USA Today: GOP rift on ports, poll dip hit Bush

[PhilipShore]

USA Today
GOP rift on ports, poll dip hit Bush
3/2/2006

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-03-02-lawmaker-ports-deal_x.htm

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee vowed to "kill" the proposed sale of some cargo operations at six major U.S. seaports to a Dubai firm as a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll found overwhelming opposition to the deal.

Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said he would introduce legislation to block the ports deal and to require foreign companies to divest any holdings of U.S. infrastructure critical to national security.

The controversy has set up the most dramatic split to date between President Bush and Republicans on Capitol Hill. It also seems to have dented Bush's standing on handling terrorism and narrowed the Republicans' long-standing advantage over Democrats on the issue, the USA TODAY survey shows. (Related: Ports poll results)

The furor has cost Bush dearly, says political scientist Charles Franklin of the University of Wisconsin. "The issue of security and terrorism was supposed to be the strength that drives Republican victories and generally has been the strongest suit of the president," he says. "Now they don't have a strong suit to play."

[Skittles]

1. the very idea they did not see this shit storm coming

that ALONE makes me question the wisdom of who the f*** is running things

[RagingInMiami]

2. I still can't believe that the dumb asses in this country

still believed that they were strong in terror after katrina.

[Newsjock]

3. Cheney has higher approval rating than Chimpy!?

This nugget from the related complete poll results story:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/2006-03-02-poll.htm

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2006 Feb 28-Mar 1 38 60 2

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dick Cheney is handling his job as vice president?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2006 Feb 28-Mar 1 40 52 9

[snowbear]

4. wow....

Bush ----> <--- Fan

[truthisfreedom]

5. they punctured the security balloon.

they backed the SUV over the baby.

[radfringe]

6. Real Clear Politics - polls -- Bush Diaspprove Average: 56.7%

I prefer this site for poll numbers because they average out all the poll numbers. We know polling numbers vary according to who is doing the polling...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls.html

President George W. Bush - Job Approval Ratings
RCP Average -- Poll Date 2/22 - 3/1
Approve 38.7%
Disapprove 56.7%
Spread -18.0%

on edit: This is average before the Katrina Tape was released... I expect the numbers will change significantly over the next week

[dusty64]

7. I wonder how

the people will like not only our jobs going to India but now our nuclear technology. Think it will go over well?