CBS

Economists: GOP Cites Deeply Flawed CBS Report To Blame Debt On Obama

Brian Beutler | August 24, 2011, 6:15AM

Top Republicans couldn't be happier with a Monday CBS News report logging the growth in the national debt under President Obama.

The debt was $10.626 trillion on the day Mr. Obama took office. The latest calculation from Treasury shows the debt has now hit $14.639 trillion.

It's the most rapid increase in the debt under any U.S. president.

The national debt increased $4.9 trillion during the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush. The debt now is rising at a pace to surpass that amount during Mr. Obama's four-year term.

But this is politically powerful only because it's equally analytically flawed.

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Polls

CBS/NYT Poll: Congressional Disapproval At An All-Time High

Kyle Leighton | August 4, 2011, 7:10PM

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and President Barack Obama

Well, Congress has done it. It's hit its highest disapproval ratings since the New York Times/CBS News poll was created in 1977. In the wake of the debt debate, a full 82% of Americans are displeased with the legislative branch, with only 14% approval.

It's not so much the deal that was struck on the debt ceiling increase, which Americans were split on: 46% actually approved of the deal versus 45%. It was the perceived motivations that have people upset. 82% of the poll's respondents said that disagreements between parties on the debt ceiling debate were due to "gaining political advantage," rather than "doing what's best for the country," which only 14% saw as the motivator for Congress. Those numbers perfectly mirrored the general Congressional ratings.

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Medicare

Polls Show Dangers For GOP In Pushing Ryan's Medicare Privatization Plan

Jon Terbush | April 22, 2011, 1:23PM

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wants Congress to retain control of the fees that the United States Patent and Trademark Office collects and divert them to other government programs.

When Congress reconvenes next month, Republicans will begin a renewed push for a Medicare privatization plan proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). But a number of recent polls show that Republicans could have a tricky time making their case to the public.

In essence, the Ryan plan calls for privatizing Medicare and capping payments in the form of vouchers as a way to reduce spending. On it's face, the proposal garners tepid public support, particularly when presented as a necessity to reduce the deficit. However, when explained more fully, support for the Ryan plan evaporates.

Consider two polls of adult Americans released this week that framed the debate in two different ways.

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CBS

CBS Poll: Support For Stricter Gun Laws Spikes After Tucson Rampage

Jon Terbush | January 12, 2011, 10:31AM

Handguns on display

The number of Americans who favor stricter gun laws has spiked significantly in the wake of the weekend shooting spree that killed six and left Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) in critical condition, reversing a long-running trend of declining support for more stringent gun control, according to a new CBS poll.

In the poll, 47% of respondents said gun laws should be made tougher, while 36% said they should remain unchanged, and just 12% said they should be relaxed. While that means a slim plurality (48%) are opposed to strengthening gun laws, that opposition has dropped 10 points since CBS last polled the question less than one year ago.

In April 2010, CBS pegged total opposition to stricter gun laws at 58%, with 42% saying gun control was fine as is, and 16% saying that laws should be scaled back. And 40% supported tougher gun laws -- a number that's now risen to 47%.

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CBS

CBS Poll: Nearly Six In Ten Say Heated Rhetoric Unrelated To AZ Shooting

Jon Terbush | January 11, 2011, 10:18AM

US Senate candidate Joe Miller's (R-AK) supporters in a parade with guns in hand.

In a CBS poll released this morning, almost 60% of Americans said they don't think strong political rhetoric is to blame for Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona that left six dead and wounded over a dozen others, including Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

In the poll, 57% of respondents said that intense political discourse had nothing to do with the attack, versus 32% who said that it was a contributing factor to the shooting. By political demographics, Republicans were less inclined to see a connection. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans said there was no connection, while 19% said it was in some way related. Among Democrats, 42% saw a connection between violent rhetoric and the weekend's events, compared to 49% who said the two were unrelated.

The results show that the general public largely disagrees with one of the early story lines to emerge from the tragedy--that a recent spike in violent political speech may have created an environment in which someone actually took violent action.

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Bush Tax Cuts

Do Americans Support Obama's Tax Cuts Deal? Depends How You Ask

Jon Terbush | December 13, 2010, 8:37AM

President Barack Obama

Two-thirds of Americans want the Bush tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest to expire at the end of the year, according to one recent poll. But in another poll, two-thirds of Americans want to extend all of the Bush tax cuts -- including those for the country's top earners.

How can that be possible? The answer is all in the poll question's phrasing.

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AK-SEN

Lisa Murkowski Says Sarah Palin Is No Leader, Lacks 'Intellectual Curiosity' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 16, 2010, 9:25AM

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) doesn't have much faith in Sarah Palin's ability to be president, and said as much to known Palin nemesis Katie Couric on CBS last night. "I just do not think that she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity that allows for building good and great policies," Murkowski said. She added: "I don't think that she enjoyed governing."

"She would not be my choice for president," Murkowski said.

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NV-SEN

Angle Camp Bans Two TV Stations From Election Night Party -- For Asking Questions

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 5:17PM

Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R)

Republican Sharron Angle's nasty relationship with the press is reaching yet another whole new level, the Associated Press reports: Her Nevada Senate campaign has now banned two local TV stations from her Election Night party. Their offense? Apparently, it was that they asked her questions without permission:

Journalists from the local CBS and NBC news affiliates surprised Angle at McCarran International Airport on Friday to ask her questions about national security and unemployment. Video footage shows the GOP Senate candidate telling the reporters she will answer questions once she is elected.

Hours later, Angle spokeswoman Ciara Matthews told the news stations they are no longer invited to the election night party.

The incident referred to here is outlined in this post, when Angle said she would answer questions on national security and diplomacy "when I'm the Senator" -- that is, after she is elected. During that same interview of sorts, Angle answered a question about the two wars the country is fighting: "You know, the two wars that we're in right now, is exactly what we're in."

The TPM Poll Average gives angle a lead of 49.7%-46.4% over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.