MyDD :: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To Views of War

CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To Views of War

by Todd Beeton, Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 06:08:19 PM EST

No wonder the White House wants to stage manage the much ballyhooed September Iraq report and have Secretaries Rice and Gates deliver it publicly to Congress instead of General Petraeus. Seems that people have pretty much already made up their minds about Iraq, regardless of what the September report says.

The latest CNN/Opinion Research poll (pdf) taken Aug. 6-8, finds that 64% oppose the war and 33% favor it and the September report is not going to change that.

As you may know, in September the top U.S. commander in Iraq will report to the President and Congress about how the war is going. If he reports that the U.S. is making progress, would that make you more likely to support the war, or would that have no effect on your view of the war?

More likely to support the war 28%
No effect on your view of the war 72%

Ouch.

On top of that, looks like the public is skeptical of the contents of the report no matter who delivers it. Fool me once...

As you may know, in September the top U.S. commander in Iraq will report to the President and Congress about how the war is going. Do you trust him to report what's really going on in Iraq without making the situation sound better than it actually is, or don't you feel that way?

Trust him to report what's really going on 43%
Do not trust him to report what's really going on 53%

Now, it does look as though the PR blitz that's been underway in the media may be paying dividends.

In general, do you think the U.S. military is or is not making progress in improving conditions in Iraq and bringing an end to the violence in that country? (ASKED OF HALF SAMPLE)

Is making progress 47%
Is not making progress 49%

Although, considering how the question is worded, this result may be more reflective of support for the troops rather than for Bush's escalation policy.

Does anyone else find it odd that not once in the entire poll is the word "surge" or "escalation" (or "Bush" for that matter) used even though it's this policy that the Petraeus report, the purported subject of the poll, is meant to update us on?

Tags: cnn poll, iraq, petraeus (all tags)

Permalink :: 11 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To (none / 0)

i wonder what the result would have been if they asked about "President Bush's" surge policy?

Never separate the life you live from the words you speak. -Sen. Paul Wellstone (Minnesota)

by Max Fletcher on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 06:52:49 PM EST

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant... (none / 0)

I wonder what is the point in pre-judging or anticipating what the Sept report will say, or who makes it!

Uh, maybe we should just wait, then babble?

by gillett on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 06:57:59 PM EST

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant... (none / 0)

The report is going to be issued by The White House and not by General Petreaus. So it doesn't take a genius to see that the report will be whatever Bush wants it to be. In order to continue this war until he leaves office.

by changehorses08 on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:33:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Even if Petreus reports success (none / 0)

Even if Gen Petreus reports success, I want the troops home. In fact it should mean, we can now bring the troops home.

by jasmine on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 07:33:28 PM EST

Re: Even if Petreus reports success (none / 0)

I don't care what he says. I want the troops home too. Not moved to Afghanistan as some suggest. Home. Where they can rest up and catch up for a while. Home!

by DoIT on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 08:47:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Even if Petreus reports success (none / 0)

If General Petreus was going to be allowed to write his own report. I believe that's what he would say. But the report is going to come out of the White House and Bush will make the speech.

by changehorses08 on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:35:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To (none / 0)

There's a few more things screwy with that poll: Notice how they ask the hypothetical "if he reports that the U.S. is making progress, would that make you more likely to support the war" but they do not ask "if he reports little or no progress, would you be more likely to favor withdrawing the troops?"

Also wtf is up with asking if they trust Petraeus when the media already knows damn well that that this is the White House's report!?

by anevarez on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 08:05:56 PM EST

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To (none / 0)

Good point.

by changehorses08 on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:37:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To (none / 0)

I would agree that it won't matter to the electorate what the report says. Most people have already made their minds up. But where it will matter is in Congress, the Senate specifically. I expect Reid and the Democrats to question the report thoroughly and make a BIG push to start redeployment to outside Iraq.

by DoIT on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 08:45:55 PM EST

Re: CNN Poll: September Iraq Report Irrelevant To (none / 0)

Not only are the Democrats going to question this but Republicans are getting antsy too. They need to show that they are making progress to end this war and drop their support of Bush or they will get creamed by the Electorate in 08.

by changehorses08 on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:39:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Most people figured out Bush lies (none / 0)

I can't get over how shocked the media is that Bush has lied once again. He needs to leave this war to the next president so that he can say he didn't lose the war.

by changehorses08 on Thu Aug 16, 2007 at 11:31:46 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.