Allen on Warner
NH Insider runs an interesting interview with Sen. George Allen (R-VA) that hints at the positions he may take in a presidential campaign. Of particular interest are his comments on former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), who could face him in the 2008 presidential election.
"On issues that Governor Warner and I found common ground ? such as education ? we have worked well together. One of the most important things that Governor Warner did was to resist calls for watering down Virginia?s Standards of Learning and wholeheartedly support the education reforms that were begun when I was Governor. As a result, Virginia?s students have continued to make significant progress in learning and are receiving the best education in the nation.
"We also disagreed on issues. Governor Warner?s tax increase was the largest in Virginia?s long history. Some will applaud it, others will criticize. I think everyone knows where I stood on it. I did not believe that it was necessary and I think that our recent surpluses since have tended to support my view that a tax increase was undesirable. I felt it was wrong to raise the taxes without letting the people vote on it. Governor Warner won office by promising he would not raise taxes. I did not support his tax increase and I was joined by Governor Wilder and others on both sides of the aisle."
Casey Maintains Solid Lead Over Santorum
In the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, Bob Casey (D) continues to lead Sen. RIck Santorum, 50% to 40%, according to a new Strategic Vision (R) poll.
The Death of a Presidency
There are some good pieces in the new issue of The Forum, including an essay by John K. White on how presidents battle back from periods of unpopularity.
"Successful presidents have been able to reverse their low standing when they can change the subject. Such was the case for Harry Truman in 1948, Ronald Reagan in 1987, and Bill Clinton in 1995. Truman got back to the New Deal/Fair Deal agenda, Reagan acknowledged mistakes in the Iran-Contra scandal, and Clinton decided to get back to his middle class agenda. Unsuccessful presidents are those who found themselves in political trouble and could not change the subject. These include Truman in 1952 (Korea), Richard Nixon in 1974 (Watergate), Jimmy Carter in 1980 (Iranian hostages and the economy), and George H. W. Bush in 1992 (the economy). George W. Bush is likely to be one of the unsuccessful presidents. Iraq has brought this presidency to new lows in public approval, and it is unlikely that Bush will be able to shift the public focus away from Iraq."
Bush Gets Little Credit for Economy
"White House officials have been frustrated for months that President Bush gets so little credit from the public for an economy that's moving along reasonably well," the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire observes. "They will have to continue to be frustrated, it appears."
A new Pew Research Center poll "shows that only about a third of Americans (34%) rate economic conditions as excellent or good. Almost twice as many -- 64% -- call conditions only fair or poor. Overall, attitudes are darker than they were a year ago."
Key takeaway: "Public views of the economy are deeply split along political lines. Republicans generally see an economy that is thriving; 56% judge it as excellent or good. Democrats and independents see it much more negatively; just 28% of independents and 23% of Democrats say the economy is doing well. Public perceptions of the economy were far less polarized during the Clinton administration
Prepping for Possible Impeachment
"The Bush administration is bracing for impeachment hearings in Congress," Insight magazine reports.
"Sources said a prelude to the impeachment process could begin with hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. They said the hearings would focus on the secret electronic surveillance program and whether Mr. Bush violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."
Said the source: "Our arithmetic shows that a majority of the committee could vote against the president. If we work hard, there could be a tie."
Meanwhile, a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll "shows public sentiment is against the program. Fifty-one percent of Americans said the administration was wrong to intercept conversations involving a party inside the USA without a warrant. In response to another question, 58% of Americans said they support the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the program
Schwarzenegger Deadlocked with Challengers
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "is neck and neck with either of two potential Democratic challengers," according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.
In a match-up with State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D), Schwarzenegger leads 41% to 39%. Against State Comptroller Steve Westly (D), Schwarzenegger trails 39% to 40%.
Conservatives Win in Canada
"Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party defeated the long entrenched Liberal Party in Canadian elections on Monday," the New York Times reports. "A Conservative victory is a striking turn in the country's politics and is likely to improve Canada's strained relations with the Bush administration."
The Washington Post notes Harper "fell short of winning a clear majority in the 308-seat House of Commons. He will need to compromise with opponents to form a government and further his agenda of scaling back social programs, cutting taxes and winnowing the power of the federal government."
Democrats Make Inroads
An analysis of Gallup Poll data from last year "shows that the Democratic Party made gains in party identification among the American public. The year marked new lows in President George W. Bush's job approval ratings amid difficulties in Iraq, high gas prices, and criticisms of the government response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Democrats made gains in party identification on the national level and more U.S. states had Democratic leanings in 2005 than any time in the last four years."
"Overall, in 2005, basic party identification was even -- 33% of Americans each identified as Republicans, independents, and Democrats. When independents' leanings are taken into account, the Democrats gain an advantage -- 48% of Americans either identified as Democrats or leaned to the Democratic Party, while 43% identified as Republicans or leaned to the Republican Party. That represents the largest Democratic advantage since 2000."
NH Insider runs an interesting interview with Sen. George Allen (R-VA) that hints at the positions he may take in a presidential campaign. Of particular interest are his comments on former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), who could face him in the 2008 presidential election.
"On issues that Governor Warner and I found common ground ? such as education ? we have worked well together. One of the most important things that Governor Warner did was to resist calls for watering down Virginia?s Standards of Learning and wholeheartedly support the education reforms that were begun when I was Governor. As a result, Virginia?s students have continued to make significant progress in learning and are receiving the best education in the nation.
"We also disagreed on issues. Governor Warner?s tax increase was the largest in Virginia?s long history. Some will applaud it, others will criticize. I think everyone knows where I stood on it. I did not believe that it was necessary and I think that our recent surpluses since have tended to support my view that a tax increase was undesirable. I felt it was wrong to raise the taxes without letting the people vote on it. Governor Warner won office by promising he would not raise taxes. I did not support his tax increase and I was joined by Governor Wilder and others on both sides of the aisle."
Casey Maintains Solid Lead Over Santorum
In the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, Bob Casey (D) continues to lead Sen. RIck Santorum, 50% to 40%, according to a new Strategic Vision (R) poll.
The Death of a Presidency
There are some good pieces in the new issue of The Forum, including an essay by John K. White on how presidents battle back from periods of unpopularity.
"Successful presidents have been able to reverse their low standing when they can change the subject. Such was the case for Harry Truman in 1948, Ronald Reagan in 1987, and Bill Clinton in 1995. Truman got back to the New Deal/Fair Deal agenda, Reagan acknowledged mistakes in the Iran-Contra scandal, and Clinton decided to get back to his middle class agenda. Unsuccessful presidents are those who found themselves in political trouble and could not change the subject. These include Truman in 1952 (Korea), Richard Nixon in 1974 (Watergate), Jimmy Carter in 1980 (Iranian hostages and the economy), and George H. W. Bush in 1992 (the economy). George W. Bush is likely to be one of the unsuccessful presidents. Iraq has brought this presidency to new lows in public approval, and it is unlikely that Bush will be able to shift the public focus away from Iraq."
Bush Gets Little Credit for Economy
"White House officials have been frustrated for months that President Bush gets so little credit from the public for an economy that's moving along reasonably well," the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire observes. "They will have to continue to be frustrated, it appears."
A new Pew Research Center poll "shows that only about a third of Americans (34%) rate economic conditions as excellent or good. Almost twice as many -- 64% -- call conditions only fair or poor. Overall, attitudes are darker than they were a year ago."
Key takeaway: "Public views of the economy are deeply split along political lines. Republicans generally see an economy that is thriving; 56% judge it as excellent or good. Democrats and independents see it much more negatively; just 28% of independents and 23% of Democrats say the economy is doing well. Public perceptions of the economy were far less polarized during the Clinton administration
Prepping for Possible Impeachment
"The Bush administration is bracing for impeachment hearings in Congress," Insight magazine reports.
"Sources said a prelude to the impeachment process could begin with hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. They said the hearings would focus on the secret electronic surveillance program and whether Mr. Bush violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act."
Said the source: "Our arithmetic shows that a majority of the committee could vote against the president. If we work hard, there could be a tie."
Meanwhile, a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll "shows public sentiment is against the program. Fifty-one percent of Americans said the administration was wrong to intercept conversations involving a party inside the USA without a warrant. In response to another question, 58% of Americans said they support the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the program
Schwarzenegger Deadlocked with Challengers
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "is neck and neck with either of two potential Democratic challengers," according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.
In a match-up with State Treasurer Phil Angelides (D), Schwarzenegger leads 41% to 39%. Against State Comptroller Steve Westly (D), Schwarzenegger trails 39% to 40%.
Conservatives Win in Canada
"Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party defeated the long entrenched Liberal Party in Canadian elections on Monday," the New York Times reports. "A Conservative victory is a striking turn in the country's politics and is likely to improve Canada's strained relations with the Bush administration."
The Washington Post notes Harper "fell short of winning a clear majority in the 308-seat House of Commons. He will need to compromise with opponents to form a government and further his agenda of scaling back social programs, cutting taxes and winnowing the power of the federal government."
Democrats Make Inroads
An analysis of Gallup Poll data from last year "shows that the Democratic Party made gains in party identification among the American public. The year marked new lows in President George W. Bush's job approval ratings amid difficulties in Iraq, high gas prices, and criticisms of the government response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Democrats made gains in party identification on the national level and more U.S. states had Democratic leanings in 2005 than any time in the last four years."
"Overall, in 2005, basic party identification was even -- 33% of Americans each identified as Republicans, independents, and Democrats. When independents' leanings are taken into account, the Democrats gain an advantage -- 48% of Americans either identified as Democrats or leaned to the Democratic Party, while 43% identified as Republicans or leaned to the Republican Party. That represents the largest Democratic advantage since 2000."
-hmm seems they didn't want you know a only 500 people were in survey 
