Gallup: "Approval for Handling of War in Iraq Jumps"

[GRClarkesq]

POLL ANALYSES
December 19, 2003

Approval for Handling of War in Iraq Jumps
Little change in basic support for U.S. involvement in war

by Frank Newport
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll suggests that last Sunday's dramatic capture of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein changed some of the ways in which Americans view the situation in Iraq, but did not affect others. There has been a significant increase in approval of the way the war in Iraq is being handled, but there has been little change in the already high level of support for the overall strategy of involvement in Iraq in the first place. At this time, a clear majority of Americans say that U.S. involvement in Iraq is worth it and that the United States is handling the situation there well. Additionally, a smaller majority of Americans say that the Bush administration has a clear plan for handling the situation, and that the United States should either increase the number of troops in Iraq or keep them at the current levels.

Approval for Way the War Is Being Handled Increases to 65%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr031219.asp

[vi5]

1. I've seen a few polls that reflect this...I'll be curious to see

how many people respond on here that "polls doesn't matter!!" or "polls are rigged" or what have you, but then later on trumpet the first poll that shows a democrat winning or war support waning.

The fact is these polls aren't the be all end all, but there is some accuracy and truth to them and to deny that is a head in the sand apporach that we can't afford.

[arwalden]

10. Sorry... I am very consistent when I say that all polls are bullshit.

Perhaps I'm one of a very few folks who do that, however.

Even when the polls appear to give results that are favorable to our causes and our candidates and our party... they are all bullshit. I think they are about as reliable as any poll that you'd find in the DU Lounge.

It's a philosophy that doens't sit well with everyone and that doesn't work well for everyone. Personally, I just can't get too worked up about poll results. I don't even care if a poll has been "freeped" and I don't bother to "un-freep" them.

-- Allen

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. They're not complete bullshit

especially when you see a varied array showing similar results.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. Oh, please. All of these polls are coming from mainstream...

...media outlets, which are OWNED by huge corporations with very conservative political views, or privately owned by smaller companies with very conservative views.

I also suspect that a few relatively unknown polling organizations that have been quoted recently are actually fronts for the RNC/GOP.

Of course the polls are going to show similar results when they're financially backed, and/or associated with, the same dadgum people!

I am constantly amazed that people still believe that political polls are impartial. I'm sorry, but that's like believing in the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.

Wake up.

[wildwww2]

2. They are polling Bu$h contributors now exclusively. This is poop!

My wife`s whole family is pukes and they think the sooner Bu$h Inc. is out of office the better. And that is almost a quote from a couple of them. They see the war as a big mistake. Although I cannot convince them that Afghanistan was a poorly handle pile of crap too. They do admit that it will come back to bite us in the ass. Because the aftermath has been neglected. By the court appointed idiot who started it.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[GRClarkesq]

3. Polls at this time not that important

if you are considering the 2004 presidential election. The real measure will be if Saddam's capture causes more than a temporary bump in poll numbers and sets a higher "floor" of support for the war. Probably useless to speculate, the Iraq situation will evolve in ways we cannot anticipate. Of course, speculation is such fun.

[hadrons]

4. Poll is OK ....

I think it means that a lot of people (with the help of the media) are setting themselves up to be very disappointed

[cspiguy]

5. The real question is what will be polls be when

the iraqi people are massed in the streets of Baghdad cheering and raving as the last american helicopter evacuates the remaining occupation authority personell after the trickle of one a day casualties mounts to dozens a day and eventually the U.S. has to retreat from this powderkeg in disgrace. Exactly how does his capture prevent this eventuality?

[saigon68]

11. You mean this one?

[Triana]

6. who owns gallup?

Just asking...

[samsingh]

7. i have to ask

why are people this stupid?

they are so easily manipulated. the bushees are laughing all the way to the bank.

[young_at_heart]

8. As long as they can watch "Survivor", etc., they are happy

I wonder how many people read the newspaper...they probably want to emulate our president, who has no interest in reading the newspaper or watching TV news. Therefore, how many people have ANY clue about world events, etc.?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. There is a lot more "truth" in "Survivor" than there is in the U.S....

...mainstream media, and "Survivor" rewards the one who can lie most effectively.

Why should ANYONE trust what they read or hear from the mainstream media, given their record for the last 10 to 20 years? What possible "clue" could anyone get from the crap being blasted from televisions and newspapers 24 hours per day??

[Jacobin]

9. amazing how well the propaganda thing is working

simply amazing

[0rganism]

12. Herr Goebbels thought the same thing in his day

I believe the appropriate quote is, "The German people have no idea how much they must be lied to in order to be led."

[SemperEadem]

14. They didn't contact me, so the poll is flawed

they called a bunch of refuclicans to get their numbers.

[terrierist]

15. The numbers will drop

as soon as people realize that caging Saddam isn't going to change a thing in Iraq