Poll: Obama Better Than Bush — On National Security And Terrorism
Striking findings buried in the new Democracy Corps poll:
When it comes to national security, do you think President Obama is doing better, worse, or about the same as President George W. Bush?
Total better: 39
Total worse: 31
And:
When it comes to combating terrorism and handling terrorism suspects, do you think President Obama is doing better, worse, or about the same as President George W. Bush?
Total better: 38
Total worse: 31
So Obama is rated better than Bush on national security and terrorism and the handling of terror suspects — despite the fact that the Cheneyites have been arguing for months that by undoing Bush policies, Obama has made us less safe.
The poll also finds that Obama retains a high 58% approval rating on national security and 55% on terrorism. Republicans in Congress, meanwhile, score 45% on national security.
What’s more, as Spencer Ackerman notes, this poll also has some numbers that drive home, yet again, one of this blog’s pet theories: That Congressional Dems, by skittishly refusing to have any kind of message at all on national security, are only hurting themselves.
To wit: Only 43% approve of Dems on national security — less than Republicans, and far less than Obama. Saying nothing on these issues doesn’t help, see?
Now, a few caveats. This is a Dem poll. But it’s a well respected firm. And there are some warning signs in this poll: Many voters have rising doubts about Obama’s handling of terror suspects, even if they do prefer him to Bush.
But overall, the poll shows clearly that there’s no justification whatsoever for the Dems’ strategy of receding meekly into the background on these issues, rather than vocally allying themselves with Obama on them.
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Update: I should have added that this poll was also done with Third Way, a centrist think tank.
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But the most surreal part of Massa’s lengthy radio monologue over the weekend was his tour d’horizon of frat boy antics during his career in the Navy. And one case of what seems to have been an earlier accusation of an improper advance during his Navy days. To put it as antiseptically and briefly as possible, Massa says he walked in on a bunkmate masturbating and jocularly offered to help him. This apparently led to a misunderstanding and the bunkmate requesting different quarters.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/can_i_help_with_that.php?ref=fpblg
All, happy hour roundup posted, lots of whip count stuff:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/terrorism/happy-hour-roundup-175/
Sounds like “he was defenstrated for ulterior political reasons.”
Good point, nickel.
Always here to help you out, ragmatic
Thanks for the new word guys, defenstrated, thrown out of a window, is that like being thrown under the bus or to the wolves?
I misspelled it. Missing e. Darn typos. But yes.
Ask the Afghan Taliban and the insurgents dodging Predator strikes in Pakistan who is a more formidable foe, Obama or Bush.
I am praying that we bag Mullah Omar, bin Laden or Al Zawahiri soon, the sort of event that would emasculate the Republicans on terrorism.
“…Third Way, a centrist think tank.”
Sure, if you define “centrist” as running as a Democrat but soliciting big business “contributions” like a Republican, and governing with those donations in mind.
Funny how this duplicitous two-faced existence built on a lie seems to be the accepted definition of centrist, transforming what used to be called an appalling lack of principle into a 21st century virtue.
To me, a centrist is one who supports what the great big middle thinks, like putting a public option in the health care bill.
I bet you won’t find a Third Way-er who will actually risk political capital on support of the public option. Sure, they’ll say they support it, because it’s suicide to admit otherwise with numbers like these. But when it comes down to it, they won’t lift a finger.
Right, Mr. Emanuel? You’re actually a corporate toe-sucking stooge who pretends to be a centrist, right? Any means necessary to meet your ends, and those ends are one thing and one thing only: power.
“Centrist” indeed.