… Most of these end-of-Obama sentiments are sincerely felt, and there are plenty of Obama-specific reasons for making these judgments. Yet they all lack historical perspective. In fact, the notion that the Obama presidency is all but over has arrived right on schedule for any second-term president. … During his […] Read more »
Public Sees Religion’s Influence Waning
Nearly three-quarters of the public (72%) now thinks religion is losing influence in American life, up 5 percentage points from 2010 to the highest level in Pew Research polling over the past decade. And most people who say religion’s influence is waning see this as a bad thing. Perhaps as […] Read more »
Obama’s Handling of Terrorism Faulted by More Americans
For the first time in his presidency, Americans disapprove of President Obama’s handling of terrorism, as discontent about his management of foreign affairs and the fight against Sunni militants in Iraq and Syria weighs on an anxious and conflicted public concerned about plunging into another protracted war, according to the […] Read more »
Is Obama tough enough in dealing with ISIS?
Despite his speech announcing his strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last week, President Obama receives criticism for his most recent foreign policy challenge – the situation with the ISIS militants – and his approval ratings on handling terrorism and foreign policy […] Read more »
On ISIS, US no longer isolationist
What happened to the rising isolationist sentiment I have documented in recent columns? Just three months ago I concluded, “Isolationism is extending its grip on public opinion.” Americans wanted to be less involved in world affairs and eschewed involvement in a variety of global crises. Now, seemingly all of a […] Read more »
Bipartisan Support for Obama’s Military Campaign Against ISIS
President Obama’s plan for a military campaign against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria is drawing public support. And, in a rare display of bipartisanship, majorities of both Republicans (64%) and Democrats (60%) approve of the president’s plan. CONT. Pew Read more »