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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 11:18:29 AM
From: tonto	2 Recommendations Respond to of 224724

Surprise! LOL People always want someone else to pay the bills. You even wrote that as part of your decision making in supporting a candidate.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 11:28:01 AM
From: longnshort	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224724

did the people who pay NO federal taxes vote ? do you think they should vote on this ???

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 12:18:04 PM
From: TideGlider	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224724

Congressional Favorability Ratings Reid Now Nearly Tied With Pelosi In Terms of Unfavorability Friday, August 20, 2010 Email to a Friend ShareThis.Advertisement In addition to becoming competitive in his bid for reelection in Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is now nearly tied with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when it comes to unpopularity among voters nationwide. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters across the country finds that 56% have at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of Reid, while 59% feel the same way about Pelosi. The good news for Reid that these figures include 47% with a Very Unfavorable opinion of Pelosi, while just 38% hold a Very Unfavorable opinion of him. Twenty-six percent (26%) have a favorable opinion of the Nevada Democrat, but that includes just five percent (5%) with a Very Favorable view. Thirty-four percent (34%) regard the San Francisco congresswoman favorably, with 13% Very Favorable toward her. Still, 19% don’t know enough about Reid to venture any kind of opinion about him, while only seven percent (7%) have no opinion of Pelosi. Neither Democratic congressional leader has been particularly popular since the current session of Congress began early last year, but Pelosi has been the better-known and least popular of the duo for most of that time. Pelosi’s unfavorables have ranged from 52% to 64% in that time period, while Reid’s generally remained in the 40s last year but have been consistently in the 50s since then. But then the majority of voters nationwide believe the Democratic congressional agenda is extreme, while a plurality describes the Republican agenda as mainstream. Speaking of the Republicans, just over one-third of U.S. voters view their congressional leaders unfavorably, but they remain unknowns to another third. (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 17-18, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is viewed favorably by 28% of voters and unfavorably by 38%. This includes just four percent (4%) with a Very Favorable opinion of him and 17% who regard him Very Unfavorably. But 34% have no opinion of the Kentucky senator. Twenty-four percent (24%) have a favorable opinion of House Minority Leader John Boehner, while 39% view him unfavorably. Included in these findings are six percent (6%) with a Very Favorable view and 19% with a Very Unfavorable one. However again, 37% don’t know enough about the Ohio congressman to have any kind of opinion of him. Since the first of last year, McConnell’s unfavorables have ranged from a low of 28% to a high of 38%. Boehner in those same surveys has earned unfavorables ranging from 31% to 42%. Democratic voters like their congressional leaders a lot more than GOP voters like their party’s leaders, though. Voters not affiliated with either party tend to dislike Reid and Pelosi strongly and have mixed feelings about the Republican leaders. But a high number of unaffiliateds also have no opinions about Boehner and McConnell. Most Democratic voters think their representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing Democratic values over the past several years, while even more Republican voters continue to feel that GOP members have lost touch with the party base throughout the nation. Only 37% of voters think their local congressional representative deserves reelection, and 62% say it would be better for the country if most incumbents in Congress were defeated this November. Sixty percent (60%) of voters say most members of Congress don’t care what their constituents think. Nearly two-out-of-three voters (65%) remain at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government, including 40% who are Very Angry. Fifty-nine percent (59%) also continue to feel that neither Republican nor Democratic political leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today. Republicans continue to lead Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot and are trusted more by voters on most key issues. Most voters in the country now believe President Obama and the average Democrat in Congress are more liberal, politically speaking, than they are. Just 26% think Obama shares the same political views they have, and only 23% believe that of Democrats in Congress. But then only 26% think the average Republican in Congress has about the same views politically as they do. Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it's free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 12:27:49 PM
From: TideGlider	1 Recommendation Respond to of 224724

ACT! for America president Brigitte Gabriel went into great detail about the “moderate Muslim” problem Stephens discusses below. We have seen this “moderate Muslim” song and dance many times before, where government officials ignore the true Muslim reformers while spotlighting the likes of Imam Rauf. Think Abdurahman Alamoudi, touted as a paragon of moderation, feted at the White House—until he was convicted on terrorism related charges. He is now serving a 23 year prison sentence. Here’s a question for those insisting Ground Zero Mosque Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is a “moderate.” Why won’t he sign the “Freedom Pledge” sent to him by Former Muslims United? All it asks is that Muslim leaders oppose retaliation against Muslims who leave Islam. Rauf’s refusal to sign a pledge opposing any kind of retaliation against “apostates” proves that his words about “tolerance” are a sham designed to fool the gullible. There are true Muslim reformers in America. Rauf isn’t one of them.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 12:31:21 PM
From: TideGlider	6 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 224724

82% Say Voters Should Be Required to Show Photo ID Thursday, August 19, 2010 An overwhelming majority of Likely Voters in the United States think all voters in the country should be required to present photo identification in order to vote in U.S. elections. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters finds that just 14% disagree and think the current identification system is sufficient. Just 4% are undecided on the issue. This is a sentiment that spans demographics, as majorities in every demographic agree that photo identification should be required to vote. While this is the highest level of support since polling on the question began in 2006, support has always remained very high for such a requirement. (Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on August 11-12, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. The U.S. Justice Department has told a major Ohio county to print bilingual ballots for the November election or it will be sued by the government. But most voters believe that election ballots in this country should be printed only in English. As of about a year ago, two-thirds of American adults nationwide (66%) say their vote really matters on Election Day. With midterm elections less than three months away, nearly two-out-of-three voters (65%) remain at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government in all areas, including 40% who are Very Angry. Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters oppose the Justice Department’s decision to challenge Arizona’s new immigration law in court. Fifty-four percent (54%) think the Justice Department instead should take legal action against cities that provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Even more think the federal government should cut off funds to these “sanctuary cities.” Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters favor passage of a law like Arizona’s in their own state. Most voters (53%) now say it’s better for individual states to act on their own to enforce immigration laws rather than relying on the federal government for enforcement. Fifty six percent (56%), in fact, believe the policies of the federal government encourage people to enter the United States illegally. Most Americans still oppose granting U.S. citizenship automatically to children born in America to illegal immigrants.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/20/2010 10:43:22 PM
From: longnshort	1 Recommendation Respond to of 224724

Pro-Obamacare Senator Blanche Lincoln Down 65-27 in Arkansas Senate Race By Jim Hoft Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) is trailing her Republican opponent John Boozman in Arkansas by 38 points. Rasmussen reported: Support for incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln has now fallen to its lowest level yet as Republican John Boozman remains on track to shift Arkansas' Senate seat to the GOP column. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Arkansas shows Boozman capturing 65% of the vote, while Lincoln earns 27% support. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are not sure. Boozman has been ahead in this race for months. In July, he posted a 60% to 35% lead. In surveys since he won the Republican Primary in May, Boozman has earned 60% to 66% of the vote in matchups with Lincoln, who in turn has picked up 28% to 35% support. Let's hope that Obamacare vote was worth it. It would be interesting to discover what goodies were promised this democrat for her vote to nationalize health care. Good-bye, Blanche.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (89615)	8/21/2010 9:15:02 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 224724

Dems retreat on health care cost pitch By BEN SMITH 8/19/10 politico.com Key White House allies are dramatically shifting their attempts to defend health care legislation, abandoning claims that it will reduce costs and the deficit and instead stressing a promise to "improve it." The messaging shift was circulated this afternoon on a conference call and PowerPoint presentation organized by FamiliesUSA — one of the central groups in the push for the initial legislation. The call was led by a staffer for the Herndon Alliance, which includes leading labor groups and other health care allies. It was based on polling from three top Democratic pollsters, John Anzalone, Celinda Lake and Stan Greenberg The confidential presentation, available in full here and provided to POLITICO by a source on the call, suggests that Democrats are acknowledging the failure of their predictions that the health care legislation would grow more popular after its passage, as its benefits became clear and rhetoric cooled. Instead, the presentation is designed to win over a skeptical public and to defend the legislation — in particular, the individual mandate — from a push for repeal. The presentation concedes that groups typically supportive of Democratic causes — people under 40, non-college-educated women and Hispanic voters — have not been won over by the plan. Indeed, it stresses repeatedly, many are unaware that the legislation has passed, an astonishing shortcoming in the White House's all-out communications effort. "Straightforward ‘policy’ defenses fail to [move] voters’ opinions about the law," says one slide. "Women in particular are concerned that health care law will mean less provider availability — scarcity an issue." The presentation also concedes that the fiscal and economic arguments that were the White House's first and most aggressive sales pitch have essentially failed. "Many don’t believe health care reform will help the economy," says one slide. The presentation's final page of "Don'ts" counsels against claiming "the law will reduce costs and [the] deficit." The presentation advises, instead, sales pitches that play on personal narratives and promises to change the legislation. "People can be moved from initial skepticism and support for repeal of the law to favorable feelings and resisting repeal," it says. "Use personal stories — coupled with clear, simple descriptions of how the law benefits people at the individual level — to convey critical benefits of reform." The presentation also counsels against the kind of grand claims of change that accompanied the legislation's passage. "Keep claims small and credible; don’t overpromise or ‘spin’ what the law delivers," it says, suggesting supporters say, "The law is not perfect, but it does good things and helps many people. Now we’ll work to improve it.” The Herndon Alliance, which presented the research, is a low-profile group that coordinated liberal messaging in favor of the public option in health care. Its "partners" include health care legislation's heavyweight supporters: AARP, AFL-CIO, SEIU, Health Care for America Now, MoveOn and La Raza, among many others. Today's presentation cites three private research projects by top Democratic pollsters: eight focus groups by Lake, Anzalone's 1,000-person national survey and an online survey of 2,000 people by Greenberg's firm. "If we are to preserve the gains made by the law and build on this foundation, the American public must understand what the law means for them," says Herndon's website. "We must overcome fear and mistrust, and we must once again use our collective voice to connect with the public on the values we share as Americans."