World leaders flying into Copenhagen today to discuss a solution to global warming will first face freezing weather as a blizzard dumped 10 centimeters (4 inches) of snow on the Danish capital overnight.
“Temperatures will stay low at least the next three days,” Henning Gisseloe, an official at Denmark’s Meteorological Institute, said today by telephone, forecasting more snow in coming days. “There’s a good chance of a white Christmas.”
…
Denmark has a maritime climate and milder winters than its Scandinavian neighbors. It hasn’t had a white Christmas for 14 years, under the DMI’s definition, and only had seven last century. Temperatures today fell as low as minus 4 Celsius (25 Fahrenheit).
Let him know you support his opposition to the health care bill as long as it does not include the Senate equivalent of the Stupak amendment. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has held strong, and it appears his constituents support his opposition. His contact information can be found here.
For those of you who are not opposed to the public funding of abortion, but still opposed to the Senate health care bill, please let the senator’s office know you oppose the bill because of its high costs and tax increases.
Rasmussen Survey on Global Warming and Energy
How serious a problem is Global Warming?
- Very serious 32% [34%] (38%)
- Somewhat serious 25% [28%] (22%)
- Not very serious 23% [18%] (23%)
- Not at all serious 18% [16%] (13%)
Is Global Warming caused primarily by human activity or by long term planetary trends?
- Human activity 34% [37%] (38%)
- Long term planetary trends 50% [47%] (46%)
- Some other reason 6% [5%] (3%)
Does Barack Obama believe global warming is caused primarily by human activity or by long term planetary trends?
- Human activity 51% [50%] (54%)
- Long term planetary trends 23% [20%] (17%)
- Some other reason 9% [9%] (7%)
Is there a conflict between economic growth and environmental protection?
- Yes 44% [44%] (38%)
- No 25% [31%] (36%)
Which is more important, finding new sources of energy or reducing the amount of energy Americans now consume?
- Finding new sources of energy 55% [58%] (55%)
- Reducing the amount of energy Americans now consume 34% [34%] (37%)
Should more nuclear power plants be built in the United States?
- Yes 54% [52%] (54%)
- No 31% [35%] (26%)
Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted December 14-15. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted November 11-12 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted October 8-9 are in parentheses.
Inside the numbers:
Belief that human activity is the primary cause of global warming has declined significantly over the past year. In April 2008, 47% blamed human activity and only 34% named long-term planetary trends as the reason for climate change.
PPP (D) South Dakota Gubernatorial Survey
If the candidates for Governor next year were Republican Dennis Daugaard and Democrat Scott Heidepreim, who would you vote for?
- Dennis Daugaard 42%
- Scott Heidepreim 29%
- Undecided 29%
If the candidates for Governor next year were Republican Dave Knudson and Democrat Scott Heidepreim, who would you vote for?
- Dave Knudson 39%
- Scott Heidepreim 29%
- Undecided 32%
If the candidates for Governor next year were Republican Scott Munsterman and Democrat Scott Heidepreim, who would you vote for?
- Scott Munsterman 35%
- Scott Heidepreim 30%
- Undecided 35%
If the candidates for Governor next year were Republican Ken Knuppe and Democrat Scott Heidepreim, who would you vote for?
- Ken Knuppe 32%
- Scott Heidepreim 30%
- Undecided 37%
Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}
- Dennis Daugaard 18% / 15% {+3%}
- Dave Knudson 14% / 14% {0%}
- Scott Heidepreim 21% / 23% {-2%}
- Scott Munsterman 10% / 12% {-2%}
- Ken Knuppe 4% / 14% {-10%}
Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Mike Rounds’ job performance?
- Approve 55%
- Disapprove 32%
Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Tim Johnson’s job performance?
- Approve 46%
- Disapprove 45%
Survey of 702 registered voters was conducted December 10-13. The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 48% Republican; 35% Democrat; 18% Independent. Political views: 48% Conservative; 42% Moderate; 10% Liberal.
Mitt Romney
Tim Pawlenty
Eric Cantor
Sarah Palin
Rick Santorum
Gary Johnson
_____________________________________________
Kristofer Lorelli is the Senior Editor of Race42012 and can be contacted at lorville@rogers.com, on Facebook and Twitter/Kris_Lorelli
After the release of her much-publicized autobiography and the ensuing book tour, Sarah Palin is still viewed more unfavorably than favorably by Americans, though her favorable rating has improved slightly (now 44%, up from 40% in October).
While releasing a best-selling autobiography may have had a modest positive effect on views of her, it did not register quite the same impact as former first lady Hillary Clinton’s book release appeared to in June 2003. Prior to the publication of Clinton’s memoir “Living History,” 45% of Americans viewed her favorably and 46% unfavorably. Those ratings shifted to 53% favorable/43% unfavorable when the book was released, and remained above 50% for the next three-plus years.
Like Clinton, the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate is a politically polarizing figure. Palin is viewed favorably by 79% of Republicans, 40% of independents, and 21% of Democrats. Since October, Palin’s ratings are up among both Republicans and Democrats, but are essentially flat among independents.
Palin’s future plans remain a topic of much speculation, and include the possibility that she will seek the GOP presidential nomination and challenge Barack Obama for president in 2012. At this point, Obama is the more popular of the two. The Dec. 11-13 USA Today/Gallup poll finds 56% of Americans saying they have a favorable view of the president, with 42% viewing him unfavorably.
Palin’s recent book release and the surrounding publicity seemed to have a very modest effect on how Americans view her, but on balance the public still views her more negatively than positively.
Rasmussen 2010 Missouri U.S. Senate Poll
- Robin Carnahan (D) 46% (46%)
- Roy Blunt (R) 44% (46%)
Favorable / Unfavorable
- Robin Carnahan (D): 51% (52%) / 43% (42%) (+8)
- Roy Blunt (R): 50% (57%) / 43% (33%) (+7)
Job Approval / Disapproval
- Pres. Obama: 47% (44%) /53% (56%) (-6)
- Gov. Nixon: 63% (58%) /33% (38%) (+30)
Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
- Strongly favor 25% (24%)
- Somewhat favor 15% (14%)
- Somewhat oppose 10% (11%)
- Strongly oppose 47% (48%)
Is the health care reform legislation being considered by Congress likely to increase the deficit, reduce the deficit, or have no impact on the deficit?
- Increase the deficit 63% (72%)
- Reduce the deficit 15% (6%)
- No impact on the deficit 15% (18%)
To cover the cost of health care reform, how likely is it that taxes will have to be raised on the middle class?
- Very likely 63% (64%)
- Somewhat likely 18% (15%)
- Not very likely 11% (14%)
- Not at all likely 3% (3%)
Would you favor or oppose the creation of a government-sponsored non-profit health insurance option that people could choose instead of a private health insurance plan?
- Favor 39%
- Oppose 41%
Suppose that the creation of a government-sponsored non-profit health insurance option encouraged companies to drop private health insurance coverage for their workers. Workers would then be covered by the government option. Would you favor or oppose the creation of a government-sponsored non-profit health insurance option if it encouraged companies to drop private health insurance coverage for their workers?
- Favor 24%
- Oppose 61%
Overall, how would you rate President Obama’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan?
- Excellent 15%
- Good 23%
- Fair 28%
- Poor 32%
Do you favor or oppose the President’s proposal to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan?
- Favor 55%
- Oppose 27%
Do you favor or oppose the President’s commitment to a timetable that would begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in 18 months?
- Favor 51%
- Oppose 40%
Overall, do you favor or oppose President Obama’s new plan for the war in Afghanistan?
- Favor 34%
- Oppose 38%
Survey conducted on 12/15/09 among 500 likely voters with a 4.5% margin of error. Results from the poll conducted September 21 are in parentheses.
Quinnipiac 2010 Pennsylvania Governor Poll
- Tom Corbett (R) 45%
- Dan Onorato (D) 30%
- Tom Corbett (R) 43%,
- Jack Wagner (D) 33%
- Tom Corbett (R) 46%
- Joe Hoeffel (D) 30%
2010 Democratic Primary
- Onorato 14%
- Hoeffel 8%
- Wagner 7%
2010 Republican Primary
- Tom Corbett 38%
- Jim Gerlach 12%
Favorable / Unfavorable
- Jim Gerlach: 10%/5%
- Dan Onorato: 18%/9%
- Jack Wagner: 22%/5%
- Tom Knox: 9%/4%
- Tom Corbett: 43%/6%
- Chris Doherty: 8%/4%
- Joe Hoeffel: 13%/7%
Job Approval / Disapproval
- Gov. Rendell: 43%/49%
Survey conducted between 12/8-14/09 among 1,381 registered voters with a 2.6% margin of error; 588 Republicans with 4% margin of error; and 619 Democrats with a 3.9% margin of error.
This was originally posted at The Lobbyist, and I have expanded it below:
Hey, CPAC organizers, here’s an idea- let’s stick to our principles and get good public relations at the same time! Let’s start with not allowing the John Birch Society to co-sponsor the 2010 CPAC. Then, let’s fully support the inclusion of GOProud as a c0-sponsor.
Here’s what this will do:
1. It will show that the largest, most popular gathering of American conservatives does not support the kind of extremism our movement has been accused of over the past several years and particularly in the last year.
2. It will show that the largest, most popular gathering of American conservatives is inclusive towards organizations that share stances on tax policy; a belief in limited government and free markets; and standing up against those foreign enemies that commit atrocious human rights violations. Since GOProud is a conservative gay organization, it will also show that the conservative movement values what Ed Morrissey so aptly said we should: “…a governing coalition based on fundamental conservative principles or a mission of absolute purity on the Right.”
Morrissey concluded his analysis better than I can, so I’ll steal what he wrote: “If we want to win control of the House in 2010, we need to focus on key principles that address the nation’s crises and the main points of disillusion with Democrats.
That should set our focus on those points on which Democrats overreached — namely, spending, government intrusion, spiraling deficits, and fiscal insanity. We need to show that we can, if trusted with power again, govern properly and responsibly, and even more that we understand that the priorities are the fiscal issues and not the social issues that divide more than they unite.
GOProud’s priorities are fundamentally in line with that effort. We should not allow a purity campaign to push away natural allies on the fiscal crisis that grips our country, and the opportunity we have to correct it in 2010.”
The fact is that the conservative movement needs to get back to its principles of limited government, low taxes, low government spending and defense of the helpless where we can afford it. No more nation-building barring extraordinary circumstances like those we faced in World War II. No more Medicare growth programs, no more No Child Left Behind programs, no more reactively opposing something because liberals like it. Regarding the latter, to paraphrase Dinesh D’Souza in his book “Letters to a Young Conservative,” if your opponent is doing something you like, support it. Which is more important, shutting down the liberals or improving the country? President Obama, for all his flawed policies, did great in supporting federalism towards marijuana users and lifting the travel restrictions on Cuba. Let’s hope he opposes this very poor House vote on Iranian sanctions, something conservatives should oppose since international sanctions have never worked.
To social conservatives, no, I am not forgetting you. Gun ownership, abortion and immigration are issues we must hold firm to. However, we should oppose a federal ban on gay marriage- after all, that is an intrusion on both states rights and a growth in the scope of the federal government. Handle it state-by-state, though to be honest, there are so many other major issues facing America, do we really care if two guys want to live together? Let’s worry about our terrible tax structure, propensity of heterosexual divorce and illegitimacy rates, our level of abortions and teenage sexual activity, getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan, the nuclear threat of Iran and the instability of nuclear Pakistan and many other issues that rank well above that of gay marriage on the scale of threats to society.
Lastly, I do not expect including GOProud in CPAC to bring the support of homosexuals to the Republican Party or the conservative movement, nor do I think it will bring in other groups of Americans who feel pushed away by our beliefs and policies. However, as Morrissey states, there is about 80% agreement with general conservative platforms and the platform of GOProud, and we would be foolish to miss this opportunity to, as I said above, combine principle with public relations and reboot our relationship with America as the Big Tent movement that can bring the Republican Party back to its roots before it’s too late.
That rumbling you hear…it’s William F. Buckley rolling over in his grave.
Hat Tip: Tweet from Matt Lewis.
The grassroots are rising up and using any method possible to prevent the liberal-Democrats from legislating a government take-over of health care.
According to Senator Charles Schumer, an unnamed flight attendant used FAA regulation to delay the passage of socialized medicine.
the phone rang again moments after the attendant had told Mr. Schumer to shut it off. “It’s Harry Reid calling, I guess health care will have to wait until we land,” Mr. Schumer said.
A frustrated Senator Schumer lashed out as the flight attendant for not allowing him to circumvent flight safety;
When the flight attendant, whom Politico did not identify, walked away Mr. Schumer turned to Ms. Gillibrand and described the attendant as a “bitch.”
How can we blame the man with the second worst hair plugs in Washington for delaying the flight, as most of his progressive legislative agenda this year has been delayed by moderates and conservatives. He is becoming a creature of his own caucus.
In an attempt to cover up the humiliation of being politically outmaneuvered by a flight attendant, soon to be ex-Senator Gillibrand denied that the flight attendant delayed the passing of health care reform;
Ms. Gillibrand said Mr. Schumer was “polite” and “turned off his phone when asked.”
We should be grateful to this unnamed member of the grassroots for preventing the passing of this anti-American legislation. To show our appreciation, I suggest that on the next occasion any of us have to fly, we use a more endearing term than Senator Schumer used, when conversing with those who keep us safe in the air.
_____________________________________________
Kristofer Lorelli is the Senior Editor of Race42012 and can be contacted at lorville@rogers.com, on Facebook and Twitter/Kris_Lorelli
Rasmussen Florida Senatorial Survey
- Charlie Crist 42% [46%] {48%} (46%)
- Kendrick Meek 36% [34%] {29%} (28%)
- Some other candidate 11% [9%] {10%} (12%)
- Not sure 11% [11%] {13%} (14%)
- Marco Rubio 49% [46%] {43%}
- Kendrick Meek 35% [31%] {30%}
- Some other candidate 4% [8%] {8%}
- Not sure 12% [15%] {19%}
Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}
- Marco Rubio 51% {41%} / 29% {31%} {+22%}
- Charlie Crist 59% {64%} (57%) / 38% {35%} (36%) {+21%}
- Kendrick Meek 41% {37%} (37%) / 33% {34%} (36%){+8%}
How would you rate the job Charlie Crist has been doing as Governor?
- Strongly approve 9% [13%] {17%} (15%)
- Somewhat approve 43% [36%] {42%} (45%)
- Somewhat disapprove 25% [29%] {21%} (20%)
- Strongly disapprove 20% [20%] {19%} (16%)
How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?
- Strongly approve 29% [29%] {27%} (32%)
- Somewhat approve 15% [13%] {15%} (14%)
- Somewhat disapprove 9% [11%] {10%} (12%)
- Strongly disapprove 46% [47%] {47%} (38%)
Generally speaking, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and the congressional Democrats?
- Strongly favor 25% {20%}
- Somewhat favor 13% {17%}
- Somewhat oppose 9% {7%}
- Strongly oppose 49% {52%}
Overall, how would you rate President Obama’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan?
- Excellent 17%
- Good 17%
- Fair 29%
- Poor 36%
Do you favor or oppose the President’s proposal to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan?
- Favor 59%
- Oppose 27%
Do you favor or oppose the President’s commitment to a timetable that would begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in 18 months?
- Favor 42%
- Oppose 42%
Overall, do you favor or oppose President Obama’s new plan for the war in Afghanistan?
- Favor 40%
- Oppose 37%
Should offshore oil drilling be allowed?
- Yes 66%
- No 24%
Should individual states have the right to ban drilling off their own coastlines?
- Yes 62%
- No 24%
How close to the coastline do you think drilling should be allowed –12 miles? 50 miles? 100 miles? Or more than 100 miles?
- 12 miles 24%
- 50 miles 31%
- 100 miles 18%
- More than 100 miles 20%
Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted December 14. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted October 19 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 17 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 22 are in parentheses.
Inside the numbers:
Crist’s edge over Meek is down from a 12-point lead in October.
The reason for the difference is that 79% of conservatives support Rubio but only 62% say Crist can count on their vote. Twenty-four percent (24%) of conservatives say they’d prefer either a third party option or are undecided. If Crist were to win the nomination, it is likely that many of those voters would end up supporting him over Meek.
In the Senate race, voters not affiliated with either party favor Crist over Meek 47% to 22%. Rubio leads Meek 58% to 22% among unaffiliateds.
NBC/Wall Street Journal Political Survey
In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing as president?
- Approve 47% (51%) [51%] {51%} (53%)
- Disapprove 46% (42%) [41%] {40%} (40%)
Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing in handling the economy?
- Approve 42% (47%) [50%] (49%)
- Disapprove 51% (46%) [42%] (44%)
Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing in handling foreign policy?
- Approve 49% (51%) [50%] (57%)
- Disapprove 42% (39%) [36%] (33%)
Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing in handling the war in Afghanistan?
- Approve 46%
- Disapprove 42%
From what you have heard about Barack Obama’s health care plan, do you think his plan is a good idea or a bad idea?
- Good idea 32% (38%) [39%] {36%} (36%)
- Bad idea 47% (42%) [41%] {42%} (42%)
Do you think it would be better to pass Barack Obama’s health care plan and make its changes to the health care system or to not pass this plan and keep the current health care system?
- Better to pass this plan, make these changes 41% (45%) [45%]
- Better to not pass this plan, keep current system 44% (39%) [39%]
In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that Congress is doing?
- Approve 22% (24%) [22%] (24%)
- Disapprove 68% (65%) [66%] (63%)
Positive / Negative {Net}
- Barack Obama 50% (56%) [56%] (55%) / 37% (33%) [33%] (34%) {+13%}
- Sarah Palin 32% (27%) (32%) / 40% (46%) (43%) {-8%}
- Democratic Party 35% (42%) [41%] (42%) / 45% (36%) [39%] (37%) {-10%}
- Republican Party 28% (25%) [28%] (28%) / 43% (46%) [43%] (41%) {-15%}
Now I’m going to mention some people who have served in public life at some point in the past decade. Please tell me which one or two of these people, if any, you have the most regard and respect for.
- Barack Obama 28%
- Colin Powell 27%
- Bill Clinton 21%
- George W. Bush 17%
- Hillary Clinton 14%
- John McCain 13%
- Sarah Palin 13%
- Dick Cheney 9%
- Al Gore 8%
- Joe Biden 3%
Now I’m going to read you some people who have served in public life at some point in the past decade. Please tell me which one or two of these people, if any, you have the least regard and respect for.
- George W. Bush 33%
- Dick Cheney 27%
- Al Gore 19%
- Barack Obama 19%
- Sarah Palin 16%
- Bill Clinton 14%
- Hillary Clinton 10%
- Joe Biden 9%
- John McCain 5%
- Colin Powell 1%
Do you think the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban and Al Qaeda has been very successful, somewhat successful, somewhat unsuccessful, or very unsuccessful?
- Very successful 2% [8%]
- Somewhat successful 37% [38%]
- Somewhat unsuccessful 29% [26%]
- Very unsuccessful 27% [23%]
Do you feel more confident or less confident that the war in Afghanistan will come to a successful conclusion?
- More confident 30% [28%]
- Less confident 58% [59%]
Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose increasing troop levels in Afghanistan?
- Strongly support 30% (28%) [19%]
- Somewhat support 25% (19%) [25%]
- Somewhat oppose 15% (15%) [20%]
- Strongly oppose 24% (28%) [31%]
Please tell me which of the following concerns you more — That we will invest a lot of money and American lives in the war in Afghanistan and have little to show for it; or, that we will not do enough to deal with the threat of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and we will be more vulnerable as a result?
- That we’ll invest a lot of money/lives and have little to show for it 42% [45%]
- That we’ll not do enough and be more vulnerable as a result 48% [44%]
Do you think it is very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely, or very unlikely that U.S. troops will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan by the summer of 2011?
- Very likely 12%
- Somewhat likely 27%
- Somewhat unlikely 27%
- Very unlikely 29%
Do you think the war in Iraq has been very successful, somewhat successful, somewhat unsuccessful, or very unsuccessful?
- Very successful 7%
- Somewhat successful 50%
- Somewhat unsuccessful 18%
- Very unsuccessful 22%
GWU Battleground 2009 Final Political Survey
How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing?
- Strongly Approve 37% (40%)
- Approve 13% (13%)
- Disapprove 4% (5%)
- Strongly Disapprove 41% (37%)
Whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President, what is your impression of Barack Obama as a person? Do you approve or disapprove of him?
- Approve 66% (72%)
- Disapprove 24% (20%)
How would you rate the job Congress has been doing this year? Do you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing?
- Approve 24% (34%)
- Disapprove 68% (57%)
If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the Democrat candidate in your Congressional district?
- Republican candidate 42% (40%)
- Democrat candidate 41% (43%)
Do you prefer to have:
- Divided government where Congress is controlled by one party and the White House is controlled by a different political party. 41% (41%)
- Unified government where Congress and the White House are controlled by the same political party. 38% (39%)
Favorable / Unfavorable {(Net}
- Barack Obama 57% (61%) / 40% (36%) {+17%}
- Joe Biden 48% (49%) / 40% (38%) {+8%}
- State government 48% / 43% {+5%}
- Sarah Palin 45% (42%) / 46% (47%) {-1%}
- The federal government 46% / 48% {-2%}
- Republicans in Congress 41% (37%) / 46% (48%) {-5%}
- Democrats in Congress 42% (46%) / 49% (44%) {-7%}
- Harry Reid 19% (15%) / 37% (31%) {-18%}
- Nancy Pelosi 30% (32%) / 53% (51%) {-23%}
- The pharmaceutical industry 27% / 62% {-35%}
- The health insurance industry 28% / 64% {-36%}
As you may have heard, Governor Sarah Palin recently released a book about her life called Going Rogue. Have you seen, read or heard anything about this book? (If Yes) Thinking about what you have seen, read or heard about this book, has it made you more likely or less likely to have a favorable impression of Governor Sarah Palin?
- More likely/strongly 23%
- More likely 8%
- Less likely 8%
- Less likely/strongly 35%
Who do you think will better handle this issue — Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress?
Holding down taxes
- Republicans in Congress 55% (53%)
- Democrats in Congress 28% (29%)
Promoting a strong national defense
- Republicans in Congress 56% (53%)
- Democrats in Congress 31% (33%)
Controlling wasteful spending
- Republicans in Congress 44% (41%)
- Democrats in Congress 32% (33%)
The District of Columbia can use locally-raised taxes to fund abortions after the spending bill passed by Congress last weekend lifted a restriction on the city regarding public funding of abortion. Please contact your Congressional representatives to voice your displeasure with this decision. Perhaps they will reverse it in the future if enough people let them know they are opposed to this. Contact information for your Senate and House Members of Congress are at the linked URLs.
I once asked Tom Coburn about this, and he said that he wouldn’t want Lieberman in the party since he’s not a conservative, but it appears that the Oklahoma senator might have no choice:
BASH: Any chance Joe Lieberman would run as a Republican?
LIEBERMAN: I don’t know what I’ll run as. I like being an independent, so that’s definitely a possibility, but I’d say that all options are open.
BASH: Really?
LIEBERMAN: Yeah. It’s unlikely that I would run as a Republican, but I wouldn’t foreclose any possibility.
I am convinced that Lieberman almost certainly cannot win in 2012 and that he ought to retire and rest on his laurels — write a book, hit the talk show circuit, whatever. I’m not convinced that this would be a good move.
PPP (D) South Dakota Senatorial Survey
Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John Thune’s job performance?
- Approve 57%
- Disapprove 35%
Among Republicans
- Approve 79%
- Disapprove 15%
Among Independents
- Approve 47%
- Disapprove 45%
Among Moderates
- Approve 41%
- Disapprove 49%
Generally speaking, next year would you vote to reelect Republican John Thune or vote for his Democratic opponent?
- Thune 56%
- Democrat 33%
Among Independents
- Thune 44%
- Democrat 37%
Would you like to see John Thune run for President in 2012?
- Yes 28%
- No 55%
Among Republicans
- Yes 39%
- No 39%
Among Independents
- Yes 23%
- No 63%
Among Conservatives
- Yes 37%
- No 39%
Among Moderates
- Yes 22%
- No 68%
Survey of 702 registered voters was conducted December 10-13. The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 48% Republican; 35% Democrat; 18% Independent. Political views: 48% Conservative; 42% Moderate; 10% Liberal.
We just lost more money to Citigroup. They are apparently going to pay back what they owe from the bailout but are getting a very unusual tax break. We’re going to lose billions on this- surprised?
To paraphrase Glenn Beck one of the single-digit times I’ve seen his show (he was talking about how Chrysler wouldn’t pay back seven billion dollars or so of the loans the company took from the taxpayers), “Why isn’t this on the front page of every newspaper, and the top headline on every news channel and news site?”
Thanks to The Washington Post for putting it on the top of their website, and I assume on their front page (I haven’t seen the print version yet).
Rasmussen Florida Gubernatorial Survey
- Bill McCollum 44% [46%] (42%)
- Alex Sink 39% [35%] (34%)
- Some other candidate 5% [5%] (7%)
- Not sure 12% [15%] (18%)
Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}
- Bill McCollum 54% [49%] (53%) / 30% [31%] (25%) {+24%}
- Alex Sink 45% [41%] (50%) / 31% [30%] (32%) {+14%}
Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted December 14. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted October 20 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 17 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 22 are in parentheses.
Inside the numbers:
McCollum leads by nine points among male voters and breaks roughly even with Sink among female voters. The Republican carries voters not affiliated with either party by more than two-to-one.
- John McCain 56%
- J.D. Hayworth 36%
Favorable / Unfavorable
- McCain: 78%/20%
- Hayworth: 60%/15%
Do you approve or disapprove of the way John McCain is handling his job as Senator?
- Strongly approve 35%
- Somewhat approve 31%
- Somewhat disapprove 12%
- Strongly disapprove 12%
Tarrance Group (R)/Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America survey conducted 12/8-10/09 among 600 likely Republican primary voters with a 4% margin of error.
From The Lobbyist:
The New York Daily News’ S.E. Cupp said it best: the Congressional Black Caucus “…practically every month seems to find new ways to demonstrate how irrelevant and out of touch it is.” This year alone, the CBC seems to be trying really hard to throw itself on the proverbial ash heap of history.
First it was the visit to Cuba and praising of Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul Castro by four members of the caucus. Then there was the investigation of one of the caucus’ more prominent members, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) for a conflict of interest for steering bailout money to a bank she and her husband had a financial interest in. And who can forget efforts by members of the CBC- and ally Barney Frank (D-MA), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee- to get a bailout for minority-owned radio stations? The original effort, which happened in May, carried into December when members said they would not support certain financial regulations if minority-owned broadcasters were not given specific attention.
Obviously, the name of the Congressional Black Caucus highlights their support for a particular group of Americans. Were their goal to assist what Waters called “most vulnerable of our population,” I would disagree with their avenue and tactics to help black Americans but still hold great respect for their goal. However, it is clear that is not their intent.
According to Cupp, President Obama’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, said, “I don’t think the President believes that we should address only one part of the unemployment rate.” The president and Gibbs have it exactly right. It is grievous fact that black Americans have an unemployment rate of over 15%, versus 10% for all of America, but the president has to worry about 100% of over 300 million Americans, not just the approximately 13% of black Americans in the country. (Of course, he seems to be trying to help the less-than-one percent of Americans who are CEOs of insurance companies…)
Unfortunately, Frank caved to the CBC, and is using part of last year’s bailout funds for the caucus’ pet projects, something that is actually illegal, as Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) pointed out recently. TARP, officially known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program, was stipulated in last year’s bill to “be used automatically to pay down the federal budget deficit,” according to Gregg. Given this fact, it appears the CBC, Frank and the majority of Congress might be on the path to continuing to break the very financial laws they passed only 14 months ago.
Passing laws and getting money for constituents and special interest groups is nothing new, of course, though generally they follow the law. Unfortunately, the CBC and others in Congress are sidestepping the law and using billions of dollars for their interests- note, not for America’s- against the very laws they passed to “save” our economy. I think we should hold them and every other Congressman who supports using the TARP funds for more than its initial intent(s) accountable both at the voter’s booth and in every media possible until we reach the voter’s booth.
Of course, there is always impeachment, if some feel that is the best venue to hold our representatives accountable. I’m not certain that would work en masse, or be necessary or appropriate, though I support it in specific circumstances.
I get daily CQ Politics e-mails, and according to the e-mails the House will go home today if they finish punting everything they’re supposed to do. (Okay, I changed their wording, but the idea is still the same.) Politico has an article saying that to finish today, the House has to punt four year-end bills to February.
I have a good friend who works on the Hill, as well as an uncle, so I hope they’ll pardon me, but Congress is paid by us to deal with problems, so perhaps they should stop going home before they vote on what is before them, especially since they cause most of the problems they are voting on.
Here is the site with all Representatives’ names and links to their individual sites- please contact them and tell them not to head home early. It’s their job to stay and vote. After all, it’s our money they are voting on how to use, our lives they are voting on how to regulate and- especially important right now- our fellow citizens’ unemployment they are ignoring.
Update: My friend who works on the Hill made this point: “Just remember, every day we’re out of session is another day in the bank for liberty!” Not a bad point.
Update: Finally found this article linked by Hot Air, where Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) told her vulnerable Democratic members there will be no tough votes in 2010 unless the Senate acts first. Apparently, the Hispanic Caucus is getting impatient, and House Democrats are tired of risking votes when the Senate kills bills they pass. From the article: “There’s not going to be a ton of stuff legislatively next year either way,” a House leadership aide said. “But on EFCA — even though the House has demonstrated its ability to pass it — and on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the Senate is definitely going to have to act first.”
Washington Post/ABC News Political Survey
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
- Approve 50% (56%) [57%] {54%} (57%) [59%]
- Disapprove 46% (42%) [40%] {43%} (40%) [37%]
Note: 31% strongly approve; 33% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy?
- Approve 46% (51%) [50%] {51%} (52%) [52%]
- Disapprove 52% (47%) [48%] {46%} (46%) [46%]
Note: 23% strongly approve; 40% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling health care?
- Approve 44% (47%) [48%] {48%} (46%) [49%]
- Disapprove 53% (49%) [48%] {48%} (50%) [44%]
Note: 27% strongly approve; 43% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the federal budget deficit?
- Approve 37% (42%) [45%] {39%} (41%) [43%]
- Disapprove 56% (53%) [51%] {55%} (53%) [49%]
Note: 16% strongly approve; 44% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan?
- Approve 52% (45%) [45%] {55%} (60%) [62%]
- Disapprove 44% (48%) [47%] {37%} (33%) [30%]
Note: 24% strongly approve; 32% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling his duties as commander-in-chief of the military?
- Approve 54% [57%]
- Disapprove 43% [37%]
Note: 29% strongly approve; 25% strongly disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling unemployment?
- Approve 47% [52%]
- Disapprove 48% [42%]
Note: 21% strongly approve; 33% strongly disapprove.
Who do you trust to do a better job handling the economy – Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
- Obama 48% (52%) {48%} [56%] {55%}
- Republicans 36% (37%) {37%} [33%] {31%}
Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care reform – Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
- Obama 46% (50%) {48%} [54%] {55%}
- Republicans 39% (37%) {36%} [34%] {27%}
Who do you trust to do a better job handling the situation in Afghanistan – Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
- Obama 47% (46%)
- Republicans 35% (41%)
Who do you trust to do a better job handling energy policy – Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
- Obama 46%
- Republicans 36%
Overall, given what you know about them, would you say you support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system being developed by Congress and the Obama administration?
- Strongly support 25% (30%) [26%] {30%} (27%)
- Somewhat support 19% (18%) [19%] {16%} (18%)
- Somewhat oppose 11% (10%) [12%] {12%} (10%)
- Strongly oppose 40% (39%) [36%] {36%} (40%)
In the long run, do you think your own health care will cost you more if the changes that have been proposed become law or if the current system is left as it is now?
- Changes become law 53%
- Current system left as it is now 33%
In the long run, do you think the quality of health care you receive will be better if the changes that have been proposed become law or if the current system is left as it is now?
- Changes become law 37%
- Current system left as it is now 50%
In the long run, do you think the country’s health care system overall will cost more if the changes that have been proposed become law or if the current system is left as it is now?
- Changes become law 55%
- Current system left as it is now 35%
Medicare is the government health insurance program for people 65 and over. Do you think health care reform would strengthen the Medicare program, weaken Medicare or have no effect on it?
- Strengthen 22% [18%] {22%}
- Weaken 45% [43%] {40%}
- No effect 24% [31%] {32%}
Just your best guess, do you think health care reform would increase the federal budget deficit, decrease it, or have no effect? (IF INCREASE) Do you think that would be worth it, or not?
- Increase deficit/worth it 23% [31%]
- Increase deficit/not worth it 43% [37%]
- Decrease deficit 11% [10%]
- No effect 19% [18%]
Marco Rubio started this Florida Senate race in January with little name recognize and a 50 point deficit. Now, a Rasmussen Reports poll shows just how far he has come as he has caught sitting Florida Governor Charlie Christ. The poll finds Marco Rubio’s approval numbers are up and Crist’s have cooled down among Republicans. Here are the details:
Rasmussen Florida GOP Senatorial Primary
- Marco Rubio 43% [35%] (31%)
- Charlie Crist 43% [49%] (53%)
- Some other candidate 5% [4%] (5%)
- Not sure 9% [12%] (11%)
Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}
- Marco Rubio 64% [55%] (53%) / 15% [22%] (19%) {+49%}
- Charlie Crist 61% [67%] (75%) / 38% [32%] (23%) {+23%}
How would you rate the job Charlie Crist has been doing as Governor?
- Strongly approve 11% [14%]
- Somewhat approve 45% [43%]
- Somewhat disapprove 28% [26%]
- Strongly disapprove 15% [16%]
Survey of 431 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted December 14. The margin of error is +/- 5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted October 20 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 17 are in parentheses.
Inside the numbers:
Rubio now leads by 12 points among men but trails among women voters by 11.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of conservatives favor Rubio. In October, Crist still had support from just over half the conservative primary voters.
PPP (D) South Dakota Congressional Survey
If the candidates for the House next year were Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Republican Chris Nelson, who would you vote for?
- Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 46%
- Chris Nelson 39%
- Undecided 15%
If the candidates for the House next year were Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Republican Blake Curd, who would you vote for?
- Stephanie Herseth Sandlin 52%
- Blake Curd 31%
- Undecided 17%
Do you approve or disapprove of Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s job performance?
- Approve 49%
- Disapprove 38%
Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}
- Chris Nelson 29% / 12% {+17%}
- Blake Curd 6% / 13% {-7%}
Among Republicans
- Chris Nelson 39% / 10% {+29%}
- Blake Curd 9% / 13% {-4%}
Do you approve or disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance?
- Approve 41%
- Disapprove 52%
Note: Barack Obama received 45 percent of the vote in the 2008 presidential election.
Do you support or oppose the health care bill the House of Representatives passed last month?
- Approve 25%
- Oppose 59%
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Democrats in Congress are doing?
- Approve 28%
- Disapprove 60%
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Republicans in Congress are doing?
- Approve 31%
- Disapprove 51%
Survey of 702 registered voters was conducted December 10-13. The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 48% Republican; 35% Democrat; 18% Independent. Political views: 48% Conservative; 42% Moderate; 10% Liberal.
James Pethokoukis has conducted an interview with Rep. Ryan, in which the two discuss a range of issues relating to the economy. I suggest you take the time to read the entire interview with the promising Republican from Wisconsin, but I’ll pick out a few nuggets:
[On the economic outlook:] Look what’s going to hit us in 2011. We are going to have a massive tax increase on labor and capital, and the Fed for sure is going to be tight by then. We are doing kind of a cash for clunkers on the whole economy. We are pulling growth from 2011 into 2010. Economic decision makers are looking at the policy climate, and it is horrendous. Then they read the newspapers and see payroll taxes, pay or play, cap-and-trade and this uncertain regulatory environment. It’s the uncertainty tax. There is this enormous uncertainty being injected into the economy, and everybody is sitting on their hands.
…[On the Value-Added Tax:] The VAT is coming. They just know they can’t do it before the election. My fear is that the credit markets blow up on us again, we’ll get some shot across the bow by the bond market one of these days. And if the Democrats are still in power, that will bring us the VAT. They will say they have no choice but to do it to save the creditworthiness of the government. It will kind of be like another TARP weekend where the Treasury Secretary and the Fed chairman come to Capitol Hill hyperventilating and out of that comes a VAT.
…[On a deficit commission:] The way this commission is going to be stacked, I fear, will be for a slow moderation in spending but a big increase in taxes. To really fix this problem, what you’ve got to do is have a defined benefits safety net with a defined contribution system on top. You could design this in different flavors, but that is the gist of what you have to do to wipe these unfunded liabilities off the books.
[On financial reform:] What I think we are doing here is enshrining “too big to fail” in our system and making a permanent crony capitalist system.
Statements like these, along with his recent Forbes op-ed (another gem, by the way), lead me more and more to believe that Rep. Ryan NEEDS a prominent position in the party’s future. I, for one, desperately hope that he decides to run for the Senate, to give himself a larger platform, in 2010 or 2012 and then for the Presidency in the more distant future. As many people have noted, Ryan seems like our new Jack Kemp, and I would even argue that his grasp of economic issues outpaces that of even Gov. Romney. Add to this the facts that Ryan has yet to turn 40, authored the Republican alternative to the 2010 budget, which would have gradually decreased spending as a percentage of GDP, and has won landslide re-elections five times in a district that Obama carried by almost four points last year, and you get a person with one of the brightest futures of anyone in the Republican Party.
AP-GfK/Stanford University Survey on
“Global Warming”“Climate Change”“Global Warming”Do you think most scientists agree with one another about whether or not global warming is happening, or do you think there is a lot of disagreement among scientists on this issue?
- Most scientists agree with one another 31%
- There is a lot of disagreement among scientists 66%
How much do you think the U.S. government should do about global warming? A great deal, quite a bit, some, a little, or nothing?
- A great deal 31%
- Quite a bit 21%
- Some 23%
- A little 10%
- Nothing 15%
For each of the following, please tell me whether you favor or oppose it as a way for the federal government to try to reduce future global warming:
Increase taxes on electricity so people use less of it
- Favor 20%
- Oppose 78%
Increase ENERGY PRICES so people use less of it
- Favor 22%
- Oppose 77%
Increase taxes on gasoline so people either drive less, or buy cars that use less gas
- Favor 35%
- Oppose 64%
Increase GASOLINE PRICES so people either drive less, or buy cars that use less gas
- Favor 30%
- Oppose 70%
Give companies tax breaks to build nuclear power plants
- Favor 54%
- Oppose 43%
Give companies tax breaks to produce more electricity from water, wind, and solar power
- Favor 88%
- Oppose 12%
Give tax breaks to companies that burn coal to make electricity if they use new methods to put the air pollution they generate into underground storage areas instead of letting that air pollution go up the smokestacks at their factories
- Favor 65%
- Oppose 31%
Increase taxes that people pay when they buy things that were made in countries that put out a lot of the air pollution that many scientists think causes global warming
- Favor 47%
- Oppose 52%
Do you think that the United States doing things to reduce global warming in the future would cause there to be more jobs for people around the country, would cause there to be fewer jobs, or wouldn’t affect the number of jobs for people around the country?
- More jobs 40%
- Fewer jobs 23%
- Would not affect 33%
Do you think that the United States doing things to reduce global warming in the future would hurt the U.S. economy, would help the economy, or would have no effect on the U.S. economy?
- Hurt U.S. economy 27%
- Help U.S. economy 46%
- Would not affect 24%
In general, would you favor or oppose building more nuclear power plants at this time?
- Strongly favor 26%
- Somewhat favor 23%
- Somewhat oppose 23%
- Strongly oppose 25%
There’s a proposed system called “cap and trade.” The government would issue permits limiting the amount of greenhouse gases companies can put out. Companies that did not use all their permits could sell them to other companies. The idea is that many companies would find ways to put out less greenhouse gases, because that would be cheaper than buying permits. Would you favor or oppose this system?
- Strongly favor 16%
- Somewhat favor 34%
- Somewhat oppose 22%
- Strongly oppose 25%
What if a “cap and trade” program significantly lowered greenhouse gases but raised your monthly electrical bill by 10 dollars a month – in that case would you favor or oppose it?
- Strongly favor 15%
- Somewhat favor 17%
- Somewhat oppose 29%
- Strongly oppose 37%
What if a “cap and trade” program significantly lowered greenhouse gases but raised your monthly electrical bill by 25 dollars a month – in that case would you favor or oppose it?
- Strongly favor 9%
- Somewhat favor 10%
- Somewhat oppose 31%
- Strongly oppose 47%
Survey of 1,005 adults was conducted November 17-29. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.
What, is that like, colored people?
The only way to tell it is straight. The New York Times annual online Holiday Gift Guide, a trove of giving ideas for children, coffee lovers, flat-TV fans, cosmetic users, travelers and many other customers, this year for the first time offers a section for “people of color.” The section starts with a brief introduction that says, “It’s not hard to find gifts created for and by people of color this holiday season.” Good to know.
Let’s buy gifts based upon skin color, everyone! That way, we’ll be one step closer to achieving an America in which people are not judged by the color of their sk — wait a second…
