Antisurge measures backfiring?

[iplaw]

From Drudge:

POLL: AMERICANS 'WANT TO WIN IN IRAQ'
Tue Feb 20 2007 16:21:32 ET

In the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives passing a resolution that amounts to a vote of no confidence in the Bush administration's policies in Iraq, a new national survey by Alexandria, VA-based Public Opinion Strategies (POS) shows the American people may have some different ideas from their elected leaders on this issue.

The survey was conducted nationwide February 5-7 among a bi-partisan, cross-section of 800 registered voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. The survey was commissioned by The Moriah Group, a Chattanooga-based strategic communications and public affairs firm.

The survey shows Americans want to win in Iraq, and that they understand Iraq is the central point in the war against terrorism and they can support a U.S. strategy aimed at achieving victory, said Neil Newhouse, a partner in POS. The idea of pulling back from Iraq is not where the majority of Americans are.


By a 53 percent - 46 percent margin, respondents surveyed said that Democrats are going too far, too fast in pressing the President to withdraw troops from Iraq.


By identical 57 percent - 41 percent margins, voters agreed with these statements: I support finishing the job in Iraq, that is, keeping the troops there until the Iraqi government can maintain control and provide security and the Iraqi war is a key part of the global war on terrorism.


Also, by a 56 percent - 43 percent margin, voters agreed that even if they have concerns about his war policies, Americans should stand behind the President in Iraq because we are at war.


While the survey shows voters believe (60 percent- 34 percent) that Iraq will never become a stable democracy, they still disagree that victory in Iraq (creating a young, but stable democracy and reducing the threat of terrorism at home) is no longer possible. Fifty-three percent say it's still possible, while 43 percent disagree.


By a wide 74 percent - 25 percent margin, voters disagree with the notion that "I don't really care what happens in Iraq after the U.S. leaves, I just want the troops brought home."

Public Opinion Strategies "scored the best win-loss record among the major polling and media firms in the 2004 election" and was named Pollster of the Year in 2002.

[Conan71]

I'm sorry, I'm still laughing about the acronym for the polling company: P.O.S.  What public relations guru would name his company P.O.S.?  Then again they are from Southern Tenn., that may 'splain something.

Otherwise interesting numbers that show the Democrat legislators must be using a different polling service.

[rwarn17588]

Whatever it's worth, P.O.S. is a Republican polling firm. It says so right on the Web site.

http://www.pos.org/inthenews/20061108.cfm

[Chicken Little]

P.O.S.

[AMP]

The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, which has 3 swimming pools and some very nice accommodations, is one of my favorite places to stay in Tennessee.  The Reed House there is also a very nice place to stay I have slept in the Governors' suite there on numerous occasions.

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis is my second favorite stop in Tennessee, ya gota love the ducks.

Don't know much about the P.O.S. Survey thing.  I for one think we should of never invaded Iraq to begin with, so getting our donkey out of there as fast as possible with some sort of order is my vote.  Not too many people I know were or are now in favor of the Iraq Oil War.  

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by AMP

The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, which has 3 swimming pools and some very nice accommodations, is one of my favorite places to stay in Tennessee.  The Reed House there is also a very nice place to stay I have slept in the Governors' suite there on numerous occasions.

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis is my second favorite stop in Tennessee, ya gota love the ducks.

Don't know much about the P.O.S. Survey thing.  I for one think we should of never invaded Iraq to begin with, so getting our donkey out of there as fast as possible with some sort of order is my vote.  Not too many people I know were or are now in favor of the Iraq Oil War.  

Wow.  How profound.  Thanks...

[Chicken Little]

Chattanooga is the home of the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum.  A "must see", if you are travelling I-24.

On a side note, Patton said, "Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser." If you craft a survey that asks us if we want to win, then we'll say yes, without a doubt.  Why would anyone be surprised by that?

However, most Americans are smarter than that clever survey.  Most have moved beyond asking whether or not we want to win, and have determined that we aren't winning, and that we have an administration without a plan for winning.  We aren't willing to trust Bush with Iran, either.  That's why 53% of Americans believe that "the U.S. should bring its troops home as soon as possible". (Pew, Feb 7-11, 2007)

Speaking of smart Americans and a dumb administration, elsewhere in that POS survey, the stats seem to indicate that Americans are no longer buying up the bellicose and/or misleading rhetoric that this adminstration continues to peddle:

- "By a 63 percent-32 percent margin, poll respondents say the US should hold direct talks with Iran"

- Only 27% believe that "the Iraq war is the front line in the battle against terrorism and our troops should stay there and do whatever it takes to restore order until the Iraqis can govern and provide security to their country." (emphasis mine)

Most Americans already know who the loser is, and they are developing some serious "trust issues" with him.  He's just buying time (with American lives) until he can dump this problem on the next guy.  In the interim, trying to blame Congress for trying to save American lives is a cynical sideshow.

[iplaw]

Maybe this proves that anyone can get a poll to backup their POV...

[Chicken Little]

Maybe.  But it wasn't just any poll, it was the same poll that Drudge was using to drive home his own, narrow POV.  If that POS says anything at all, it's that Americans are more nuanced and thoughtful than most people, including survey designers and pundits, are willing to admit.

[iplaw]

quote:
- Only 27% believe that "the Iraq war is the front line in the battle against terrorism and our troops should stay there and do whatever it takes to restore order until the Iraqis can govern and provide security to their country."

Which is almost contradicts most of the rest of the poll, which makes me in turn think maybe we either:

1.  Aren't the smartest bunch on the block; or

2.  Questions were rigged for a specific response (which they often are, take the 9/11 Zogby poll).  

Either way I'd be interested in seeing exactly what questions were asked...

[Chicken Little]

Ask and you shall receive:

http://www.moriahgroup.com/downloads/IRAQNATIONALPOLLDATA.pdf

I wonder why Drudge didn't cite question #1?

quote: 1.  Now, generally speaking, would you say that things in the country are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

28% RIGHT DIRECTION
67% WRONG TRACK
3% DON'T KNOW
1% REFUSED

Hmmm...

[sgrizzle]

So basically, we want to win, and we are firmly not on are way to doing it.

[MichaelC]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

So basically, we want to win, and we are firmly not on are way to doing it.

Spoken like a true OSU football fan.  

Go Pokes!!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

So basically, we want to win, and we are firmly not on are way to doing it.

Spoken like a true OSU football fan.  

Go Pokes!!

And basketball!

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

Ask and you shall receive:

http://www.moriahgroup.com/downloads/IRAQNATIONALPOLLDATA.pdf

I wonder why Drudge didn't cite question #1?

quote: 1.  Now, generally speaking, would you say that things in the country are going in the right direction, or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?

28% RIGHT DIRECTION
67% WRONG TRACK
3% DON'T KNOW
1% REFUSED

Hmmm...

Because it's irrelevant to the discussion.  Note the phrase "Generally speaking", it doesn't provide much insight into what people were thinking when answering (economics, education, war, foreign policy in general) it's an overly vauge question.

It simply shows that an overarching question really doesn't mean anything until you get down to the nitty gritty questions.  


A majorty thinks we're "generally" going in the wrong direction, but a majority want's us to stand behind the president who's leading us in "generally" the wrong direction...HUH?!?!

I don't think we're that schizophrenic, but then again maybe we are...