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                            December 12, 2014Voters Say Spending Cuts Help the Economy
Following the U.S. House of Representatives' narrow passage of a spending bill hours before deadline, voters continue to believe that cutting government spending - and taxes - is the best present the federal government can give the economy this holiday season.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that increases in government spending hurt the economy. Twenty-six percent (26%) think spending increases help the economy, while seven percent (7%) say it will have no impact. These are all line in with findings from the past few years. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 9-10, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 12, 2014Charity is Up This Christmas
Americans are in the charitable spirit once again this Christmas, and even more plan to make a donation than last year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of Americans Adults are at least somewhat likely to make a charitable donation of some kind this year, up from 76% a year ago. Just 13% are not likely to make a donation. This includes 65% who are Very Likely to donate this year and five percent (5%) who are Not At All Likely to do so. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 12, 2014Grand Jury Protests: What Are They Good For?
Most Americans aren’t convinced that recent protests around the country in response to grand jury decisions involving police officers will bring about desired changes and think such protests are controlled by outsiders. But adults who have participated in protests themselves are slightly less skeptical.
Just 29% of American Adults believe the recent protests following the grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and on Staten Island, New York, are likely to bring about the changes the protesters are seeking. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% say it’s unlikely the protests will bring about desired change. This includes two percent (2%) who say it’s Very Likely such protests will bring about change and 28% who say that’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on December 10-11, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 12, 2014What 2014 Means for 2016 by Michael Barone
The defeat of Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu by Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy in last weekend's Louisiana runoff ends an election year that has been very successful for Republicans -- and has implications for 2016. 

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                            December 12, 2014Voters Put Public Safety Ahead of CIA Disclosures
Voters strongly believe it would have been better for Congress to keep the Central Intelligence Agency’s interrogation methods a secret if the disclosures put the American public at risk.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more important to protect the safety of Americans from terrorist attacks whenever possible than for the public to know the full extent of how the CIA got its information.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% think it’s more important to publicly disclose the full extent of the CIA’s interrogation methods. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 9-10, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 11, 2014Americans Say Violent Video Games Lead to a More Violent Society
Australian K-Mart and Target stores recently banned the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V from its shelves, responding to a petition over the game’s depiction of violence against women. Back at home, nearly half of Americans believe violent video games lead to more violence in society and parents should be held responsible to limit the exposure their children have to these games.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults think violent video games lead to more violence in our society. However, this is down six points from a July 2012 survey taken just weeks after the Colorado movie theater shooting spree and the lowest finding since we first asked the question in 2010. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, unchanged from two years ago. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure, up seven points from 2012. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 11, 2014Not So Fast, Satan; Other Religious Displays OK on Public Land
Americans continue to strongly support the celebration of Christmas in the public schools and religious displays on public land, but they draw the line at displays by Satanists and atheists.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults believe Christmas should be celebrated in public schools. Just 15% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 11, 2014Do You Vote What You Drink? By Froma Harrop
Did you know that Democrats drink more than Republicans? Or that they are likelier to choose clear liquors, whereas Republicans tend toward the darker ones? That voters who skew most Republican favor Jim Beam? That those who skew most Democratic go for Seagram's gin?  

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                            December 11, 2014Despite Report, Voters Still See Value in CIA Interrogation Tactics
On the heels of the Senate’s scathing report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s interrogation practices, nearly half of U.S. voters are in favor of the harsh tactics used and think they elicited valuable information that helped the United States.
Forty-seven percent (47%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques should be used to gain information from suspected terrorists. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% do not think such methods should be used, but another 20% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 9-10, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 11, 2014Crimes Without Punishment by Joe Conason
With the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on the use of torture by the CIA after 9/11, the final defense of the indefensible by its perpetrators, advocates and publicists is falling apart before our eyes.
December 11, 2014Senate 2016: The Republicans’ 2012 Homework By Kyle Kondik
After playing offense in 2014 and netting nine Senate seats to set up a 54-46 majority in the 114th Congress, Republicans will mostly be playing defense in 2016. That probably means the GOP will end up losing seats, but recent history suggests that we should not be certain about that.
Heading into the 2016 Senate cycle, Republicans find themselves in a position similar to the Democrats going into 2012, with a Senate map dotted with vulnerabilities created by victories won six and 12 years prior.

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                            December 11, 2014Americans Favor Uniform Cameras, Mostly for Cops' Protection
Americans are more supportive of police officers wearing body cameras and believe it will reduce the number of fatal incidents cops are involved in. They also think the cameras will protect the police more than civilians.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults think police officers should be required to wear uniform cameras while on duty. Just 17% disagree, while 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 4-5, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 10, 201426% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty six percent (26%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 7. 
This finding is up one point from the previous week. The number of voters who think the country is on the right course has now ranged from 23% to 27% nearly every week since early June and has been below 30% most weeks since June of last year.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
  
 The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 1-7, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 10, 2014It's Jesus vs. Santa Again This Holiday Season
Santa Claus may be coming to town, but most Americans still think the holiday season should really be about the one who started it all.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults believe Christmas should be more about Jesus than Santa. Only 20% think it should be more about the guy coming down the chimney. Another 20% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 10, 2014Are Americans Obsessed With Video Games?
More than 40 years after the first home video game console hit store shelves, most adults think their fellow Americans play video games too much, even though they seldom, if ever, play themselves.
In a typical week, 68% of American Adults say they rarely or never play video games, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-one percent (31%) play at least occasionally, including 14% who play several times a week or more. Seven percent (7%) say they play every day or nearly every day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 6-7, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
December 10, 2014Climate Catastrophe by John Stossel
People argue about whether the "consensus" of scientists is that we face disaster because of global warming. Instead of debating whether man's greenhouse gasses will raise temperatures, we should argue about how we gauge disasters. 
If you take most environmentalists and climate scientists at their word, the Earth heated up about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the past century, not much more than it heated up the century before that. Warming may increase, but no one can be certain of that.

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                            December 10, 2014Voters Say Obama Shouldn’t Act on Immigration Without Congress
Most voters oppose President Obama taking solo action on immigration issues without Congress, perhaps in part because many don’t believe he is as interested as they are in stopping illegal immigration. 
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should only do what the president and Congress agree on when it comes to immigration. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 33% believe the president should take action alone if Congress does not approve the initiatives he has proposed. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 5-6, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 9, 2014Voters Still Aren’t Thrilled With Public Schools
Voters continue to give mediocre reviews to America’s public schools and remain strongly pro-choice when it comes to things like uniforms, academic calendars and school prayer.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the performance of public schools as good or excellent. Thirty-four percent (34%) give public schools poor marks. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 9, 201436% Favor U.S. Declaring War on ISIS
Voters aren’t keen on the idea of declaring war on the radical group ISIS and strongly feel that congressional approval should be required before the president sends U.S. troops into combat.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote this week on a resolution by Senator Rand Paul to formally declare war on the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL. But the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters support such a declaration of war. Thirty-seven percent (37%) are opposed, while another 27% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on December 7-8, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            December 9, 2014Americans Strongly Believe Cops Protect and Serve
Americans are solidly convinced that their local police are their protectors and give them high makes for the job they do. Most also believe deaths that involve policemen are usually the fault of the suspect, not the cop.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults rate the performance of the police in the area where they live as good or excellent. Just nine percent (9%) say they are doing a poor job. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 4-5, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.