Poll: Americans Find Bush Unyielding on Iraq

[swag]

Source: Washington Post

Most Americans see President Bush as intransigent on Iraq and prefer that the Democratic-controlled Congress make decisions over a possible withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

As the president and Congress move toward a possible constitutional confrontation over the war, both receive negative marks from the public for their handling of the situation in Iraq. But by a large margin, Americans trust the Democrats rather than the president to find a solution to a conflict that remains enormously unpopular. And more than six in 10 in the new poll said Congress should have the final say on when to bring the troops home.

The president has steadfastly asserted his power as commander-in-chief to make decisions about the war, but his posture is now viewed by majorities of Democrats, independents and even Republicans as too inflexible. Asked whether Bush is willing enough to change policies in Iraq, nearly eight in 10 Americans said no.

. . .

And by 2-1, Americans said Congress rather than the president should have the final decision about deciding when to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. Even nearly three in 10 Republicans side with Congress over the president on this question.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/23/AR2007072301143.html

[Vincardog]

1. 2 to 1 can read the constitution

[RamboLiberal]

2. Bush Seen as Unwilling to Change Course; Most Would Shift War Control to Congress

Source: ABC News

President Bush faces growing disenchantment in his own party on the war in Iraq, with most Republicans -- his customarily loyal base -- now saying he's not willing enough to change his war policies. Discontent runs so deep that six in 10 Americans would shift control of the war to Congress.

Overall, an overwhelming 78 percent of Americans in this ABC News/Washington Post poll say Bush is not willing enough to change his stance on the war, up from 66 percent last December. The biggest movement is among Republicans; 55 percent say the president is not willing enough to alter his Iraq polices, up 16 points.

What to do about Iraq remains vexing; public support for a withdrawal deadline collapses in the face of pushback on the prospect of all-out civil war or an al Qaeda stronghold. But neither is the status quo acceptable in a war that 63 percent say was not worth fighting.

Just 22 percent think the "surge" of U.S. forces is improving security, and 64 percent think it will not succeed in the next few months. Congressional Democrats, while also damaged by discontent with the war, lead Bush by 55-32 percent in trust to handle it. Thus the public by 2-1 says Congress, not the president, should have final say on when the troops come home.

As befits a president in an unpopular war, just 33 percent now approve of Bush's job performance overall, matching his career low. Sixty-five percent disapprove, a number surpassed only by Richard Nixon in the summer of 1974, albeit matched by Harry Truman and approached by Bush's father. Fifty-two percent "strongly" disapprove of Bush's work, a new high for this president.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3404645&page=1

[Drum]

3. Aaaah...what a refreshing headline!

:thumbsup:

Kick & Rec

[DrDan]

4. junior fears the worst if he pulls out - thousands of deaths that will be

rightfully blamed on him.

His only hope is to hand this over to the Dems next election. He is hoping beyond hope that he can give them this mess.

[Spearman87]

6. Very true, that. I think his hopes are, in order:

1. Somehow, some way, this turns around for the positive on his watch.

2. Even if it gets no better, he stays in Iraq through 2009, and at least keeps it from getting worse.


It could get better if we leave. And even he knows that. But if we pull out, he loses his last element of real control over events there. And if it spirals down really badly, into all-out ethnic cleansing, he has to sit back and watch helplessly as his legacy continues to go down with it.

[Javaman]

5. but but but he's* the commander guy and stuff! nt