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December 11, 2014

Crimes 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.

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December 11, 2014

Senate 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.

December 11, 2014

Americans 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.

December 10, 2014

26% 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.

December 10, 2014

It'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.

December 10, 2014

Are 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.

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December 10, 2014

Climate 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.

December 10, 2014

Voters 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.

December 9, 2014

Voters 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.

December 9, 2014

36% 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, 2014

Americans 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.

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December 9, 2014

Don't Look for Much Emphasis on Abortion in the 2016 Campaign by Michael Barone

Americans are divided politically along cultural, not economic, lines. Partisan preference is highly correlated with views on non-economic issues and only loosely related to economic status.

December 8, 2014

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 39%

Democrats have taken the lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 7 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican.

(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.

December 8, 2014

Fewer Americans See Need for Police Profiling

Even as the Justice Department announces new rules that expand current bans on profiling by federal law enforcement, Americans are less convinced of the need for profiling as a police tool.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults believe factors such as race, ethnicity and overall appearance should be used by police officers to determine whom they should randomly search. Forty-six percent (46%) disagree with this type of profiling, while 19% 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 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.

December 8, 2014

To Sue or Not To Sue Over Obama’s Immigration Plan

Voters are closely divided over whether their state should join the 17 states now suing the Obama administration over the president’s decision to protect up to five million illegal immigrants from deportation.

Forty-five percent (45%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor their state suing the administration over this new immigration policy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-two percent (42%) are opposed to a state lawsuit of this kind. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 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.

December 8, 2014

Voters Remain Skeptical of Obamacare’s Costs

Stupid or not, most voters continue to believe the new national health care law will cost the government more than projected and will push up health care costs for all Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the health care law, while 52% view it unfavorably. This includes 17% who have a Very Favorable view versus 36% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 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.

December 6, 2014

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 6, 2014

It’s often been said that there are two or more Americas within the fabric of this great nation. Racially, that’s certainly true.

December 5, 2014

Louisiana Senate Runoff: Cassidy (R) 56%, Landrieu (D) 40%

Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy still holds a double-digit lead over incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu going into tomorrow’s Louisiana Senate runoff.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters shows Cassidy leading Landrieu by 16 points – 56% to 40%. Four percent (4%) are still 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 Voters in Louisiana was conducted on December 2-4, 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.

December 5, 2014

Most Voters Think Cyberattack Means War

Following reports of alleged cyberattacks by North Korea and Iran, U.S. voters remain highly concerned about such attacks and feel more strongly than ever that they should be considered acts of war.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of America’s computer infrastructure from cyberattack, with 48% who are Very Concerned. Just 15% aren’t concerned about such attacks, but that includes only four percent (4%) who are Not At All Concerned. (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 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. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

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December 5, 2014

Clinton's Stock Declining in Futures Market by Michael Barone

Is the market in Hillary Clinton futures collapsing? Quite possibly so.