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December 5, 2010

Most Voters Expect Increased Partisanship in Washington

Voters appear a little less confident that members of both major parties will be able to work together in Washington, D.C.

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December 5, 2010

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' on the Way Out By Debra J. Saunders

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates released a long-awaited Pentagon working-group report on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy enacted under President Bill Clinton. Most troops, the review found, would not object to a repeal.

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December 4, 2010

27% Favor a Government-Managed Economy

More than one-out-of-four Americans (27%) think the government should manage the U.S. economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (24%) say it's better for the government to stay out of economic decisions altogether.

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December 4, 2010

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 3, 2010

Out with the old, in with the new. That’s what many shoppers are likely to be thinking this time of year, and what many voters may have in mind as well.

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December 4, 2010

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 3, 2010

Out with the old, in with the new. That’s what many shoppers are likely to be thinking this time of year, and what many voters may have in mind as well.

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December 4, 2010

Shock Therapy for Jobs By Lawrence Kudlow

Unemployment jumped to 9.8 percent in a very disappointing November jobs report. Non-farm payrolls increased by only 39,000, and private jobs expanded by just 50,000. This is way below what the economy needs.

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December 3, 2010

Most Voters Don't Expect Big Spending Cuts From New Congress

Despite the upcoming Republican takeover of the House, most voters are still not convinced Congress will actually cut government spending substantially over the next year. GOP voters are among the most doubtful.

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December 3, 2010

Americans Question Whether Extended Unemployment Benefits Do More Harm Than Good

As Congress wrangles over whether to continue funding unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks, Americans express skepticism about the need for benefits that last that long.

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December 3, 2010

Most Voters Believe Congress Likely to Extend Bush Tax Cuts For All

Despite Democratic resistance to extending the Bush tax cuts for those who earn $200,000 or more a year, most voters are optimistic that the tax cuts will be continued for all Americans.

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December 3, 2010

That Uneven GOP Wave By Larry J. Sabato

A simple map of House gains in November 2010 is quite revealing.

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December 3, 2010

Most Favor Hike In Social Security Tax Level

Americans are receptive to a proposal by President Obama’s bipartisan deficit reduction commission to increase the level of income taxable for Social Security, but most don’t like the idea of raising the retirement age.?

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December 2, 2010

Most Americans Plan to Have A Christmas Tree

Many Americans are getting into the Christmas spirit this holiday season but maybe not quite as many as last year.

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December 2, 2010

Voters Still Expect More Spending By Obama

Though the president’s bipartisan deficit reduction commission is exploring a combination of spending cuts and tax hikes to reduce the massive federal deficit, most voters continue to expect government spending to increase during the Obama years.

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December 2, 2010

Consumer Confidence Highest Since February 2008

The Rasmussen Reports Consumer Index for the full month of November shows the highest level of economic confidence in more than two-and-a-half years. The Consumer Index monthly rating of 84.3 is the highest since February 2008 but is still well below the baseline month of October 2001, just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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December 2, 2010

Americans Give Mixed Marks To Limits On Mortgage Tax Deduction

President Obama’s bipartisan deficit reduction commission is considering a radical overhaul of one of the most sacred of sacred cows – the income tax deduction on interest paid on home mortgages. Americans are narrowly divided when asked about possible ways to limit that deduction.

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December 2, 2010

The Democrats' Fab Four, Revisited By Thomas F. Schaller

Sandwiched between the Democrats’ disappointing 2002 election cycle and their 2010 “shellacking,” the party made significant gains during the three, mid-decade intervening elections of 2004, 2006 and 2008. And nowhere were the party’s gains more impressive than in four states: Colorado, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia.

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December 2, 2010

The American Dream Is Not All About Money By Froma Harrop

We always talk about "The American Dream" -- about living it, saving it, wondering what happened to it. Few bother to define it.

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December 2, 2010

51% Say Leaking of U.S. Secrets Is Treason

Most voters believe public release of U.S. secret and confidential documents hurts national security, and they consider the leaking of such information to be an act of treason.

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December 1, 2010

29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Just 29% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, November 28.

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December 1, 2010

Partisan Trends: Republicans 36.0%, Democrats 34.7%, First GOP Lead Ever

In November, 36.0% of American Adults identified themselves as Republicans; 34.7% considered themselves Democrats, and 29.3% were not affiliated with either major party. That’s the largest number of Republicans since February 2005 and the first time ever that Rasmussen Reports polling has found more people identifying as Republicans than Democrats.