WP,pg1: Pol. Divisions Persist after Election ("no clear mandate")

[DeepModem Mom]

Political Divisions Persist After Election
Nation Unsure, Hopeful About Bush, Poll Finds

By Richard Morin and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, January 18, 2005; Page A01


President Bush will begin his second term in office without a clear mandate to lead the nation, with strong disapproval of his policies in Iraq and with the public both hopeful and dubious about his leadership on the issues that will dominate his agenda, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

On the eve of Thursday's presidential inaugural ceremonies, the survey found few signs that the country has begun to come together since Bush defeated Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) two months ago. The president has claimed a mandate from the election, but the poll found as much division today as four years ago over the question of whether Bush or Democrats in Congress should set the direction for the country.

Fewer than half of those interviewed -- 45 percent -- said they preferred that the country go in the direction that Bush wanted to lead it, whereas 39 percent said Democrats should lead the way. During the first months of his presidency, after the bitterly disputed 2000 election, Americans said they preferred Bush to take the lead by 46 percent to 36 percent.

But the public also wants cooperation from the Democrats. At a time when Democratic leaders are preparing to challenge many of Bush's major initiatives, nearly seven in 10 Americans agree that Bush's victory means that congressional Democrats should compromise with him -- even if it means compromising on their party's principles. Only one in four said Democrats must not compromise on things they find objectionable, even if it means less gets accomplished....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16073-2005Jan17.html?sub=AR

[cornermouse]

1. I have revised my opinion of America's group IQ

severely downward. Really. I used to think that we were smarter than this.

[Demeter]

7. We WERE Smarter Than This!

But when Reagan was annointed, the shit hit the fan. Everybody has Alzheimers now, or likes to pretend to. The convenient memory--like the circular file--disposes of unpleasant truths, while collecting a massive amount of garbage.

[Downtown Hound]

2. Sorry, but I find these polls to be complete bullshit

Come on. BUSH IS NOT POPULAR! Yes he has support but half of the country doesn't just dislike him, they HATE HIS GUTS! That's something that's never reflected in these so-called polls. How could a movie like Fahrenheit 9/11 be such a hit if 7 in 10 people wanted Democrats to compromise with him? Sorry, I'm done with corporate forms of manipulation. First I gave up their media, now I'm giving up their polls.

[jrthin]

6. The logic of the poll also makes

no sense. Dems are supposed to co-operate with the rethugs on policies the American people believe are leading us in the wrong direction? I just don't get it.

[primavera]

8. Only 39% believe Dems should lead?

What about the 49% who voted for Kerry? Have a quarter of them reversed themselves within the last two months and decided that they now want the shrub to "lead the way"?

[Skittles]

3. "Bush lead the way"

what a f***ing joke

[annabanana]

4. twisting the numbers, I see....

"Fewer than half of those interviewed -- 45 percent -- said they preferred that the country go in the direction that Bush wanted to lead it."

Um.......55% say he's headed the wrong way.

But that just makes it more clearly ridiculous to say that the "public wants cooperation from the Democrats"

[xchrom]

5. this puts me on a slow simmer...

while i have severe doubts about the actuall election results{i.e. ohio looks like florida to me} -- it is apparent that ''moderate americans'' have no conscience, no soul.
what do these people want?{uh, that's rhetorical}

what ''purple amerca''?
these people go to the polls vote for a guy who is not moderate -- and then express doubts about the direction of the country.

how did bush ever look ''moderate''?

i am flabbergasted -- words simply fail to express my dismay at average america.

[burn the bush]

9. NO Mandate!! But it says NO MANDATE

that's progress at least.