alive. Go, Pat, Go! (He tells it like it is.)

[Beck_isright]

"OH! I seem to remember the same crowd was yelling a while ago that we were in the war for "oil"??????? Well., where are the oil profits?"

And since it cost me $10.00 more to fill up my tank this week than just a little over a week ago, all I have to say is watch the poll numbers and the gas prices. They are inexorably tied together.

[thtr]

I thought they wanted to win the war. Which is it?

I really don’t think Exxon, Mobil or Shell care a wit about winning or loosing the war. In the end OPEC will continue to artificially inflate the world price of crude oil and that sits perfectly fine with them. Their interest is in securing US government backed contracts for equipment, drilling, exploration and pipelines in Iraq. No company (of any type) would be willing to invest with a new Iraq government (unless there are lots of US soldiers there to back up its authority) but they are thrilled to receive US government contracts for rebuilding Iraq’s oil infrastructure. That is their interest in this war. That is also why we do not want Russia “in on the deal” because their oil companies also want a piece of this pie.

” How do you know this?”

Because Iraq used to be a member of OPEC. They were kicked out after their invasion of Kuwait. Iraq is an Arab country and it is an Islamic nation. Despite any reforms we might attempt at democracy, those 2 facts will remain. The Islamic/Arab world would not allow a non-OPEC producer in their neighborhood. There is simply too much money at stake to ever allow that to happen. If independent, and if stable and if their oil infrastructure is updated (all very big ifs), Iraq will join OPEC

[Mr. Mojo]

Listen up, GWB. You want to win the election? It's really not that difficult. All you have to do is come down (very) hard on illegal immigration, bust up a few Muslim terrorist rings run out of mosques (in our own nation), and be a vocal opponent of gun control in all its guises. Don't worry about the PC police. ....Just do it.

[Texas_Dawg]

I really don’t think Exxon, Mobil or Shell care a wit about winning or loosing the war.

You don't?? Well, as one poster told me earlier in the thread, maybe you need to "lose the kneepads".

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969360/posts?page=99#99

[thtr]

”You don't?? Well, as one poster told me earlier in the thread, maybe you need to "lose the kneepads".

Actually, I believe I am thinking independently. It is you that is spouting the Republican Party line. If you don’t believe me do your own research.

[Texas_Dawg]

Actually, I believe I am thinking independently. It is you that is spouting the Republican Party line. If you don’t believe me do your own research.

Is it possible to think independently and agree with the Republicans on something? Just curious.

[thtr]

”Is it possible to think independently and agree with the Republicans on something? Just curious.".

Most definitely! – I voted for Bush. I think his leadership after 9-11 was fantastic – even inspiring. His decision to invade Afghanistan and eliminate the Taliban was courageous and his conduct of that war was exemplary. In my eyes, he has perhaps saved more American lives than any other president in history.

I think he is a good, capable and honest man. That does not mean, however, that I agree with all of his actions or policies. Nor does it mean that I shouldn’t voice my opinion when it differs with his. It is one of the virtues of political debate – we can sometimes disagree with those we normally agree and sometimes agree with those we normally disagree.

[Texas_Dawg]

That does not mean, however, that I agree with all of his actions or policies. Nor does it mean that I shouldn’t voice my opinion when it differs with his. It is one of the virtues of political debate – we can sometimes disagree with those we normally agree and sometimes agree with those we normally disagree.

Is there anyone who disagrees with this?

[Fawnn]

Talk about something that should have been prefaced with a barf alert!

[Fawnn]

That's like taking a poll of fire hydrants and tombstones.

The Dims already register voters from tombstones. Don't give them any ideas of a source for additional voters! ;)

[Fawnn]

We know the exact number and percentage. 50,994,086 (48.4%)

Because of alternative truth in news sources, that number should continue to fall year by year. (Look at how many people used to think Walter Concrite was the most honest man in America!)

For what it's worth regarding an earlier post (the number of which I can't recall): I think the only way Hitlery would campaign that she'd seal the borders would be if the Dims are convinced they don't have the Hispanic vote.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

...a Newsweek poll. nuff said!

[185JHP]

Bush 41 also ticked off a lot of pro-gun types. W probably won't do that.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I doubt anyone could do as much to decrease the threat of terrorism around the world as this administration has done in two short years. Over 6000 terrorists have been captured or killed in the European theater alone. Iraq IS not the European theater (we've done FAR more in Iraq). Our troops and the Coalition forces have done an amazing job. They shouldn't have to save civilization AND inform the world. Why doesn't the WORLD know?

NEWSWEEK reporters and their co-traitors in the AMERICAN press would be tarred and feathered by VIGILANT Americans. It's time to wake up the people.

This article is absolute proof of the corruption and deceit of the DNC PR agents posing as the mainstream American press. Pushing lies daily. Undermining our efforts, endangering our troops, threatening our national security and the #1 reason "why they hate us" around the world.

"They" have to be carefully taught to hate.

The PRESS, not the PRES. is failing the troops, failing the nation.

8 If the press "cared" about the Iraqi people, they wouldn't attack their liberators daily