Poll watcher: Republicans split on global warming; health-care reform and GOP intensity

[Turborama]

Source: Washington Post

By Scott Clement

Republican split on global warming

Belief in global warming has recovered somewhat this year after a sharp falloff in 2008 and 2009, according to a http://www.people-press.org/2011/12/01/modest-rise-in-number-saying-there-is-solid-evidence-of-global-warming/">new survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released Thursday. Currently, 63 percent of Americans say there is “solid evidence” that the earth’s temperature has increased in past decades. That number is up from 57 percent two years ago, but still far from highs of 77 percent in 2006 and 2007.

A key feature of the initial drop in global warming belief was a burgeoning partisan divide, with Republicans and independents becoming markedly less convinced. The new poll reveals a growing internal divide within the GOP between conservatives and moderates, as well as between tea party and non-tea party Republicans.

More than six in 10 moderate or liberal Republicans in the new poll say there is solid evidence of global warming (up 22 points from 2009), while barely three in 10 conservative Republicans say the same. And while 30 percent of Republicans who agree with the tea party believe in global warming, that jumps to 56 percent of non-tea party Republicans. Democrats continue to be the strongest believers – over three quarters say there is solid evidence.

Some academics have investigated why people believe or doubt global warming’s existence. http://scholar.harvard.edu/moynihan/publications/end-means-partisanship-policy-preferences-and-global-warming">A 2010 paper suggested that the falloff in the belief that global warming is happening in 2009 may have reflected a shifting political calculation rather than a change in basic understanding of climate change. (The paper was authored by survey researchers at Harvard, ABC News and Post polling manager Peyton M. Craighill).

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/behind-the-numbers/post/poll-watcher-republicans-split-on-global-warming-health-care-reform-and-gop-intensity/2011/12/01/gIQAAfMcHO_blog.html

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Much more at the link...




Changing climate of Republican opinion doesn't agree with Tea Party

Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent
Friday 2 December 2011 05.23 GMT

This won't make the Koch brothers happy: nearly two-thirds of moderate or liberal Republicans now believe there is solid evidence for global warming, according to a poll from the Pew research centre.

That's 22 points higher since 2009, the year the billionaire oil brothers first began pouring money into Tea Party groups working to discredit Barack Obama's green agenda.

The shift suggests that the Koch efforts to spread doubt about climate science may be backfiring.

Climate change doubt – seen by Tea Party activists as a litmus test of conservative credentials – is not, as it turns out, energising the Republican masses.

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/dec/02/climate-republican-debate-tea-party

[bloomington-lib]

1. They change their mind that much?

How solid are their beliefs, or do they have a short attention span and focus on the talking points of the day?

[SpiralHawk]

2. Facts intruding on Republicon propaganda?

How tragic for them that they are having to face reality. I am sure another well-funded mighty crapload of Republicon lies can reverse this troubling trend toward reality.

[Enthusiast]

3. It doesn't really matter much.

The fascists will continue to lead rank and file Republicans around by the nose. Correct me if I'm wrong but, of the GOP candidates for president, only Mit will admit that global warming is a real phenomenon. Republicans are extremely susceptible to authority. They go on and on about their 'leaders' -like Reagan.

[greiner3]

4. Follow the money;

Exxon, utility comapnies et al. would not advertise with media that say they are the ones causing all the bruhaha.