CBS Poll: 76% Say War's Going Badly

Record Number In Survey Say Getting Involved In Iraq Was Mistake

(CBS)  As President Bush and Congress hammer out an Iraq war funding bill, a CBS News/New York Times poll shows the number of Americans who say the war is going badly has reached a new high, rising 10 percent this month to 76 percent.

Nearly half of all Americans (47 percent) say the war is going very badly, while just 20 percent say the recent U.S. troop increase is making a positive difference.

Even a majority of Republicans, 52 percent, now say the war is going at least somewhat badly – a 16-point increase from the middle of April. Nine in 10 Democrats and eight in 10 Independents agree.

HOW IS THE WAR GOING?

Now
Well
23%
Badly
76%

4/2007
Well
31%
Badly
66%

Although Congress has backed down from attaching a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal to the war funding bill, six in 10 Americans would like one. The public also favors setting benchmarks the Iraqi government must meet as a condition for future funding of the war – something that Congress will include in the pending legislation.

The poll also finds a record number of Americans say getting involved in Iraq in the first place was a mistake. Only 35 percent say the U.S. did the right thing by invading Iraq, while 61 percent say the U.S. should have stayed out.

DID U.S. DO THE RIGHT THING GOING TO WAR WITH IRAQ?

Now
Right thing
35%
Should have stayed out
61%

In addition, the poll finds Americans are more pessimistic than ever about the overall direction in which the United States is headed. Seventy-two percent, the highest number since the CBS/NYT poll started asking the question in 1983, say the country is on the wrong track, while 24 percent say it's headed in the right direction.

DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY

Wrong track
72%
Right direction
24%

President Bush's job approval rating in the poll is now at 30 percent, two points above its January low. Sixty-three percent of Americans disapprove of the president's job performance.

Congress fares only a little better, with an approval rating of 36 percent, and disapproval of 52 percent.

BUSH’S JOB APPROVAL RATING


Approve
30%
Disapprove
63%

APPROVAL OF CONGRESS

Approve
36%
Disapprove
52%

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

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,125 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone May 18-23, 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. An oversample of African Americans was also conducted for this poll, for a total of 192 interviews among this group. The results were then weighted in proportion to the racial composition of the adult population in the U.S. Census. The margin of error for African Americans is plus or minus 7 percentage points.

[extremophil]

I certainly wouldn't challenge the accuracy of a CBS/New York Times Poll (snicker).

[rushman71]

Really? No SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

[citizenusa-2009]

The polls are soooo amusing. If 100% of us opposed the war, Bush and Company would still push on. Yeah, like the American people really have a say in this!

[jjp735i]

More than half of the 76% also said it was right to go to war when Bush first told his lies. Nothing has changed since then. Bush still tells the same lies, we all know he lied but still he keeps his job.

Bush lied and our people died. Will someone impeach him please? We need to move on, not wait him out.

[forthepeopl1]

also get it in all blogs across the internet

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[citizenusa-2009]

P.S. George Bush and *** Cheney don't give a rat's butt about an "Approval Rating". They have the power, we don't. Just ask the Dems!

[briannorwood]

So, 76% say the war is going badly.

I want to know who the 34% are who say it's going well. I personally know of nobody.

[jimridley-2009]

By the time our moronic president leaves office I'm sure the percent of people who disapprove of his performance will be around 90%. It's tough for President Simpleton to raise his approval rating when he is singularly unable to tell the truth. This guy is so incompetent, dishonest, and in way over his head that America might never regain international respect in our lifetimes. When is Congress going to impeach this lying jackass?

[namesnames]

forthepeopl1:
thank you for your service. but...i think it's time for your meds.

[citizenusa-2009]

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ I'm signing up. We've got to start somewhere. This war is bull****!

[processor2]

So, 76% say the war is going badly.

Of course,

A Democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a Democrat congress running the Vietnam war.

We ALL know what a mistake THAT was

...

[konabike]

Go figure! Bush is no good and good for nothing.

[waterboy074]

FORTHEPEOPLE1

I'm with ya.

Ret. Air force special OPS enlisted.

[RicDB]

The only reason President Bush went to war .Is because President Bush Sr. Did not do the job the first time .....

[huskerarmy]

processor, If it makes you feel better, I don't think you are being counted in that 76%. Of course Iraq was going peachy before the Dems took over Congress. Now exactly how did they do that?

[xlt150]

President Bush says he expects heavy fighting in the months to come in Iraq. How much more does our military have to take of this total nonsense. Who's war is this anyway.
Why don't we take the immigrants and send them to fight in Iraq; if the win then they can have citizenship.

[processor2]

So, 76% say the war is going badly.

Of course,

A Democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a Democrat congress running the Vietnam war.

We ALL know what a mistake THAT was

...

[processor2]

So, 76% say the war is going badly.

Of course,

A Democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a Democrat congress running the Vietnam war.

We ALL know what a mistake THAT was

...

[huskerarmy]

O.K. processor stop with the spamming tantrum... Just think, 76% could be 77% or even 80%. Of course, how much longer can frat boy survive without impeachment?

[tejasdemo]

4 out of 5 people say the war is going badly. But, let's keep giving King George what he wants. We will deal with it again in the fall.

Congress represents the will of the people ?

What a joke.

[forthepeopl1]

hey namesnames,really you have my ok to tell the men in black because we know what a coward you are...

what have you done for our country!!!!!!!!!!

[arthurcl1]

The Military Brass want to hide these events to try and distort the realities of this Civil War in IRAQ. US TROOPS are viewed as "occupiers" no longer liberators... and thus, just as much a problem as the insurgents to the ultimate stability of their country!
These are IRAQI citizens people and whether you want to label them "yankess" or "rebs" neither of them are Americans and it is their destiny to decide the fate of their country!
You read the reports about IRANIANS traing Shia Militia and in IRAN and the other 100 Muslim Nations you read about the US Training Shia Security Forces - PLEASE TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE!!!
This is the type of deceit that Bush has been shielding from America for over four years in order to keep US Support behind Keeping our Soldiers in HARMS WAY - with Cheerleaders like V.P. Haliburton War Mongering Cheney saying on CNN - that we are making enormous progress in IRAQ - STATE of DENIAL!

How Tragically SAD!

[forthepeopl1]

also get it in all blogs across the internet

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[huskerarmy]

"How Tragically SAD!"
Posted by arthurcl1

...and maliciously stubborn

[drummer94]

No kiddin'. Looks like Georgies gonna cry in that photo. Or maybe he's taking another dump on the American people. What a maroon!

[forthepeopl1]

And can someone tell me why we the people are paying merinaries company with are tax dollars in the tunes of hundreds of millions of our tax dollars.....

the average one guarding is getting payed 185000 dollars a year..

put its ok to pay our troops min. wage what up with that picture

[barbaraf4]

George Bush is an idiot; however, I am starting to believe that the Democrats (our great hope for salvation) are even bigger idiots.

Some one in Washington needs to start doing their job or we need to start having recall elections!

[BlueInWI]

540,000 less popular votes back in 2001.

If Chimp's brother wasn't the governor of Florida and Jeb's main squeeze-on-the-side Katherine Harris the Florida Secy of State and the Supreme Joke (err Court) a bunch partisan hacks that are for State's Rights (except in this one instance which they inform us overturning the Florida State Supreme Court should not be considered precedent) - we wouldn't have this ignorant, arrogant, greedy, lying, corrupt jerk as our President.

Do y'all remember back in 2003 when GW said on 60 minutes that 'a higher father' than his own instructed him to go into Iraq? Well, maybe GW just thinks he is speaking to God, actually maybe he has sold our country's soul to the devil instead? Sure looking that way to me...

[processor2]

Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[processor2]

Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[processor2]

Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[processor2]

Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[sjc_1]

This is a complete mess and I am disgusted with this so called president, but we have to make this situation turn out the best for Iraq and the U.S.

I thought that the "surge" would not work, but I was hoping that it would. What we need is a plan that the experts can agree on.

If Junior went to business school, then he should be familiar with the term "buy in". Make the experts part of the decision making process and it becomes their plan as well.

George told the nation that he "would get good people", but apparently he never said that he would listen to them. Being the decider in chief in a vacuum is a fool's erand, and we have just the fool.

[pepperp1]

You are the fool if you believe this President is the idiot, this man has successfully deceived this country into Iraq and has continuously and intentionally, not by incompetence, mismanaged this conflict as a ruse to prolong this occupation for his special interest, party power, his power to control the distribution of Iraq oil its reserves. This President is no fool but the leader of his party a wolf in a jokers clothing, Bush is Roves Brain not the reverse, and he would rather you accept this deception of believing him stupid than see him as the immoral calculating despotic man he really is. Go ahead keep fighting each other or believing this man to be stupid instead of focusing on this real threat to our country.

[truthspeake1]

I guess we're headed the same way as the Roman Empire...

[citizenusa-2009]

BEFORE, he was elected, a wise, honest businessman who worked with Bush in Texas warned me: "He truly believes he is the hand of God and War will be his platform". I shuddered, voted against him and was horrified when he was elected TWICE!

I am embarrased and ashamed that I did not do more to spread the word.

[citizenusa-2009]

BEFORE, he was elected the first time, a wise, honest businessman who worked with Bush in Texas warned me: "He truly believes he is the hand of God and War will be his platform". I shuddered, voted against him and was horrified when he was elected TWICE!

I am embarrased and ashamed that I did not do more to spread the word.

[BlueInWI]

RE: "This President is no fool but the leader of his party a wolf in a jokers clothing, Bush is Roves Brain not the reverse, and he would rather you accept this deception of believing him stupid than see him as the immoral calculating despotic man he really is. "

I disagree. Cheney is Bush's brain and Rove is his strategist. Bush is a clueless but friendly jerk who is good at remembering names and drinking. He is the 'friendly' cover for Cheney & Rove. Ever why when GW appointed Cheney to find a running mate for him, Cheney picked himself?!!

[processor2]

To: Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[soindeep]

Bush is a P*&^y!!! He talks of WMD, and he *** well knew that they didn't have them. He wanted those oil wells in IRaq capped with his name/logo. N Korea said come on we have them and want a war and he tucked his tail between his legs and ran, remind me of Vietnam. Hes a PUNK! Then congress a bunch of "Girlie Men" on Michael Vick, get some reforms passed u panciez!!! Gas price tax should have been repealed to help citizens. We are the people and the government and they dont seem to recognize this. Over taxed and not represented, and big companies are fleecing america but these A-holes cant see it, or ignore it. Tell me this why does someone making a million a year want a job that pays 125K a year or so. Their a bunch of cheats and thieves and they all know it and may God have mercy on all their souls. Why every 6 years we need to turn over all the a-holes in congress to make sure we keep them honest!!!

[okmd58]

A true leader does not govern by polls, they lead. They do what they think is right. If you have a problem with that, that's why there are elections. Have you ever noticed how many polls there are now versus, let's say 20 years ago. The media is so lazy it's takes results of polls & makes that news! How about getting out there & doing some old fashion unbiased reporting about the real news. Quit sitting in the office waiting for the next poll to report on. Polls normally contact approximately 1200 people to represent the whole country! What a game, I bet they hardly ever contact the people in the center of the country, only the east or west coast where most liberals are.

[houser123]

What amazes me about this survey is the fact that 23% actually believe the war is going well. Simple math: 300Mil X 23% = 69mil - (kids 18 YO (cant vote)and illegals(opinions do not matter) est. @45 mil= 24 mil. Well you get my point. How can anyone that is paying attention make a statment that the war is going well. Bush and Cheney have adnitted the contrary. To those that say this war is going well I advise you to get your heads out of the sand and/or stop thinking with your wallets.

[mauk11007]

This discretionary war has been a mistake from day one. It is about idealology & oil costing valuable Americans lives, money & political currency. As far as "how the war is going?" It is abdismal. Trading death & destruction for Republican politic cover. Shame on the President & his spineless, unithink party, with the democrats not far behind.

[houser123]

Polls normally contact approximately 1200 people to represent the whole country! What a game, I bet they hardly ever contact the people in the center of the country, only the east or west coast where most liberals are.

Posted by okmd58 at 01:09 PM : May 24, 2007

WOW, this is right our to the republican play book. DENY first. Place blame second. And always follow that up with an upsurd statement. Congratulations okmd58. You passed the play book with flying colors.

[processor2]

To: Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[processor2]

To: Huskerarmy & all liberals

Impeachment DOES NOT remove a president from office.
"Impeach" means "to accuse"

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach,
HOWEVER, it's the Senate that has the sole power to REMOVE a president from office.

It takes 67 Senators to remove a president from office, and there are only 49 Democrats.

It'll never happen.

AFTER ALL, CLINON WAS IMPEACHED, BUT HE REMAINED IN OFFICE.

...

[forthepeopl1]

time to take up ARMS and take them all out.

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[jimgolf]

Carter is right this admin will go down in history as the worst ever or at least to this date......we have lost respect world wide!

[hawksprings]

I'd like to know too where this poll sample comes from - maybe New York City where 80% are Dembots?

And if it's soo cut and dry what The People want, why are the Dembots in Congress running around like the Keystone Kops trying to get something done about it?

Polls are like the weather. They change every day.

[boatdocster]

Hey, you don't need to look at the CBS polls - you can go over to Fox News (I mean Fox Noise) and see their poll- realize it not just the war but sums up what real GOP people think of Bush

President Bush Job Approval

Approve 33.4
Disapprove 61.4

2 out of 3 do not like his "leadership" (and I use that term very loosely when referring to Bush II).