… More and more Americans now agree with Democrats on the issues. … The Gallup poll reports that, ideologically, Americans are moving to the left on both social and economic issues. … If public opinion trends favor Democrats, why are they facing a setback in this year’s midterm elections? Because […] Read more »
Public Opinion on the ‘4s’ Through Recent History
Now that we are firmly ensconced in the summer of 2014, it is a good time to take stock of what was on the American public’s mind 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years ago — in the early summer of previous years ending in “4” going back to […] Read more »
Fox News Poll: Voters say Obama has made America weaker
By a decisive 20 percentage-point margin, Americans think the country is weaker under the leadership of President Obama, whose White House is seen as less competent than the previous two administrations. CONT. Dana Blanton, Fox News Read more »
Environmental policy is partisan. It wasn’t always.
When the Clean Air Act first became law in 1970, the Senate passed it without a single nay vote. Only one representative had voted against the bill. … Republicans — and conservative Democrats — have been hesitant to take up the issues on environmentalists’ minds for years, thanks to an […] Read more »
The Politics of White House Firings
When presidential popularity sags, the predictable calls begin: Off with their heads! The heads, of course, belong to key administrators and Cabinet officials who are perceived to have contributed to whatever woes are besetting the president. … What effect do firings have on public opinion? Does it help a president’s […] Read more »
Obama and Bush’s 6th Year Job Approval Ratings
The job approval ratings of George W. Bush and Barack Obama were remarkably similar as they began their second terms in office — in 2005 and 2013, respectively. Both Bush and Obama began in the low 50% range, saw their ratings begin to drop in their fifth years, and both […] Read more »