Public Opinion on Iraq: Spot A Trend Yet?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 03:33:53 PM EST
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The latest CNN Poll shows a trend that most reasonably intelligent persons should be able to discern:

In the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, taken April 10-12, 69 percent of Americans say things are going badly for the United States in Iraq. That's the most negative assessment yet recorded, up from 54 percent who thought things were going badly last June and 62 percent in October. (Full poll results [PDF])

Let's try it this way:

June 2006 54%
October 2006 62% +8

April 2007 69% +7

Every 4 to 6 months 7-8% of the remaining Americans who do not believe the Iraq Debacle is a debacle come to their senses. I know what you are asking, 'what does this have to do with Reid-Feingold?' Simply this.

By March 31, 2008, how many Americans will there be left who do not believe the Debacle is a debacle? Even better, how many will think it by NOVEMBER 2008? The right place to be politically is to be seen as the Party doing everything it can to END the Debacle. That means supporting Reid-Feingold NOW.

CNN, to their credit, makes this as plain as possible:

Asked which side they take in the standoff between Congress and President Bush, the result is not close: 60 percent of Americans side with the Democrats in Congress and 37 percent with the President.

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Public Opinion on Iraq: Spot A Trend Yet? | 9 comments (9 topical)

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Standing firm with their convictions (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Freewill on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 04:05:20 PM EST

Look at their vote history in the past several years. Look what the Majority did in the last session of Congress and follow the over site that Majority conducted. They have touted themselves as being on the Moral High ground of this issue and they equate their stance to some sort of highly valued personal character. They formed this debate in years past to be a righteous fight, Good vs. Evil and have even gone as far as calling it a Crusade.

How do they (Rove and Associates) retreat from a debacle like this? They will stage themselves as a cornered victim (Martyrs as they see themselves) being forced against their will by the lame opposition. This will allow them to pass any and all blame no matter what the outcome onto the Democratic Party thus maintaining their "We will save you whinny liberals lives" sediment. (Funny, if the opposition is so weak and lame as they paint them why would they (the strong and brave) be placed into a corner?)

For some reason they equate starting wars as being tough on defense. Yet, management of said wars is a tactic that seems foreign to them. They have a proven record of withdrawing from wars when the opposition party held the Executive seat. Wow, in their warped minds they only see themselves as being able to defend this nation because those who think differently from themselves must be weak. It must have been the self-hypnotic, drum beating, repetitive nature of their message machine that has convinced them that they are strong.

What really kills me is; if they are so tough, why do Republicans constantly whine about everything?

Troll Line... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by TomStewart on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 04:44:40 PM EST

Troll: The questions asked were loaded against Bush! ALWAYS CLICK THE LINK!!

Concern Troll: I really fear the Dems strategy of being against the president will backfire on them and be seen as against the troops. If they really want to help their country, they should go along with everything President Bush says and does.

Media: While the Preident's plan appears to be unpopular, we in the media have been told by certain un-named White sources, that the surge is working. Now back to our 24 hour coverage of what we think you should be worrying about...

60% of Americans: why won't they listen...?

Tom, your good! (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Freewill on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 04:50:43 PM EST

"...we in the media have been told by certain un-named White sources..."

White sources! Un-Named! Certain! Media being told instead of investigating! Hystical, I can't stop laughing! Thank you for that humor!


Evidently There Are Dems That Agree (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by MO Blue on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 05:11:07 PM EST

["http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aCwt2LJStHEU&refer=home" Bloomberg]

April 18 (Bloomberg) -- Representative Joe Donnelly, a freshman Democrat from Indiana, voted with his party last month to tie funding for the Iraq war to a timeline for withdrawing troops. Now, with President George W. Bush vowing to veto the measure, Donnelly is ready to compromise.
The Democratic-controlled Congress and Bush need to ``try to find that middle place, work together, get the troops funded,'' Donnelly, 51, told constituents last week at a town- hall meeting in Logansport, Indiana. If the withdrawal timelines are waived or eliminated, he said, ``so much the better."

With this kind of response from a Dem, the Republicans should just shut up and let the Dems sign on to Bush's Stay in Iraq forever policy. This kind of response might work in his Republican leaning district, but I guarantee you that if this is what the Dems finally decide to do, a lot of Americans will lose faith in the Dems and come to the conclusion that they are all talk and no action. A very weak position to take with so much of the country against staying as long as it takes.


Donnelly is from Red Indiana (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 05:26:37 PM EST

but he is being real stupid here.


: Reid told Bush today... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by annefrank on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 07:40:26 PM EST

that he knew after Bush vetoes the Dem bill, he will come after Pelosi and him. He assured Bush the Dems will hit back just as aggressively!

I can't wait! (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by chemoelectric on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 06:07:22 PM EST

I can't wait till we have at least 120% thinking things are going badly.

Maybe that fact would fall under executive privilege for being on TalkLeft servers.

Per Powell Doctrine This War Is Unwinnable (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by john horse on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 06:39:26 PM EST

According to John McCain it does not matter whether this war is popular or not. According to the Powell Doctrine he is wrong.

What was the Powell Doctrine? It was a set of criteria developed by Colin Powell in the aftermath of the Vietnam War for using military force: as a last resort, purpose should reflect national interest, strong public support, executed with overwhelming force and with a clear exit strategy.

The problem for Bush in Iraq is that not only does he not meet the criteria for strong public support but he doesn't meet any of the criteria in the Powell Doctrine. This war is unwinnable.

When a war is unwinnable the best recourse is to cut your losses immediately. Instead the Bush adminstration compounds its error with its "surge". (per Juan Cole) In the last six months US troops have been killed at the highest rate since the war began. Big Tent is right. By November public opinion will be so strongly against this war that its continuation will be politically impossible. What is sad is that in the meantime Americans will continue to die needlessly in Iraq.

The surge is not working (none / 0) (#1)
by magster on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 03:45:17 PM EST

The Republicans cannot withstand the political pressure if the issue keeps coming up for a vote.