Gallup: Obama Job Approval on Issues

(more…)

Marist Political Survey

If the 2012 presidential election were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

• Barack Obama 44%
• Sarah Palin 29%
• Michael Bloomberg 15%

Among Independents

• Barack Obama 31%
• Sarah Palin 27%
• Michael Bloomberg 24%

Among Republicans

• Sarah Palin 57%
• Michael Bloomberg 20%
• Barack Obama 11%

Among Moderates

• Barack Obama 52%
• Michael Bloomberg 21%
• Sarah Palin 15%

Among Men

• Barack Obama 37%
• Sarah Palin 31%
• Michael Bloomberg 17%

Among Women

• Barack Obama 51%
• Sarah Palin 26%
• Michael Bloomberg 13%

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing as president?

• Approve 44% {46%} [55%] (56%)
• Disapprove 47% {44%} [35%] (32%)

Among Independents

• Approve 29% {41%} [47%] (51%)
• Disapprove 57% {44%} [37%] (32%)

Overall, has Barack Obama met your expectations, exceeded your expectations, or fallen below your expectations as president?

• Met expectations 42% {44%}
• Exceeded expectations 7% {9%}
• Fallen below expectations 47% {42%}

Overall, would you describe the direction in which President Barack Obama is moving the country as:

• Change for the better 37% {44%}
• Change for the worse 38% {35%}
• No change at all 22% {18%}

Overall, do you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of Barack Obama?

• Favorable 50% {55%}
• Unfavorable 44% {41%}

Among Independents

• Favorable 39% {49%}
• Unfavorable 52% {43%}

Do you think the current economic conditions are mostly something President Obama inherited or are they mostly a result of his own policies?

• Economic conditions mostly inherited 62%
• Economic conditions mostly result of his own policies 29%

Among Independents

• Economic conditions mostly inherited 55%
• Economic conditions mostly result of his own policies 33%

Survey of 910 registered voters was conducted February 1-3, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted December 2-3, 7, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 3-6, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 1-3, 2009 are in parentheses.

One of the few advantages a parliamentary system has over our form of government is that all parties have their own leader who is empowered to for the party as a whole. In our system, the closest thing we have to a unitary party leader is the President of the United States. The Congressional leaders can only speak for their party in their respective houses, not their party members in the other house. For example, Harry Reid can only speak for the Senate Democrats, not the House; and Nancy Pelosi can only speak for the House Democrats, not the Senate.

The upshot of this is the only time a party has anything close to a unified leader is when they control the White House. When they don’t, they are stuck with divided leadership. This is only relieved for the limited time between when a candidate has been chosen as the party’s Presidential candidate and the time of the election. For those few short months, the nominee is the party’s leader. If the nominee wins, he remains the leader. If he loses, he ceases being the leader, and the party falls back into divided leadership.

This causes a number of difficulties. For example, look at the ritualized response of the party out of power to the President’s State of the Union Address. There is a reason why it invariably pales to the SOTU. It is never given by a top-tier party member. Such an honor would confer status and prestige upon the person giving the response — an honor the other jealous top-tier members aren’t about to allow to anyone who could threaten them. Hence the duty of giving the party’s response is always given to a less prominent party member who is important enough to carry some weight, but not important enough to threaten anybody.

The result of this little kabuki dance? The President invariably wins the exchange.

Obama and his councilors know this fact of political life full well. Hence their shrewd offer to publicly meet with the Republicans and hash out Health Care. The Democrats will have one person speaking for them, the President. The Republicans will be forced at best to have a committee, a committee that must work through consensus, a committee that will be afraid of stepping on anyone’s toes.

I would love to see one such as Romney, Huckabee, or Giuliani going toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose with Obama on Health Care. These three have proven their debating credentials on the National stage. But it will never happen. One, neither of these fine people have any real say in the party, nor will they have until one of them wins the 2012 nomination — and that’s certainly no given. And Two, none of them would allow the limelight to shine on any of their rivals in any meaningful way. It won’t happen.

So if we accept Obama’s invitation, we would be stuck with the committee, and in any contest between a single mind and a committee, the committee almost always loses.

***Updated***
The House Republicans have given their reply:

We welcome President Obama’s announcement of forthcoming bipartisan health care talks. In fact, you may remember that last May, Republicans asked President Obama to hold bipartisan discussions on health care in an attempt to find common ground on health care, but he declined and instead chose to work with only Democrats. Since then, the President has given dozens of speeches on health care reform, operating under the premise that the more the American people learn about his plan, the more they will come to like it. Just the opposite has occurred: a majority of Americans oppose the House and Senate health care bills and want them scrapped so we can start over with a step-by-step approach focused on lowering costs for families and small businesses.

Just as important, scrapping the House and Senate health care bills would help end the uncertainty they are creating for workers and businesses and thus strengthen our shared commitment to focusing on creating jobs. Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward on health care in a bipartisan way, does that mean he will agree to start over so that we can develop a bill that is truly worthy of the support and confidence of the American people? Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said today that the President is “absolutely not” resetting the legislative process for health care.

If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate. Assuming the President is sincere about moving forward in a bipartisan way, does that mean he has taken off the table the idea of relying solely on Democratic votes and jamming through health care reform by way of reconciliation? As the President has noted recently, Democrats continue to hold large majorities in the House and Senate, which means they can attempt to pass a health care bill at any time through the reconciliation process.

There’s much, much more. Be sure and read the whole thing.

…and Erick Erickson, who drops some wisdom on the House GOP Caucus:

Nonetheless, from that speech in September until today, Barack Obama has insisted the GOP had no proposals. He insisted the Democrats work behind closed doors and shut out the GOP.

Now, because the House Republicans gave the President a chance to improve his image at their retreat, Obama wants to sit down with Republicans at his guest house in front of TV cameras and discuss the proposals the GOP has had all along that he pretends he knew nothing about.

If Barack Obama cannot be genuine and interested in Republican ideas when the cameras are turned off, there is absolutely no way he can be genuine and sincere with the cameras turned on.

The GOP is often referred to as the stupid party. Let’s pray they aren’t stupid enough to sit down with a President who has for six months dismissed them as having no ideas. Barack Obama says he wants a bipartisan approach to health care now. Well, there is bipartisan support for scrapping the current proposals and starting over.

Unless Barack Obama says they should scrap the present plans and start over, the GOP should not entertain his invitation to use a gaggle of Republicans to rehabilitate our socialist President.

Rasmussen Nevada Gubernatorial Survey

• Brian Sandoval (R) 45%
• Rory Reid (D) 33%

• Rory Reid (D) 40%
• Mike Montandon (R) 36%

• Rory Reid (D) 44%
• Jim Gibbons (R) 35%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Brian Sandoval 53% / 30% {+23%}
• Mike Montandon 39% / 29% {+10%}
• Rory Reid 40% / 52% {-12%}
• Jim Gibbons 35% / 63% {-28%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 27% (27%) {29%} [29%] (37%)
• Somewhat approve 16% (19%) {20%} [17%] (9%)
• Somewhat disapprove 15% (9%) {9%} [11%] (8%)
• Strongly disapprove 41% (45%) {41%} [44%] (45%)

How would you rate the job Jim Gibbons has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 11% (9%) {9%} [7%]
• Somewhat approve 21% (30%) {26%} [28%]
• Somewhat disapprove 27% (17%) {27%} [24%]
• Strongly disapprove 40% (42%) {36%} [37%]

Survey of 500 likely voters was conducted February 3, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted February 2, 2010 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted January 11, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 9, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 14, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Male voters prefer all three Republicans over Reid but support Sandoval by a near two-to-one margin. Female voters give a solid double-digit edge to Reid over both Gibbons and Montandon but break even when Sandoval is the Republican in the race.

Among voters not affiliated with either major party in the state, Reid is tied with both Gibbons and Montandon but trails Sandoval 46% to 26%.

Rasmussen Ohio Senatorial Survey

• Rob Portman (R) 43% {44%} [38%] (41%)
• Lee Fisher (D) 39% {37%} [36%] (40%)
• Other 5% {4%} [8%] (6%)
• Not Sure 13% {14%} [18%] (14%)

• Rob Portman (R) 42% {43%} [40%] (40%)
• Jennifer Brunner (D) 38% {40%} [33%] (38%)
• Other 5% {5%} [7%] (5%)
• Not Sure 15% {13%} [20%] (18%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Rob Portman 45% {49%} [48%] (45%) / 24% {25%} [21%] (23%) {+21%}
• Jennifer Brunner 43% {37%} [34%] (37%) / 32% {39%} [36%] (36%) {+11%}
• Lee Fisher 38% {41%} [36%] (42%) / 39% {39%} [35%] (34%) {-1%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 29% {29%} [31%] (33%)
• Somewhat approve 20% {17%} [15%] (15%)
• Somewhat disapprove 10% {13%} [12%] (10%)
• Strongly disapprove 41% {41%} [41%] (40%)

How would you rate the job Ted Strickland has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 13% {15%} [11%] (15%)
• Somewhat approve 33% {28%} [37%] (32%)
• Somewhat disapprove 28% {28%} [26%] (24%)
• Strongly disapprove 25 % {26%} [24%] (26%)

Survey of 500 Likely Voters was February 5-6, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 12, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 7, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 23, 2009 are in parentheses.

Research 2000/Daily Kos New Hampshire Senatorial Survey

GOP Primary

• Kelly Ayotte 36%
• Ovide Lamontagne 27%
• Bill Binnie 4%

Among Men

• Ovide Lamontagne 31%
• Kelly Ayotte 30%
• Bill Binnie 5%

Among Women

• Kelly Ayotte 44%
• Ovide Lamontagne 22%
• Bill Binnie 3%

Senatorial Election

• Kelly Ayotte (R) 46% (39%)
• Paul Hodes (D) 39% (38%)

• Paul Hodes (D) 45%
• Bill Binnie (R) 35%

• Paul Hodes (D) 46%
• Ovide Lamontagne (R) 36%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Kelly Ayotte 54% (36%) / 24% (13%) {+30%}
• Paul Hodes 47% (34%) / 29% (21%) {+18%}
• Barack Obama 55% (62%) / 38% (30%) {+17%}
• Bill Binnie 31% / 30% {+1%}
• Ovide Lamontagne 34% / 39% {-5%}
• The Democratic Party 38% / 49% {-11%}
• The Republican Party 32% / 54% {-22%}

Survey of 600 likely voters was conducted February 1-3, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted July 13-15, 2009 are in parentheses. Party ID breakdown: 31% Democrat; 30% Republican; 39% Independent.

The Democrats officially ceded the seat of their fallen hero—a seat they had held since the late Ted Kennedy’s brother occupied the White House—when Vice President Biden administered the oath of office to Republican Scott Brown this week. Brown’s arrival in Washington sounds the death knell for the dreamlike demands of President Obama’s liberal base. Gone are the days of health care optimism and cap and trade consensus. Silence reigns where there were once cries for a second stimulus and righteous calls for a New York City civilian trial for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

At least Obama had fair warning. Fragmentation of Democratic majorities began last November in New Jersey and Virginia. At the time, I described the gubernatorial victories of Republicans Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell as needed boosts for a desperate Republican Party, not direct repudiations of Obama’s policies. For the GOP to continue such success, it would have to court Independents and field “the right candidate…trumpeting a tailored message.” Three months later, despite doomsday predictions of the Tea Party’s rise, Republicans have utilized this game plan to perfection. The American public has indeed rejected the Democratic mantra of more: more spending, more debt, and more centralization of power in Washington. Judging by history, however, Obama should be quietly cheering his party’s fall from grace this coming November. Yes, you heard me correctly—root for the Republicans, Mr. President.

Telling of a man who grounded his 2008 campaign in centrist rhetoric, Obama has been willing to punt the liberal agenda to Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill. On top of the criticism that boxes him in from his left and right, the president has watched the center slip from his fingers. Therefore, Obama cannot tie his legacy to Democrats in Congress if he has any hope of turning his fortunes. In fact, working with a resurgent opposition party after 2010 would insolate the president from warring factions in search of his head. Then-candidate Obama enraged many Democrats when he claimed that Ronald Reagan had altered the trajectory of the political landscape in a way Bill Clinton had not. He did not mention that, as Jonathan Rauch of the National Journal reminds us, both Reagan and Clinton, the most popular and successful recent chief executives, shared power for significant portions of their terms. Detractors to the divided government theory may argue that George W. Bush benefited from Republican majorities in Congress throughout most of his presidency. How did that go for him in the end?

Data derived from the American Presidency Project demonstrates the counterintuitive notion that a Congress run by the rival party need not cripple a sitting president. The combined concurrence percentage of combined House and Senate votes to the expressed wishes of President Eisenhower (an underrated president) was roughly 70 percent. This statistic is relatively high until you consider that less successful presidents like Jimmy Carter (77%) and G.W. Bush (81%) witnessed better levels of concurrence. Reagan left office with a 62 percent concurrence mark and a 63 percent approval rating. Clinton’s Congress voted for his policy proposals only 57 percent of the time, but he exited the White House with support from two-thirds of the nation.

Christie, McDonnell, and Brown are just the first wave. Voters are frustrated with the priorities of Democrats in Washington. The economy is slowly recovering, but it will be a long march out of the woods. Republicans are priming viable, jobs-focused candidates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Shift to the center and Obama could enjoy a Clintonesque revival after the midterm elections. Embrace arrogance and partisanship, and Obama’s legacy will follow the path blazed by Carter and Bush.

Rasmussen Nevada Senatorial Survey

• Danny Tarkanian (R) 47% {50%} [49%] (50%)
• Harry Reid (D) 39% {36%} [43%] (43%)

• Sue Lowden (R) 45% {48%} [49%] (50%)
• Harry Reid (D) 39% {36%} [43%] (40%)

• Sharron Angle (R) 44% {44%} [47%]
• Harry Reid (D) 40% {40%} [43%]

• Brian Krolicki (R) 44%
• Harry Reid (D) 41%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Sue Lowden: 48% {47%} [46%] (48%)/ 27% {28%} [32%] (27%) {+21%}
• Danny Tarkanian: 50% {49%} [49%] (57%) / 35% {28%} [30%] (30%) {+15%}
• Brian Krolicki 40% / 33% {+7%}
• Sharron Angle: 37% {39%} [40%] / 30% {33%} [37%] {+7%}
• Harry Reid: 44% {41%} [40%] (45%) / 55% {55%} [57%] (54%) {-11%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 27% {29%} [29%] (37%)
• Somewhat approve 19% {20%} [17%] (9%)
• Somewhat disapprove 9% {9%} [11%] (8%)
• Strongly disapprove 45% {41%} [44%] (45%)

How would you rate the job Jim Gibbons has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 9% {9%} [7%]
• Somewhat approve 30% {26%} [28%]
• Somewhat disapprove 17% {27%} [24%]
• Strongly disapprove 42% {36%} [37%]

Survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted February 2, 2010. Results from the poll conducted January 11, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 9, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 14, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Male voters prefer the Republicans by double-digit margins in all four potential contests, while female voters trend slightly toward Reid. Voters not affiliated with either party break strongly toward the Republicans, particularly when Tarkanian is the choice.

The headline at Politico reads: Al Franken lays into David Axelrod over health care bill

Sen. Al Franken ripped into White House senior adviser David Axelrod this week during a tense, closed-door session with Senate Democrats.

Five sources who were in the room tell POLITICO that Franken criticized Axelrod for the administration’s failure to provide clarity or direction on health care and the other big bills it wants Congress to enact.

The sources said Franken was the most outspoken senator in the meeting, which followed President Barack Obama’s question-and-answer session with Senate Democrats at the Newseum on Wednesday. But they also said the Minnesotan wasn’t the only angry Democrat in the room.

“There was a lot of frustration in there,” said a Democratic senator who declined to be identified.

“People were hot,” another Democratic senator said.

Democratic senators are frustrated that the White House hasn’t done more to win over the public on health care reform and other aspects of its ambitious agenda — and angry that, in the wake of Scott Brown’s win in the Massachusetts Senate race, the White House hasn’t done more to chart a course for getting a health care bill to the president’s desk.

To which I have to ask, “Well, what did they expect?” Just what in his resume suggests he would be a leader? Obama has practically no experience at it. He voted “Present” time after time in the Illinois State Legislature. He hardly did a thing while a U.S. Senator. The one thing that his resume says he’s good at is campaigning for his next job. And that is practically all that he has done since assuming office over a year ago, campaign.

I am, quite frankly, surprised it took this long for the Democrats’ anger and frustration to boil over. Last month’s State of the Union address had to be the last coal tossed on the fire. It was long on criticism of Congress for not getting Obama’s agenda passed, but short on any concrete leadership and help from the White House. Further heat was caused when members facing angry voters this fall got precious little sympathy from Obama. “Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!” was the mantra coming from the administration with little concern for the political lives being sacrificed for the aggrandizement of “The One”.

I never thought I would see the day when I was cheering Al Franken on.

-R4′12 is pleased to publish an Op-ed from one of our second page contributors,  “Silver Fox” -KL

-

Ever since Adam fell, man has longed for Eden.  But mortal men, being prone to error and mischief, can’t agree on how to achieve it.  Enoch lived so well that “God took him,” whereas Noah floated away from social strife and started over at Ararat.

Since then, things haven’t gone too well.  On every continent, history is littered with tribal wars, power-hungry Caesars, Napoleons, and Hitlers.  Utopian proposals from Plato’s Republic to Marxist philosophy fill library shelves. War, intrigue, poverty and mass murder are man’s lot.

Today, two great social philosophies vie for the mind of man: individual freedom with the rule of law as embodied in America’s Constitution, and Communism, as embodied in the Communist Manifesto (later the Humanist Manifesto).  Both claim to be an attempt to satisfy the needs of man, the one clearly stating that individual freedom is endowed by God, the other teaching that intelligent men can organize and provide for the needs of the masses.

The Manifesto lists steps to be taken in order to achieve world totalitarian government:

Free public education for all children; combination of education with industrial production; ownership of industry and banking by the State; centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State; a heavy progressive or graduated income tax; abolition of private property ownership and right of inheritance; equal liability of all to labor…

Note how events occurring in our country today closely follow these steps.  And since Communism is atheistic, there are no rules, so anything—deceit, force, immorality, greed—is justified as means to an end.

Communism (in the guise of socialism, humanism, progressivism, liberalism, etc.) has been around for a long time; it became more aggressive in the 19th century, and exploded in the 20th.  An attempted purge of American communists after WWII led by Senator McCarthy was a failure, leaving the movement free to grow and prosper right here in our Constitutional Republic.

By the 1960’s, we had “flower children,” university students indoctrinated in Marxist propaganda, protest techniques, and how to foment dissent and conflict.

Calling themselves progressives, those students today are ensconced in positions of leadership in corporations, foundations, education, politics, the judiciary, and the media.

Since most Americans still believe in personal freedom and self-reliance, America is the biggest obstacle to world domination; thus, great care is taken to camouflage the ultimate goal of the progressive movement.  It is hidden behind twisted logic, double talk and outright lies, and is the power behind the environmentalist movement, the global warming farce, and the economic crisis.  Today, Communist disciples—some who know clearly what the end goal is and some who gullibly follow the propaganda line—have taken over the Democratic Party and infiltrated the Republican Party; they run unions and serve in cabinet posts.  And last year, they finally made it to the White House.

- Silver Fox

Rasmussen Colorado Senatorial Survey

• Jane Norton (R) 51% (49%) {46%} [45%]
• Michael Bennet (D) 37% (37%) {37%} [36%]

• Jane Norton (R) 45% (47%) {45%} [42%]
• Andrew Romanoff (D) 38% (35%) {34%} [34%]

• Tom Wiens (R) 45% (44%) {42%}
• Michael Bennet (D) 40% (38%) {41%}

• Tom Wiens (R) 42% (44%) {41%}
• Andrew Romanoff (D) 40% (39%) {40%}

• Ken Buck (R) 45% (43%) {42%}
• Michael Bennet (D) 41% (38%) {38%}

• Ken Buck (R) 45% (40%) {41%}
• Andrew Romanoff (D) 39% (39%) {39%}

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Jane Norton 49% (51%) {49%} [47%] / 31% (26%) {32%} [30%] {+18%}
• Ken Buck 43% (38%) {36%} / 26% (20%) {26%} {+17%}
• Tom Wiens 35% (36%) {37%} / 30% (24%) {30%} {+5%}
• Andrew Romanoff 40% (40%) {44%} [37%] / 37% (36%) {35%} [41%] {+3%}
• Michael Bennet 42% (42%) {39%} [36%] (41%) / 40% (40%) {46%} [49%] (34%) {+2%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 33% (32%) <32%> {31%} [35%] (35%)
• Somewhat approve 12% (15%) <13%> {19%} [13%] (16%)
• Somewhat disapprove 8% (9%) <7%> {6%} [8%] (7%)
• Strongly disapprove 45% (43%) <47%> {43%} [43%] (41%)

How would you rate the job Bill Ritter has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 17% (16%) <14%> {18%} [11%] (15%)
• Somewhat approve 23% (29%) <30%> {29%} [29%] (34%)
• Somewhat disapprove 24% (27%) <15%> {20%} [25%] (20%)
• Strongly disapprove 32% (28%) <37%> {31%} [32%] (29%)

Survey of 500 likely voters was conducted February 2, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 6, 2010 are in angle brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 8, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 15, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 9, 2009 are in parentheses.

WMUR Granite State Poll

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?

• Approve 48% (55%) [61%] {63%}
• Disapprove 47% (40%) [33%] {29%}

Among Independents

• Approve 39% (65%)
• Disapprove 53% (29%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the economy?

• Approve 41% (51%) [57%] {58%}
• Disapprove 54% (46%) [39%] {35%}

Among Independents

• Approve 29% (59%)
• Disapprove 59% (37%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling foreign affairs?

• Approve 53% (52%) [63%] {65%}
• Disapprove 40% (40%) [29%] {26%}

Among Independents

• Approve 48% (61%)
• Disapprove 40% (28%)

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling health care policy?

• Approve 36% (44%)
• Disapprove 58% (49%)

Among Independents

• Approve 23% (45%)
• Disapprove 64% (43%)

The U.S. House and Senate have just passed legislation that would overhaul the nation’s heath care system. Based on what you have seen or heard, do you favor or oppose the health care legislation that is going through Congress?

• Favor 26%
• Oppose 57%

Among Independents

• Favor 19%
• Oppose 57%

(Among those who favor the health care legislation) Suppose the current healthcare legislation does not get final approval and is not signed into law. Would you be very upset, somewhat upset, not too upset, or not upset at all?

• Very upset 44%
• Somewhat upset 39%
• Not too upset 10%
• Not upset at all 6%

(Among those who oppose the health care legislation) Suppose the current healthcare legislation gets final approval and is signed into law. Would you be very upset, somewhat upset, not too upset, or not upset at all?

• Very upset 57%
• Somewhat upset 33%
• Not too upset 6%
• Not upset at all 3%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of President Barack Obama?

• Favorable 52% (56%) [62%] {64%}
• Unfavorable 41% (35%) [30%] {27%}

Among Independents

• Favorable 52% (64%)
• Unfavorable 37% (27%)

Survey of 500 adults was conducted January 27 – February 4, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.4 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted October 2009 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted July 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted April 2009 are in curly brackets.

Rasmussen Kentucky Senatorial Survey

• Trey Grayson (R) 49% [44%] (44%)
• Dan Mongiardo (D) 35% [37%] (37%)

• Rand Paul (R) 48% [49%] (43%)
• Dan Mongiardo (D) 37% [35%] (38%)

• Trey Grayson (R) 44% [45%] (40%)
• Jack Conway (D) 40% [35%] (40%)

• Rand Paul (R) 47% [46%] (38%)
• Jack Conway (D) 39% [38%] (42%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Trey Grayson 61% [57%] (53%) / 18% [21%] (20%) {+43%}
• Rand Paul 54% [57%] (51%) / 26% [25%] (23%) {+28%}
• Jack Conway 47% [46%] (49%) / 32% [36%] (27%) {+15%}
• Dan Mongiardo 45% [44%] (41%) / 43% [44%] (43%) {+2%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 28% [22%] (29%)
• Somewhat approve 14% [19%] (18%)
• Somewhat disapprove 11% [13%] (12%)
• Strongly disapprove 46% [46%] (41%)

How would you rate the job Steve Beshear has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 10% [14%] (17%)
• Somewhat approve 39% [39%] (42%)
• Somewhat disapprove 29% [31%] (25%)
• Strongly disapprove 19% [13%] (16%)

Survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted February 2, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 6, 2010 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 30, 2009 are in parentheses.

“We’re not going to save our way out of this recession. We’ve got to spend our way out of this recession.” – U.S. Majority Whip Jim Clyburn

Just days before Congressman Jim Clyburn had the “audacity” to admit what D.C. politicians were actually doing with our tax dollars, U.S. President Barack Obama had the cowardice to continue concealing government’s unprecedented generational larceny.

“It is critical that we rein in the budget deficits that we’ve been accumulating for far too long,” Obama said in unveiling his latest effort to distract American citizens from a looming fiscal Armageddon.

Of course, after proposing a so-called “budget freeze” in his State of the Union speech, Obama rolled out the “Mother of all Boondoggles” (for now, at least), a $3.8 trillion spending plan for the coming fiscal year that includes a record $1.6 trillion deficit (on top of the $1.4 trillion deficit government will run in the current fiscal year). By the end of this month, the Treasury now projects that the U.S. will hit its $12.4 trillion debt ceiling, coming on the heels of a vote last week in the Senate to raise the debt ceiling from $12.4 trillion to $14.294 trillion. And just this week, Moody’s warned that the nation’s Triple-A rating could be in jeopardy “if the current upward trend in government debt were to continue and become irreversible.”

“It would be a terrible mistake to borrow against our children’s future to pay our way today,” Obama said – but then he did just that, endorsing a spending plan that grows government by hundreds of billions of dollars when the nation can least afford it, and when the country’s first major entitlement bubble is about to burst.

According to a new CBO report, Social Security outlays will exceed revenues for the first time in 25 years in 2010 – and a wave of red ink is rapidly building up behind this immediate tipping point as the program will run permanent deficits beginning in 2016. Meanwhile a similar Medicaid implosion is on the horizon, and on top of these brewing disasters we have the hundreds of billions of dollars America must devote to interest payments on its mushrooming debt.

Yet amazingly, with the same sleight of hand that his so-called stimulus “created or saved” imaginary jobs (in non-existent Congressional districts), Obama now claims that federal deficits will begin to magically decline by 2012 – although even his rosiest numbers don’t envision annual deficits falling below $1 trillion until after 2020.

Where will our national debt be at that point? $24 trillion?

That’s classic Washington calculus though, isn’t it? Nothing ever gets cut from government, as we just have politicians who promise to borrow less of your money at some point in the increasingly distant future.  But that point in the future never actually arrives, because there is invariably some emergency or perceived social obligation which crops up to justify yet another massive expansion of government.

In addition to excluding such politically-correct contingencies from his spending plans, Obama also erroneously claims that future deficits could be reduced if only the U.S. Congress were to pass his socialized medicine proposal – with its estimated $2.5 trillion price tag.

Only according to Obama’s asinine arithmetic do spending explosions and entitlement expansions equate to future savings.

This fiscal lunacy is clearly not what the American people want. Yet even though they held up unmistakable “STOP” signs in elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, Obama and his Congressional allies are ignoring the message and pushing the pedal to the floor as they drive this nation off of a fiscal cliff.

Obama’s rampant spending isn’t even the gravest danger, either, as his budget threatens to exacerbate the damage by putting future economic growth in a stranglehold.

While Obama claims to have placed “jobs”  at the top of his priority list, his budget raises taxes on capital gains and hikes upper income tax brackets as part of an effort to pump more than $460 billion into government’s coffers – mirroring the faulty “payment plan” behind his socialized medicine proposal.

And while soaking the rich makes for great populist rhetoric, it doesn’t create jobs – in fact, it ensures that job creators keep what little money Washington leaves them with buried in their back yards, not making payroll.

With his presidency on the ropes, Barack Obama is portraying himself to the masses as a deficit hawk focused on improving our economy.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

His unprecedented spending binge would stab at the very heart of job creation in this country, while plunging this nation deeper into a deficit spiral from which it might never ever be able to escape.

______________________________________________________________________________________

-Howard Rich, Chairman of Americans for Limited Government, is a Liberty Features Syndicated writer.

Rasmussen Illinois Senatorial Survey

• Mark Kirk 46% {39%} [41%] (41%)
• Alexi Giannoulias 40% {42%} [41%] (38%)
• Some other candidate 4% {3%} [4%] (4%)
• Not sure 10% {15%} [13%] (17%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Mark Kirk 55% {50%} / 33% {32%} {+22%}
• Alexi Giannoulias 46% {48%} / 39% {36%} {+7%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 33% {40%} [41%] (37%)
• Somewhat approve 21% {18%} [15%] (19%)
• Somewhat disapprove 10% {9%} [11%] (8%)
• Strongly disapprove 35% {33%} [33%] (34%)

How would you rate the job Pat Quinn has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 8% {8%}
• Somewhat approve 37% {43%}
• Somewhat disapprove 31% {25%}
• Strongly disapprove 22% {22%}

Survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted February 3, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points.Results from the poll conducted December 9, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted October 14, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 11, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Among voters not affiliated with either of the major parties, the Republican holds a sizable 59% to 22% lead.

Rasmussen Connecticut Senatorial Survey

• Richard Blumenthal (D) 54% {56%}
• Rob Simmons (R) 35% {33%}

• Richard Blumenthal (D) 56% {58%}
• Linda McMahon (R) 36% {34%}

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Richard Blumenthal 70% / 27% {+43%}
• Rob Simmons 60% / 26% {+34%}
• Linda McMahon 51% / 34% {+17%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 32% {39%} [36%] (44%)
• Somewhat approve 19% {17%} [21%] (15%)
• Somewhat disapprove 10% {8%} [10%] (9%)
• Strongly disapprove 39% {35%} [33%] (30%)

How would you rate the job Jodi Rell has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 22%
• Somewhat approve 45%
• Somewhat disapprove 23%
• Strongly disapprove 10%

Survey of 500 likely voters was conducted January 6, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 6, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 7, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 10, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Simmons and McMahon run slightly stronger than Blumenthal among male voters, but both lose female voters to the Democrat by nearly 40 points. Among voters not affiliated with either party, Blumenthal and Simmons run even, while the Democrat wins by eight against McMahon.

Rasmussen Texas Gubernatorial Survey

• Kay Bailey Hutchison 49% (52%)
• Bill White 36% (37%)

• Rick Perry 48% (50%)
• Bill White 39% (40%)

• Debra Medina 41% (38%)
• Bill White 38% (44%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Kay Bailey Hutchison 57% (61%) / 39% (35%) {+18%}
• Rick Perry 54% (55%) / 44% (42%) {+10%}
• Debra Medina 44% (39%) / 34% (32%) {+10%}
• Bill White 46% (49%) / 38% (35%) {+8%}

How would you rate the job Rick Perry has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 11% (16%)
• Somewhat approve 39% (37%)
• Somewhat disapprove 24% (23%)
• Strongly disapprove 24% (23%)

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 27% (29%)
• Somewhat approve 14% (15%)
• Somewhat disapprove 10% (8%)
• Strongly disapprove 48% (46%)

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted February 1, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 17, 2010 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

All three possible Republican candidates post broadly similar results among both Democrats and unaffiliated voters. However, Medina currently attracts only 62% of the GOP vote, well below the totals for Perry and Hutchison. With Medina as the nominee, 23% of GOP voters say they would either prefer a third-option or are undecided.

All three Republican contenders carry male voters over White by double-digit margins. Women favor Hutchison over the Democrat but break even when Perry is the Republican in the race. White wins female voters by six points against Medina.

PPP (D) National Political Survey

Do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job performance?

• Approve 48% (46%) [49%] {49%} (51%) [52%] {52%} (50%)
• Disapprove 49% (47%) [47%] {46%} (43%) [44%] {42%} (43%)

Among Independents

• Approve 48% (43%) [46%] {47%} (46%) [52%] {48%} (46%)
• Disapprove 48% (45%) [47%] {46%} (44%) [40%] {42%} (42%)

Do you support or oppose President Obama’s health care plan?

• Support 36% (40%) [39%] {40%} (42%) [45%] {40%}
• Oppose 51% (49%) [52%] {52%} (45%) [46%] {47%}

Among Independents

• Support 35% (40%) [39%] {36%} (40%) [46%] {35%}
• Oppose 53% (47%) [52%] {58%} (47%) [44%] {49%}

Generally speaking this fall will you vote Democratic or Republican for Congress?

• Republican 43%
• Democrat 40%

Among Independents

• Republican 40%
• Democrat 27%

If the Democrats don’t pass their health care bill will you vote Democratic or Republican for Congress this fall?

• Republican 43%
• Democrat 38%

Among Independents

• Republican 40%
• Democrat 26%

If the Democrats pass their health care bill will you vote Democratic or Republican for Congress this fall?

• Republican 45%
• Democrat 41%

Among Independents

• Republican 42%
• Democrat 34%

Who did you vote for President in 2008?

• Barack Obama 52% (47%) [47%] {47%}
• John McCain 45% (46%) [45%] {45%}

Survey of 584 registered voters was conducted January 29-31, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.1 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 38% (36%) [39%] Democrat; 34% (35%) [34%] Republican; 28% (29%) [27%] Independent. Political ideology: 41% (39%) [41%] Conservative;40% (47%) [41%] Moderate; 19% (14%) [18%] Liberal. Results from the poll conducted January 18-19, 2010 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted December 4-7, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted November 13-15, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted October 16-19, 2009 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted September 18-21, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 14-17, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted July 15-16, 2009 are in parentheses.

ABCNews tells us the following:

Democrats joined Republicans today introducing legislation to deny President Obama money to transport suspected 9/11 conspirators stateside and try them in civilian courts.

It is unclear when or how this measure would come to a vote, but it is abundantly clear that President Obama’s plan to use the American justice system to try suspected 9/11 conspirators is in serious jeopardy.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark, who faces a tough reelection bid, was asked by a reporter at a press conference today if the President is being “tone deaf” in asking moderate Democrats to support his plan.

“I’d be tone deaf if I didn’t speak for the people,” said Lincoln, questioning the “cost, security and appropriateness” of using civilian courts to try suspected terrorists.

Senators voted overwhelmingly in May of 2009 to strip funds for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison from a war funding bill.

Lincoln was today joined by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, of Virginia, whose state includes the federal court where 20th hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui was tried.

Obama, in his inexperience, has violated the number one rule of leadership. If you want people to follow you willingly, you have to make it in their best interests to do so. Constantly pushing your own agenda for your own aggrandizement with nary a thought for the concerns of your followers will eventually lead to you being a leader in name only. You may have all the trappings of office, but your ability to lead will be gone.

Obama stands at the precipice of a failed Presidency. His fellow Congressional Democrats are showing greater and greater reluctance to follow him over the cliff. If he swallows his pride, admits he is mortal, and retreats from the cliff, he can still recover. Otherwise, it is a mighty long drop to the bottom.

***UPDATE***
More signs that the bloom is off the Obama rose. From Politico (see my post below):

Last year, Obama drew criticism from Nevada politicians for criticizing junkets to Las Vegas by bailed-out banks – and Reid’s political opponents accused him for not taking a tough enough line against the president.

But on Tuesday, Reid responded with a swift criticism of the president’s comments.

Even the Democrat Majority Leader of the Senate is becoming less deferential to Obama.

Obama just took another jab at Las Vegas today. According to “The Hill”:

President Barack Obama took another dig at Las Vegas at his New Hampshire town hall Tuesday after similar remarks got him into hot water last year.

Obama said that people should no[t] “blow a bunch of cash in Vegas” during a tough recession. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called for Obama to apologize after he made comparable comments last February.

Normally I would be the first to agree with our President that wasting money gambling is not the most productive use of it. However, I see two problems with his comment:

1. His remarks were not limited to gambling per se, but were an attack on the tourist industry in general, an industry which has been particularly hit hard during this recession. Obama made a similar comment last year and his press secretary tried to clean up the mess by saying (again quoting “The Hill”): “…that Obama meant to target banks and other firms that received federal bailout funds. Gibbs said that the president believes in a strong tourism industry.”
2. Obama is planning on traveling to Las Vegas later this month to campaign for Harry Reid. Now I am no expert, but I don’t think that dissing the way your future audience earns its money is the most effective way to win them over to your point of view.

I’m sure Harry is pleased.

Rasmussen Arkansas Senatorial Survey

• John Boozman 54%
• Blanche Lincoln 35%

• Gilbert Baker 52% {51%} [47%] (47%)
• Blanche Lincoln 33% {39%} [41%] (39%)

• Kim Hendren 51% {47%} [46%] (44%)
• Blanche Lincoln 35% {39%} [39%] (41%)

• Curtis Coleman 50% {48%} [44%] (43%)
• Blanche Lincoln 34% {38%} [40%] (41%)

• Tom Cox 50% {48%} [43%] (43%)
• Blanche Lincoln 36% {38%} [40%] (40%)

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• John Boozman 51% / 24% {+27%}
• Curtis Coleman 39% / 19% {+20%}
• Gilbert Baker 40% {42%} [40%] (39%) / 22% {20%} [19%] (27%) {+18%}
• Kim Hendren 35% {37%} [41%] (38%) / 19% {20%} [19%] (22%) {+16%}
• Tom Cox 36% / 22% {+14%}
• Blanche Lincoln 36% {38%} [43%] (45%) / 59% {56%} [52%] (52%) {-23%}

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 20% {20%} [21%] (28%)
• Somewhat approve 13% {18%} [13%] (9%)
• Somewhat disapprove 7% {8%} [14%] (10%)
• Strongly disapprove 59% {53%} [51%] (52%)

How would you rate the job Mike Beebe has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 22% {23%} [23%] (27%)
• Somewhat approve 51% {45%} [47%] (42%)
• Somewhat disapprove 17% {21%} [22%] (22%)
• Strongly disapprove 7% {8%} [6%] (8%)

Survey of 500 likely voters was conducted February 1, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted January 5, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 1, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted September 28, 2009 are in parentheses.

Research 2000/Daily Kos Republican Survey

If the 2012 Primary for President were held today, which of the following would you vote for?

• Sarah Palin 16%
• Mitt Romney 11%
• Dick Cheney 10%
• Newt Gingrich 7%
• Mike Huckabee 7%
• Tim Pawlenty 3%
• Ron Paul 2%
• John Thune 2%
• Undecided 42%

Should Barack Obama be impeached, or not?

• Yes 39%
• No 32%

Do you believe Barack Obama was born in the United States, or not?

• Yes 36%
• No 42%

Do you think Barack Obama is a socialist?

• Yes 63%
• No 21%

Do you believe Barack Obama wants the terrorists to win?

• Yes 24%
• No 43%

Do you believe ACORN stole the 2008 election?

• Yes 21%
• No 24%

Do you believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be President than Barack Obama?

• Yes 53%
• No 14%

Do you believe Barack Obama is a racist who hates White people?

• Yes 31%
• No 36%

Do you believe your state should secede from the United States?

• Yes 23%
• No 58%

Should Congress make it easier for workers to form and join labor unions?

• Yes 7%
• No 68%

Would you favor or oppose giving illegal immigrants now living in the United States the right to live here legally if they pay a fine and learn English?

• Favor 26%
• Oppose 59%

Should openly gay men and women be allowed to serve in the military?

• Yes 26%
• No 55%

Should same sex couples be allowed to marry?

• Yes 7%
• No 77%

Should gay couples receive any state or federal benefits?

• Yes 11%
• No 68%

Should openly gay men and women be allowed to teach in public schools?

• Yes 8%
• No 73%

Should sex education be taught in the public schools?

• Yes 42%
• No 51%

Should public school students be taught that the book of Genesis in the Bible explains how God created the world?

• Yes 77%
• No 15%

Are marriages equal partnerships, or are men the leaders of their households?

• Men 13%
• Equal 76%

Should contraceptive use be outlawed?

• Yes 31%
• No 56%

Do you believe the birth control pill is abortion?

• Yes 34%
• No 48%

Do you consider abortion to be murder?

• Yes 76%
• No 8%

Do you support the death penalty?

• Yes 91%
• No 4%

Should women work outside the home?

• Yes 86%
• No 4%

Do you believe that the only way for an individual to go to heaven is though Jesus Christ, or can one make it to heaven through another faith?

• Christ 67%
• Other 15%

Survey of 2,003 Republicans was conducted January 20-31, 2010. The margin of error is +/-2 percentage points.

PPP (D) Arkansas Senatorial Survey

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican John Boozman and Democrat Blanche Lincoln, who would you vote for?

• John Boozman 56%
• Blanche Lincoln 33%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican John Boozman and Democrat Bill Halter, who would you vote for?

• John Boozman 53%
• Bill Halter 30%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican John Boozman and Democrat Wesley Clark, who would you vote for?

• John Boozman 51%
• Wesley Clark 36%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican John Boozman and Democrat Mike Ross, who would you vote for?

• John Boozman 48%
• Mike Ross 37%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican John Boozman and Democrat Mike Beebe, who would you vote for?

• John Boozman 44%
• Mike Beebe 43%

If the candidates for US Senate next year were Republican Gilbert Baker and Democrat Blanche Lincoln, who would you vote for?

• Gilbert Baker 50% (42%)
• Blanche Lincoln 35% (40%)

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican Gilbert Baker and Democrat Bill Halter, who would you vote for?

• Gilbert Baker 45%
• Bill Halter 34%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican Gilbert Baker and Democrat Wesley Clark, who would you vote for?

• Gilbert Baker 45%
• Wesley Clark 39%

If the candidates for US Senate next year were Republican Gilbert Baker and Democrat Mike Ross, who would you vote for?

• Gilbert Baker 39%
• Mike Ross 39%

If the candidates for Senate this fall were Republican Gilbert Baker and Democrat Mike Beebe, who would you vote for?

• Mike Beebe 46%
• Gilbert Baker 38%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• John Boozman 32% / 25% {+7%}
• Mike Ross 32% / 25% {+7%}
• Wesley Clark 29% / 29% {0%}
• Gilbert Baker 9% (7%) / 16% (15%) {-7%}
• Bill Halter 21% / 29% {-8%}

Do you approve or disapprove of Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln’s job performance?

• Approve 27% (36%)
• Disapprove 62% (44%)

Do you think that Blanche Lincoln should run for reelection this year?

• Yes 33%
• No 57%

Among Democrats

• Yes 63%
• No 29%

Do you think that Blanche Lincoln is too conservative, too liberal, or about right?

• Too liberal 52%
• Too conservative 14%
• About right 28%

Among Democrats

• Too liberal 18%
• Too conservative 25%
• About right 50%

Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark Pryor’s job performance?

• Approve 29% (47%)
• Disapprove 46% (32%)

Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Mike Beebe’s job performance?

• Approve 59% (63%)
• Disapprove 22% (17%)

Do you approve or disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance?

• Approve 38% (40%)
• Disapprove 58% (56%)

Do you support or oppose President Obama’s health care plan?

• Support 30% (29%)
• Oppose 61% (60%)

(more…)

Rasmussen Survey on Terror Trials

Should the trials of suspected terrorists linked to 9/11 be held at Guantanamo Bay?

• Yes 44%
• No 33%

Should the trials of suspected terrorists linked to 9/11 be held in the continental United States?

• Yes 49%
• No 37%

While they are being tried, should suspected terrorists be given all the rights of U.S. citizens?

• Yes 16%
• No 74%

A proposal has been made that would require all Guantanamo Bay prisoners to be tried in a military tribunal. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

• Favor 67%
• Oppose 15%

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted January 30-31, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Fifty-four percent (54%) of male voters say the terrorist trials should be held at Guantanamo Bay, but women voters are evenly divided on the question. Men also believe much more strongly than women that the Guantanamo prisoners should face a military tribunal. Both groups agree by sizable majorities, though, that the terrorists suspects should not be given the legal rights of U.S. citizens.

Two-thirds (66%) of Republicans and a plurality (48%) of voters not affiliated with either major party support holding the terrorist trials in Cuba. Fifty percent (50%) of Democrats disagree, and 68% of the president’s party say the trials of suspects linked to 9/11 should be held in the continental United States.

Rasmussen Florida Senatorial Survey

• Charlie Crist 48% (42%) [46%] {48%} (46%)
• Kendrick Meek 33% (36%) [34%] {29%} (28%)
• Some other candidate 10% (11%) [9%] {10%} (12%)
• Not sure 9% (11%) [11%] {13%} (14%)

• Marco Rubio 49% (49%) [46%] {43%}
• Kendrick Meek 32% (35%) [31%] {30%}
• Some other candidate 6% (4%) [8%] {8%}
• Not sure 13% (12%) [15%] {19%}

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Marco Rubio 51% (51%) {41%} / 31% (29%) {31%} {+20%}
• Charlie Crist 58% (59%) {64%} (57%) / 40% (38%) {35%} (36%) {+18%}
• Kendrick Meek 38% (41%) {37%} (37%) / 36% (33%) {34%} (36%){+2%}

How would you rate the job Charlie Crist has been doing as Governor?

• Strongly approve 10% (9%) [13%] {17%} (15%)
• Somewhat approve 41% (43%) [36%] {42%} (45%)
• Somewhat disapprove 30% (25%) [29%] {21%} (20%)
• Strongly disapprove 17% (20%) [20%] {19%} (16%)

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President?

• Strongly approve 25% (29%) [29%] {27%} (32%)
• Somewhat approve 17% (15%) [13%] {15%} (14%)
• Somewhat disapprove 11% (9%) [11%] {10%} (12%)
• Strongly disapprove 47% (46%) [47%] {47%} (38%)

How do you rate the way that the government responded to the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day?

• Excellent 10%
• Good 23%
• Fair 23%
• Poor 43%

Which is a better way to create new jobs – cutting taxes or increasing government spending?

• Cutting taxes 58%
• Increasing government spending 12%

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted January 27, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted December 14, 2009 are in parentheses. Results from the poll conducted October 19, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted August 17, 2009 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted June 22, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

Both Crist and Rubio lead Meek by two-to-one among male voters but have a more modest edge among female voters. Voters not affiliated with either major party prefer either of the Republicans to Meek by roughly 20 points.

SurveyUSA New York Poll on 9/11 Terror Trials

Should the September 11 terror trials be held in Lower Manhattan? Or should they be held somewhere else?

• Lower Manhattan 23%
• Somewhere else 69%

Should the September 11 terror suspects be tried in a civilian court? Or a military court?

• Civilian court 26%
• Military court 69%

Survey of 500 adults in the New York City metropolitan area was conducted January 29, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 4.1 percentage points.

PPP (D) Alaska Political Survey

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Sarah Palin?

• Favorable 47%
• Unfavorable 45%

Among Independents

• Favorable 36%
• Unfavorable 55%

Among Republicans

• Favorable 78%
• Unfavorable 15%

Among Democrats

• Favorable 24%
• Unfavorable 74%

Among Men

• Favorable 50%
• Unfavorable 42%

Among Women

• Favorable 44%
• Unfavorable 49%

Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Sean Parnell’s job performance?

• Approve 58%
• Disapprove 19%

Among Independents

• Approve 55%
• Disapprove 20%

Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mark Begich’s job performance?

• Approve 35%
• Disapprove 51%

Among Independents

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 48%

Do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s job performance?

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 56%

Among Independents

• Approve 43%
• Disapprove 49%

Survey of 710 Alaska voters was conducted January 27-28, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3.7 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 50% Independent; 32% Republican; 18% Democrat.

Rasmussen Post-State of the Union Survey

During his first year in office, did President Obama accomplish most of the goals he set out to achieve?

• Yes 19%
• No 70%

Over the past year, have taxes been cut for 95% of working families in America?

• Yes 21%
• No 53%

Is it true that, “after two years of recession, the economy is growing again”?

• True 35%
• False 50%

Is it true that steps taken by the Obama Administration have created jobs for two million people who would otherwise be unemployed today?

• True 27%
• False 51%

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted January 28-29, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.