WP/ABC News Poll: Public’s trust in Bush at low ebb

[Jack_Dawson]

Poll: Public’s trust in Bush at low ebb

Many think he lied or exaggerated on WMD
By Richard Morin and Dana Milbank

(Quick! Let's say Kerry cheated on his wife!)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4253596/

Feb. 13, 2004 WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans believe President Bush either lied or deliberately exaggerated evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction in order to justify war, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey results, which also show declining support for the war in Iraq and for Bush's leadership in general, indicate the public is increasingly questioning the president's truthfulness -- a concern for Bush's political advisers as his reelection bid gets underway.

Barely half -- 52 percent -- now believe Bush is "honest and trustworthy," down 7 percentage points since late October and his worst showing since the question was first asked, in March 1999. At his best, in the summer of 2002, Bush was viewed as honest by 71 percent. The survey found that nearly seven in 10 think Bush "honestly believed" Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Even so, 54 percent thought Bush exaggerated or lied about prewar intelligence.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. Half of America thinks Bush is honest?

That's pretty damn sad.

[Jack_Dawson]

3. Luckily I don't know any of those people

Well...except my boss and every single co-worker. But people I would actually hang out with.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. uh-oh If it hits 45

look out everybody. I was looking at the pollingreport and noticed something major happens every time it gets around 40-45. Duck and cover!!!

[Jack_Dawson]

4. What happens at 45?

I give up.

[drdigi420]

5. orange alerts

dubya calls out a terrorist alert ernie everytime his poll numbers sag

[DenverDem]

6. 9/11 II

Cheney promised it.

"It will happen again."

[maggrwaggr]

7. the reason most people believed Bush in the first place:

Most people believe that the President is privy to special information that the rest of us cannot see. And that we shouldn't see. And when the president acts all scared and says "we really need to invade this country because it's a threat" .......

Well an awful lot of nice people who still have faith more in our country and its systems than they do in any one man are gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. Because he's seeing stuff that the rest of us don't see.

Of course, those of us who did our homework knew he was lying.

Most people don't do their homework. Most people trust their government and (sadly) the press.

Now they realize he was lying. It's a big shock to them. And they're just starting to get pissed off about it. Once it sinks in to more people, they're gonna be REALLY pissed off.

Nobody likes to be made a fool.

[Moderator]

8. Locking

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