How Restive?
Polls today show that Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. In many polls, the
levels of dissatisfaction are comparable to those before the 1992 election and before the Republicans took control of
Congress in 1994. There is a lot of blame to go around, but Americans seem to be particularly frustrated with Congress.
Q: All in all, are you . . . ? Q: I am going to mention four phrases and ask you
The way things are going which one best describes how you feel about the way
in this country today the federal government works. Do you feel . . . ?
Satisfied 23% The way the federal
Dissatisfied 71 government works
Note: The responses in January 1992 were 28 percent satisfied and Enthusiastic/satisfied 32%
68 percent dissatisfied. In March 1994, they were 24 and 71 percent. Dissatisfied/angry 67
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, February 2010.
Note: The responses to this question in March 1992 were 18 per-
cent enthusiastic/satisfied and 80 percent dissatisfied/angry. In
Q: Who do you . . . ?
March 1994, they were 30 and 68 percent. In the new poll, 19 percent
Blame for gridlock in Washington said they were angry. In March 1992 and 1994, 20 percent gave
Democrats 12% that response.
Source: ABC News/Washington Post, January 2010.
Republicans 17
Both equally 67
Source: Quinnipiac, February 2010.
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling . . . ? Q: If Barack Obama runs for re-election
in 2012, in general, are you more likely
Approve Disapprove
to vote for . . . ?
Foreign affairs Feb. 2010 51% 44%
(Gallup) Feb. 2009 54 22 Obama for president 44%
The Republican Party’s
Terrorism (Gallup) Feb. 2010 48% 49% candidate 42
May 2009 55 37
Note: Thirty-one percent of independents said
The threat of terrorism Jan. 2010 56% 39% they would vote for President Obama, and 45
(ABC/Wash Post) Jun. 2009 57 36 percent for the Republican candidate. Eighty-
nine percent of Democrats said they would vote
The situation in Feb. 2010 48% 47% for their party’s candidate, and 5 percent for the
Afghanistan (Gallup) Jul. 2009 56 34 Republican. Republicans were equally loyal to
their party: 86% said they would support its can-
The situation in Iraq Feb. 2010 47% 48% didate, while 4% percent said they would sup-
(Gallup) Jul. 2009 57 36 port the Democrat. Asked of registered voters.
Source: The Gallup Organization, February 2010.
The situation in Iran (Gallup) Feb. 2010 42% 50%
Health care policy (Gallup) Feb. 2010 36% 60% Q: How much progress do you
Jul. 2009 44 50 think . . . ?
Health care Jan. 2010 43% 53% Barack Obama is making
(ABC/Wash Post) Apr. 2009 57 29 a lot/some progress
in bringing real change
The economy (Gallup) Feb. 2010 36% 61%
to the way things are done
Feb. 2009 59 30
in Washington 48%
The economy Jan. 2010 45% 53% Not much/None at all 50
(ABC/Wash Post) Feb. 2009 60 34 Source: CBS News/New York Times, February
The federal budget deficit Feb. 2010 32% 64% 2010.
(Gallup) Mar. 2009 49 44
Q: Please tell me if you have a generally
The federal budget deficit Jan. 2010 40% 56%
favorable opinion of . . .
(ABC/Wash Post) Mar. 2009 52 43
Barack Obama 51%
Education (Gallup) Feb. 2010 54% 36%
Aug. 2009 53 30 George W. Bush 38%
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of February 2010; ABC News/Washington Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, February
Post, latest that of January 2010. 2010.
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Reading Tea Party Tea Leaves
Many Americans are not familiar with the Tea Party movement. In a February CBS News/New York Times poll, 18 percent
described themselves as supporters of the movement, with Republicans (35 percent) being more likely than Democrats
(2 percent) or independents (19 percent) to say they back it. Those who say they are supporters of the movement have
more favorable opinions of the Republican Party and less favorable opinions of President Barack Obama than does the
nation as a whole.
Q: How much have you heard or read . . . ?
————————Responses of————————
National Republicans Democrats Independents
Have heard/read
A lot about the Tea Party movement 18% 20% 19% 17%
Some 27 28 25 27
Not much 21 22 19 22
Nothing at all yet 34 29 37 34
Note: In the next question in this poll, 60 percent of those who had heard or read about the movement said they knew a lot or some about
what it stands for, including 67 percent of Republicans, 58 percent of Democrats, and 58 percent of independents.
Source: CBS News/New York Times, February 2010.
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(continued from the previous page)
Q: Which one of the following do you think better describes the Tea Party movement . . . ?
It’s a serious group of people who believe government is too big
and taxes are too high and it should be taken seriously 51%
It’s a fringe group of people with extreme right-wing views
about government that should not be taken seriously 20
Note: Thirty-four percent of Democrats, 69 percent of Republicans, and 52 percent of independents stated that the Tea Party movement is a
serious group.
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, February 2010.
Q: From what you have heard or read, would you say you . . . ?
Generally agree with the Tea Party movement’s positions
on most social and political issues 36%
Disagree 34
Don’t know/no answer 30
Note: Sixty percent of Republicans, 9 percent of Democrats, and 39 percent of independents said they generally agreed with the movement’s
positions.
Source: CBS News/New York Times, February 2010.
The Economy
The deep discontent in the land is being driven by concerns about the economy and government’s growing role. As we
showed on the previous page, President Obama’s ratings on handling the economy have deteriorated sharply. Around a
quarter say his economic policies have made conditions better; slightly more say they have made things worse. People are
not confident about the economic stimulus package. In several polls, the Republicans have made striking gains on han-
dling the economy.
Q: Since taking office, have . . . ?
Barack Obama’s economic policies
have made economic conditions better 24%
Worse 27
Not had an effect so far 42
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of February 2010.
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(continued from the previous page)
Q: From what you know so far, which comes closest to your own view?
February 2010 July 2009
The economic stimulus package has
already created a substantial number
of new jobs in the U.S. 6% 4%
It will create a substantial number
of new jobs but hasn’t done that yet 41 53
It will not create a substantial number
of new jobs 48 41
Source: CBS News/New York Times, February 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
Democrats Republicans
Barack Obama in Congress in Congress
Has/have offered reasonable solutions
to the economic problems you
and your family are facing 40% 29% 22%
Has/have not 53 62 68
Source: CBS News/New York Times, February 2010.
Oct. 2004
Jan. 2005
Apr. 2005
Jul. 2005
Oct. 2005
Jan. 2006
Apr. 2006
Jul. 2006
Oct. 2006
Jan. 2007
Apr. 2007
Jul. 2007
Oct. 2007
Jan. 2008
Apr. 2008
Jul. 2008
Oct. 2008
Jan. 2009
Apr. 2009
Jul. 2009
Oct. 2009
Jan. 2010
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Support for Profiling . . .
Q: Do you . . . ? Q: Do you think . . . ?
Approve of using profiling by looking at a Police and other authorities should be
combination of the individual’s race, permitted to use personal characteristics
country of origin, and behavior like religion or ethnicity or nationality
to screen airline passengers 63% in deciding who to search in security
Disapprove 31 lines at airports or other locations 53%
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, January 2010. Should not be permitted 45
Source: ABC News/Washington Post, January 2010.
Q: Some people have suggested that airline passengers
who fit the profile of terrorists based on their age, ethnic- . . . Opposition to Transferring
ity or gender should be subjected to special, more inten-
sive checks before boarding U.S. flights. Do you . . . ? Q: Do you think detainees from Guantanamo Bay military
Favor this practice 71% prison should . . . ?
Oppose 27 Be transferred to a federal prison facility
Source: Gallup/USA Today, January 2010. in the United States
Yes 33%
Q: In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and No 58
subways, should authorities be able to . . . ? Note: Forty-nine percent of Democrats, 16 percent of Republicans,
Single out people who look like they might be of and 36 percent of independents stated yes. Forty percent of
Democrats, 80 percent of Republicans, and 54 percent of indepen-
Middle Eastern origin to search or question 52% dents stated no.
No 44 Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, January 2010.
Source: Quinnipiac, January 2010.
Q: How likely do you think it is that there will be a terrorist attack in the United States within the next few months . . . ?
February 2010 January 2009
Very likely 18% 5%
Somewhat likely 40 29
Not very likely 28 42
Not at all likely 10 21
Source: CBS News/New York Times, latest that of February 2010.
(continued on the next page)
Q: Do you . . . ?
Favor the U.S. war in Afghanistan 47%
Oppose 52
Q: Regardless of what you think about the original decision to use military force in Iraq, do you now believe that the
United States will . . . ?
December 2009 August 2006
Definitely succeed in achieving its goals in Iraq 11% 14%
Probably succeed 52 40
Probably fail 22 28
Definitely fail 7 12
Note: August 2006 questions asked of a half sample.
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of December 2009.
Q: How well is the U.S. military effort in Iraq going? Q: Barack Obama has announced that he will remove
Very well 10% most U.S. troops from Iraq by August of this year but
Fairly well 45 keep 35 thousand to 50 thousand troops in that coun-
Not too well 24 try longer than that. Do you . . . ?
Not at all well 12 Favor this plan 62%
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, December 2009. Oppose 36
Source: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, January 2010.
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Health Care: What Now?
In the January issue of Political Report, we looked at health care trends from five survey organizations. The updated data can be
found here. In all the polls, President Obama lost ground on handling health care reform since the summer, and the Republi-
cans in Congress gained a little ground. Opinion on the proposals themselves has moved hardly at all since the summer.
In January and February 2010 polls, people said they didn’t want to “give up” on health care reform. In a February
Pew poll, however, a bare majority—51 percent—said Congress should pass nothing and leave the current system as it is;
46 percent said Congress should keep working. Pluralities told CBS News/New York Times and Gallup that the president
had spent too much time on the effort. And solid majorities said the proposed changes were too complicated and, sepa-
rately, too expensive.
Q: What do you think President Obama and the Q: If you had to choose, would prefer that . . . ?
Democrats in Congress should do now concerning a Congress keep working on a health bill 46%
health care reform bill–should they . . . ? Congress pass nothing and leave the current
Continue to try to pass the health care bill system as it is 51
now being worked out by Democrats Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, February 2010.
in the House and Senate 39%
Suspend work on the current health care bill
the House and Senate are working on
and consider alternative bills that can
receive more Republican support 55
Source: Gallup/USA Today, January 20, 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ? Q: Do you think the proposed changes to the health care
Barack Obama is spending too much time system are . . . ?
on changing the health care system 48% Too complicated 60%
Too little 21 Have to be this complex to accomplish
Right amount of time 28 what they are doing 35
Note: In the February Gallup poll, 41 percent said he had spent too
much time dealing with health care policy, 31 percent not enough, Too expensive 59%
and 27 percent the right amount. Cost is about right for what they are trying
Source: CBS News/New York Times, February 2010.
to do 34
Source: ABC News/Washington Post, January 2010.
Q: Now thinking about the issue of health care reform, please tell if you . . . ?
—————Approve or disapprove of the way each is handling the issue—————
Barack Obama Republicans in Congress Democrats in Congress
Approve 39% 21% 27%
Disapprove 52 63 61
Source: PSRA/Newsweek, February 2010.
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Poll Potpourri
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