Another Two Bite the Dust By Susan Estrich
It was not a good day for ethics in government.
It was not a good day for ethics in government.
The Discover U.S. Spending Monitor rose 1.2 points in January, mainly due to a slight increase in economic confidence from consumers. The rise in optimism was largely offset by continued restraint on spending intentions, as consumers, buffeted by dismal housing, labor and financial news continue to keep a tight hold on their purse strings.
Many U.S. voters still think the recent pattern of the White House alternating between the political parties will continue, but Barack Obama’s early popularity is dampening that belief somewhat.
There has been some confusing reporting in the past few days regarding President Barack Obama's plans for the Defense Department budget. Officially, the Office of Management and Budget is claiming that it will increase the budget by 8 percent. But because most of the Iraq and Afghanistan war costs have been funded through supplemental appropriations rather than the regular department budget, total military funding remains a mystery.
Tom Daschle's withdrawal from consideration as future secretary of Health and Human Services had to happen. So seemingly strong on health-care policy but weak on ethics, the man President Obama had picked to remake the American health-care system had set off wild mood swings among the public.
Many banks have failed across the country. Therefore, from January 27-28, 2009, we are asking voters if they think that the government should control our banking system. We want you to predict what percentage of people will say yes to government control of the banking system and have one centralized government bank.
Since the recall of peanut butter, many question the safety of their food. From February 3-4, 2009, we are asking adults how confident they are in the safey of their food. We want you to predict what percentage of people will say they are "very confident" that their food is safe.
Following the unanimous Republican opposition to the economic stimulus bill proposed by and House Democrats, the GOP has narrowed the gap this week on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of American voters now view President Obama as politically liberal, including 42% who say he is Very Liberal. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 23% see him as politically moderate and just 2% see him as somewhat or very conservative.
Voters don’t like what they’ve seen so far as Congress works to lift the troubled U.S. economy.
Americans have a much dimmer view of each of the Big Three automakers than they did two years ago, but 41% still believe the U.S. automobile industry is very important to the financial stability of the overall economy. That, however, is down from 49% in 2007.
Americans now know that the "change we can believe in," which President Obama promised, means a taxes-optional administration. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner rode out the bad news about his failure to pay $34,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes on income he earned while working for the International Monetary Fund, and still won confirmation. The man now in charge of the IRS says it was "an innocent mistake."
The Rasmussen Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market, fell six more points in January to 61.1. That’s the fourth straight month that the Index has fallen to a record low. Since September, workplace confidence has fallen 27 points.
Most American adults under 30 (54%) belong to an Internet social networking site such as Facebook or MySpace.
So why would the estimable Sen. Judd Gregg (R., N.H.) quit his job to become commerce secretary in the Obama administration?
Forty-two percent (42%) of U.S. voters say President Barack Obama is governing on a bipartisan basis while 39% say he is governing as a partisan Democrat.
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of American adults say the executives of companies that need federal money to stay in business should not receive bonuses. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that only eight percent (8%) believe the bonuses are okay while five percent (5%) are not sure.
They called it right. After one of the most exciting endings in Super Bowl history, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the winners – as 55% of American adults who planned to watch the game predicted.
Just 11% of U.S. voters think America should apologize to Iran for “crimes” against the Islamic country – one of the prerequisites demanded by the Iranian president before he will agree to meet with President Barack Obama.
During January, the number of Americans who say they are not affiliated with either the Republican or the Democratic Party rose by a full percentage point to 26.6%.