Politics > Politics-USA > Growing opposition to Bush re-election, re-selection or whatever ya wanna call it.
| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
25 Aug 2003 06:43:32 PM |
| Object: |
Growing opposition to Bush re-election, re-selection or whatever ya wanna call it. |
From The Guardian, 8/25/03:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1028985,00.html
Growing opposition to Bush re-election
Julian Borger in Washington
Monday August 25, 2003
The Guardian
For the first time, more Americans say they would oppose President
George Bush's re-election in 2004 than support a second term,
according to a poll published yesterday that showed mounting pessimism
over the US military presence in Iraq.
As attacks on coalition forces continue to inflict casualties, a
Newsweek poll found that the human and economic costs of occupation
were eroding the president's support at an accelerating rate.
Sixty-nine per cent of those asked were concerned that the US would be
bogged down for many years in Iraq with little to show for it in
improved security for Americans; 49% said they were very concerned.
At the same time Mr Bush's approval rating dropped to 53%, down 18%
since April, and his lowest rating since before the September 11
attacks turned him from the victor of a disputed election presiding
over a worsening economy into a wartime leader.
But the most jarring statistic for the White House looked forward to
the 2004 election.
Some 49% of Americans questioned in yesterday's poll said they did not
want him re-elected, against only 44% prepared to give him a second
term.
The corresponding figures in April were 52% backing re-election with
38% opposed.
The change over four months represents a serious haemorrhage in
support, reflecting a combination of long-term but spreading
disenchantment with the president's economic stewardship and new
doubts over where he is taking the country in his open-ended "war on
terror".
In April, 74% of the country supported his handling of the situation
in Iraq.
Yesterday that figure was 54%. Americans are split between those who
believe the administration's line that the invasion has undermined
terrorist groups such as al-Qaida (45%) and those who think the
opposite - that it has inspired a new generation of Islamist radicals
to take up arms against America and its allies.
Despite the increasing doubts over how US troops can be extricated, a
significant majority of Americans, 61%, still believe the invasion of
Iraq was justified, and a slightly smaller majority would support the
maintenance of a significant occupation force for up to two years.
The impact of the Iraq occupation on Mr Bush's standing has encouraged
Democrats who, voters said yesterday, had the best approach to
stimulating the economy and handling domestic issues such as health
and education, a reversal since the beginning of the year.
Nine presidential contenders have joined the Democratic primary
contest, with a 10th likely soon - General Wesley Clark, a former Nato
commander.
__________________________________________________________
I get the feeling that the kid and his puppeteers aren't really
interested in coming back. They've done such a great job ripping us
off so far and they've still got another year and half to go.
Harry
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
