Iraq war support plummets but Kerry benefits little

[CShine]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A majority of Americans now consider the war in Iraq a mistake, a turnabout that has sunk President George W. Bush's popularity but produced only a marginal electoral boost for his Democratic rival John Kerry. A Gallup poll released Friday showed 54 percent doubting the wisdom of last year's US-led invasion, up from 41 percent barely two weeks ago. Fifty-five percent said it had made the United States less safe from terrorism. The poll and other surveys have fueled Democratic arguments that the Republican White House was losing public confidence over Iraq, and have left Bush sharply defensive over the centerpiece of his war on terror.

"I wouldn't have made the decisions I did if I didn't think the world would be better," he snapped Thursday at a television interviewer in Ireland as he flew to Europe to scout up more international support for Iraq.

White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Friday the poll findings reflected public anxiety after "some very difficult weeks and months" in Iraq, where violence has exploded ahead of next week's restoration of self-rule.

"But I believe, as we see on June 30th and as we march forward toward elections in Iraq, that the American people and the entire civilized world will see the strategic importance of getting it right in Iraq," he told ABC television.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1506&ncid=696&e=4&u=/afp/20040625/ts_alt_afp/us_iraq_vote

[truthspeaker]

1. Thus exposing the foolishness of being too afraid to oppose the war

Remember those halcyon days when Howard Dean and Wesley Clark were called "unelectable" because they dared to speak out against a war that was, at the time, popular and going well.

Leaders should lead, not follow, public opinion, especially when public opinion is manufactured by Rethug-controlled media.

[lastliberalintexas]

2. DK, CMB and AS too

It's very sad to think of what might have been.

[sampsonblk]

5. Ditto - nt

nt

[lancdem]

3. Kerry actually is leading among registered voters in this poll

49-45. This far ahead of the election, polls of likely voters (unless it's Zogby, who always polls LVs) are not terribly accurate.

[wabeewoman]

4. "they've moved past that"

Oh good. The people have 'moved on.' I guess that's ok if they know bush is to blame for Iraq. I can't move on so easy-I'm still pissed about 2000! and still wishing we had taken Dean-life would be so much more interesting and hope for real change would still be there. I know, I know....move on.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Kerry isn't even an official candidate yet

Shows you how worried bush's little campaign organization is. This bush favorable piece of "journalism" isn't news and it isn't editorial, it is simply bush campaign literature delivered for free via the press, just so you "know" what the score on Iraq is.

I wonder what the excuse for Iraqi violence is going to be after next week, since common sense would tell you that it isn't going to improve just because they install another form of fraud government there.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. Yep. Kerry's in great shape.

He's gonna kick ass.

[struggle4progress]

7. "I wouldn't make the decisions I did if I thought" would be closer ...

... to the mark.

[hightime]

10. Sounds like all those that held their noses and voted for Kerry

because Dean and Dennis were "unelectable".

[struggle4progress]

11. I don't see much similarity between Boosh ...

and the average Dem who voted for Kerry in the primaries.

I do like HD and DK. I also do think DK was "unelectable" as President, which is too bad from my POV but I do say we have to face political realities. I not nearly so sure HD was "unelectable", and he certainly scared the daylights out of the Repubs; but there's not the slightest chance HD would have carried my state in the general election. Personally, I voted for JE. But I really have no problem at all with JK.

Perhaps the time has come to put the primaries behind us and get together to toss Boosh and his cronies out of our house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

[Q]

9. Why would Kerry benefit?

...He's not anti-war.

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. Benefit?

Wouldn't expect Kerry to benefit from this. It means people are less likely to vote for *. But that doesn't translate into votes for Kerry. It translates to repugs staying home. Which ain't bad.