Poll: High Hopes For New Congress

68% Are Optimistic About 110th Congress, But Half Doubt Democrats And Bush Will Cooperate

(CBS)  Americans are generally optimistic about the new Democratic-controlled Congress that convened on Thursday, according to a CBS News poll. But half the public doubts that President Bush and the Democrats will be able to work together to get things done — including dealing with the situation in Iraq.

Sixty-eight percent of those polled said they had optimistic feelings about the 110th Congress, which will be led by Democrats for the first time in 12 years. Just 25 percent said they were pessimistic.

Nearly half expect that this Congress will accomplish more than usual over the next two years.

FEELINGS ABOUT NEW CONGRESS

Optimistic
68%
Pessimistic
25%


But when asked if Democrats and President Bush can cooperate — in general and on Iraq, which is overwhelmingly Americans' top priority — half those polled were doubtful.

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Read the complete CBS News poll results.

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Fifty-one percent said the White House and Congress will not be able to work together on Iraq, while 41 percent said they will.

WILL PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE DEMOCRATS WORK TOGETHER ON IRAQ?

Yes
41%
No
51%

Iraq was far and way the No. 1 issue Americans want the new Congress to address, easily outpacing other concerns like the economy/jobs, health care and immigration.

More than 70 percent expect Democrats in Congress will try to start bringing at least some U.S. troops home from Iraq — something a majority of Americans hope will happen.

WANT NEW CONGRESS TO CONCENTRATE ON:

War in Iraq
45%
Economy/jobs
7%
Health care
7%
Immigration
6%

Still, there is little confidence that either the Democrats or President Bush have a clear plan for Iraq. Less than one in 10 say the Democrats have a plan, while just one in five say Mr. Bush has one.

Starting off 2007, Mr. Bush's overall approval rating remains low at just 30 percent, his worst number ever in a CBS News poll, while his approval rating for handling Iraq is even lower at 23 percent — even after the execution of Saddam Hussein.

DO DEMOCRATS HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR IRAQ?

Yes
8%
No
82%


DOES PRESIDENT BUSH HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR IRAQ?

Yes
20%
No
76%

Americans don't think the execution of the former Iraqi president will improve the situation in Iraq. In fact, 40 percent believe Saddam's execution will make things worse and result in more attacks on U.S. troops. Just 5 percent think it will lead to fewer attacks against U.S. troops.

Mr. Bush did get a bump from last month in his handling of the economy, with 41 percent now saying they approve of the job he's doing — his highest rating on this measure since July 2005. Six in 10 Americans now rate the economy as being in good shape.

BUSH'S JOB APPROVAL RATING

Approve
30%
Disapprove
63%


BUSH'S JOB HANDLING IRAQ

Approve
23%
Disapprove
72%


Turning to how the new Congress will handle domestic issues, the poll found two-thirds of Americans expect a raise in the minimum wage, while 39 percent expect a tax increase.

Americans were split, 42 percent to 42 percent, on whether immigration reform would be passed.

The poll also found Americans have positive feelings about former President Gerald R. Ford, who passed away on Dec. 26. Sixty-nine percent approved of the way Ford handled his job as president, while just 4 percent disapproved.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 993 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 1-3, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[ledzgrace]

Mr Williamerdd,

Oh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.

[ledzgrace]

Mr Williamerdd,

Oh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.

[ledzgrace]

Mr Williamerdd,

Oh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.

[ledzgrace]

Mr Williamerdd,

Oh my as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that bolis my blood it is the strenglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.

[snaz5]

Hey Williamlerrdd....

Where can I get what you're smoking?

You are batshit crazy, pal. A true 23 percenter. You need to enlist NOW. Your Fuhrer need YOU.

[snaz5]

Hey Williamlerrdd....

Where can I get what you're smoking?

[brindle67]

http://apoem.com
Brian Evans

[williamlerdd]

George W. Bush is doing The Lord's work on Earth and, as Christians, it is our responsibility (liberals know NOTHING of responsibility and taking responsibility for their failures) to serve George W. Bush just has George W. Bush serves God


GOD BLESS SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!


GPD BLESS REAL AMERICA!

[williamlerdd]

Real Americans do not question the greatness of George W. Bush. He is a great hero to Christian Americans and he has the moral authority to fire congress if they fai to provide him with the tolls he demands in order to defeat the enemy.

[williamlerdd]

George W. Bush fights The Enemy on The Enemy soil and protects the Christian American Homeland. When you question George W. Bush, you send the wrong message to The Enemy and hurt troop morale. We will stay on the field in Iraq until the job is done. Americ astands tall with Commander in Chief George W. Bush! HE IS THE GREATEST MAN EVER BORN!

[williamlerdd]

George W. Bush is doing one great job. Real Americans do not question the commander in Chief during war. We OBEY , RESPECT, AND REVERE! This si what the Defeatocrats in congress just don't get. The American people voted for George W. Bush and not the foreign marrying AWOL French speaking Kerry. We were attacked o 9/11. We fight The Enemy on The Enemy soil and protect the Christain American homeland. America stands tall with Commander in Cheif George W. Bush. He is a true Brother in Christ. When you question president George W. Bush, you send the wrong message too The Enemy and hurt troop morale. The Enemy respects strength. Commander in Cheif George W. Bush needs the tools to fight the war against The Enemy and the liberals need to just shut up and provide George W. Bush with the power he needs to get the job done. This is what the American people want. America is a Christian Nation, not a secular progressive liberal one

[williamlerdd]

George W. Bush is doing one great job. Real Americans do not question the commander in Chief during war. We OBEY , RESPECT, AND REVERE! This si what the Defeatocrats in congress just don't get. The American people voted for George W. Bush and not the foreign marrying AWOL French speaking Kerry. We were attacked o 9/11. We fight The Enemy on The Enemy soil and protect the Christain American homeland. America stands tall with Commander in Cheif George W. Bush. He is a true Brother in Christ. When you question president George W. Bush, you send the wrong message too The Enemy and hurt troop morale. The Enemy respects strength. Commander in Cheif George W. Bush needs the tools to fight the war against The Enemy and the liberals need to just shut up and provide George W. Bush with the power he needs to get the job done/. This si what the American people want. America is a Christian Nation, not a secular progressive liberal one

[cantshutup]

we should just start pledging our ALLEGIANCE to oil, pharmicutical, and banking industry and all the other corporations that are ruining our lives...somebody please tell me there is just ONE good thing happening for Americans right now because I am loosing faith

[rfstevens]

Now, now, must not be too hard on Perception5, he obviously is a republican. He is "selective" in his reading. Let's take a look at the Rasmusser Reports and read what else they wrote:

"This bounce stands in contrast to data for the full month of December. Last month, the President%u2019s Job Approval Rating among all adults slipped to 39%, the lowest level ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports. It had been 42% in November. The December figures include 18% who Strongly Approve of the President%u2019s performance and 43% who Strongly Disapprove.

It will take a few more days to see if the Presidential Ratings bounce is a lasting change or mere statistical noise. It could be a response to the Hussein verdict being carried out over the weekend, to the fact that Democrats now control Congress, or simply an aberration."

If they will postulate that the Democrats now control Congress is enough to Raise Dubya's approval rating, just who do you think they are polling and where. They also failed to mention that they were polling the mentally disturbed - which to me is the only way Bush could get an approval rating above zero.

[randalds]

Robert Byrd, among a very few others, was quite outspoken in exposing the LIES of Cheney/Bush BEFORE the Invasion vote, but most Dems went along and voted to give Bush the Invasion Trigger, knowing what was to happen. So the Dems are ALREADY complicit.

Posted by mh4cbs1 at 11:30 PM : Jan 04, 2007


Robert Byrd is one of the grand old men of the Democratic party and a brilliant author. The party would do well to tap his wisdom.

[ianlou]

Rasmussen Reports, Who are they?
I guess if you look long enough, you can always find SOMEONE to provide credence to your beliefs.

[psycprof]

Perception5,

You assume that the media is biased but that Rasmussen is neutral. Rasmussen has a right wing bias. You can see it a) in the questions that they poll as they typically are framed from the republican viewpoint, and b) the way they report the findings Republican clobbering the democratic candidate vs. Democratic candidate leads the Republican.

The view that the media is biased to the left is a rightwing talking point. Over the last six years, republicans have considerably more face time on talk shows. All of the papers, and news shows have rightwing op ed writers or commentators.

The only strong leftwing voice on the air is Keith Olberman.

[perception5]

I always find it interesting how our liberal media outlets like CBS, CNN, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, NYtimes, AP, and others always have much lower "approval ratings" for our President. Rasmussen Reports which conducts polling everyday has our President at a 44% approval rating....... hummmm yeah..... it must just be my imagination.

[getcentered]

huskerarmy:

WOW, your last comment is perfect.

Thank you!

bluestardad....

maybe this one is better for you [e-mail]

But don't expect an answer