[Doug64]

Horrible example but perhaps you should take a government class. Because in the US if you can't prove it in court, no matter what the reason, it did not happen. We have this odd thing called innocence until proven guilty.

No, if for whatever reason you are unable to convince a jury or the DA decides the case isn't worth taking to court, then the law is required to act as if it didn't happen--that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The same applies to the Senate when it holds impeachment trials--when Trump is inevitably acquitted because 45 Republicans Senators have signed on to the interpretation that holding an impeachment trial of someone that is no longer in office is unconstitutional, does that mean Trump isn't guilty?

But you apparently have no response to my request for how Biden's can be considered valid when he "won" thanks to votes cast in violation of the Constitution other than a general appeal to authority, so there's no point in continuing this. Back to what this thread is actually about....

Here's this weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Thirty-five percent (35%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending January 28, 2021. This week’s finding jumped up eleven points points from a week ago. This is the highest percentage since November 2020. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down seven points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 42% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 53% said it was on the wrong track.

77% of Likely U.S. Voters say Americans less tolerant of each other’s political opinions than they were in the past. That’s the same percentage as four years ago, immediately after President Trump’s inauguration. Only 11% of voters say Americans are more tolerant of each other’s political opinions, while 10% say the level of tolerance is about the same. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of voters say the presidential election negatively affected their personal relationship with a friend or family member. That’s slightly down from four years ago, when 40% said the election had negatively affected a personal relationship.

66% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Wall Street insiders manipulate the stock market to their own advantage. Only 13% of voters disagree, while 22% say they’re not sure. Only 20% of voters say they are very confident President Biden will make sure Wall Street insiders are prosecuted if they illegally manipulate the stock market. Another 25% are somewhat confident, while 34% say they’re not at all confident Biden will make sure insiders are prosecuted for illegal market manipulation. Voters are united across party lines in their belief that Wall Street insiders manipulate the stock market to their advantage, with 68% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats and 67% of voters not affiliated with either major party sharing that belief.

61% of Likely U.S. Voters say that when thinking about problems in the world, they are more interested in finding a solution that most benefits the United States. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree and say they are more interested in finding a solution that is better for the whole world. The number endorsing an “America First” stance has actually increased since February 2017, when President Trump had just been sworn into office and 55% of voters said they favored a foreign policy that prioritizes U.S. interests. However, while 78% of voters four years ago said Trump favored an “America First” policy, less than one-third now say the same of President Biden. Thirty-two percent (32%) of all voters believe Biden is more interested in finding a solution that most benefits the United States. Forty-six percent (46%) believe he is more interested in doing what’s better for the whole world. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure.

59% of Likely U.S. Voters think a second stimulus is essential to America’s COVID comeback. Twenty-four percent (32%) disagree and say a second check would push the federal budget deficit dangerously higher. Support for more stimulus payments has declined somewhat since late December, when 68% of voters said a new round of relief checks was essential to America’s COVID comeback. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Democrats now support a new round of coronavirus stimulus payments, as do 55% of voters not affiliated with either major party. However, 50% of Republicans disagree, saying the cost of the stimulus would push the budget deficit too high, and only 42% of GOP voters say a second stimulus is essential to help the country recover from the pandemic.

55% of Likely U.S. Voters think the news media are less aggressive in questioning Biden than they were in questioning Trump. Only 13% say the media are more aggressive with Biden; 27% percent believe the aggressiveness of the media is about the same. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Republicans say the media is less aggressive with Biden, as do 55% of voters not affiliated with either major party. However, only 33% of Democrats say the news media are less aggressive in questioning Biden than they were in questioning Trump. Ratings for cable news networks fell precipitously after Biden’s inauguration, and 28% of voters say they have followed news about politics less since Biden became president than they did when Trump was president. Seventeen percent (17%) say they are following political news more since Biden became president, while 53% say they’re following political news about the same.

31% of American Adults say Tampa Bay is most likely to win the NFL title Sunday. Forty-one percent (41%) say the Kansas City Chiefs are the likely Super Bowl winners, while 28% say they’re not sure. Brady won an NFL record six Super Bowls during his 18 seasons as starting QB for the New England Patriots. Brady got his first Super Bowl ring in 2002, when he led the Patriots to a 20-17 upset of the Rams. Two years ago, Brady became the oldest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl, when the Patriots beat the Rams 13-3. Despite his unprecedented achievements, Americans have decidedly mixed views of Brady. Only 14% say they have a very favorable view of Brady, while 26% have a somewhat favorable view. Those favorable ratings are almost exactly equaled by the 24% who say they view Brady somewhat favorably and 14% who have a very unfavorable view. Twenty-three percent (23%) say they’re not sure.

Here's Biden's job approval for the last week:


• Strongly Approve: 34% (-2)
  
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 50% (+1)
• Total Disapprove: 46% (-1)

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 35%
• Strongly Disapprove: 39%
• Total Approve: 49%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

[Drlee]

But you apparently have no response to my request for how Biden's can be considered valid when he "won" thanks to votes cast in violation of the Constitution other than a general appeal to authority, so there's no point in continuing this. Back to what this thread is actually about....

I have said it time and time again. I do not agree with your premise and neither does the SCOTUS and a ton of other courts. I do not believe that votes were cast in violation of the constitution. As for your "general appeal to authority" I reject the entire idea. I have cited the courts. And.

For us to believe such a ridiculous idea we have to accept that hundreds and perhaps thousands of attorneys, state officials, judges and legislators have seen evidence and chosen to ignore it. Trump's own Justice Department has rejected the idea. The bright red state legislators, Republican prosecutors and conservative judges said, ah no. Just no. No way. Didn't happen. The very idea is absurd.

Trump's own officials have said this is one of the cleanest and best monitored elections in history. Only some very stupid conspiracy theory believers are buying the stolen election nonsense.

[Doug64]

I have said it time and time again. I do not agree with your premise and neither does the SCOTUS and a ton of other courts.

Like I said, a general appeal to authority--and one that ignores that in the vast majority of cases they rejected on procedural grounds rather than the merits.

I do not believe that votes were cast in violation of the constitution.

The US Constitution, Article II, Section 1, Clause 3: "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors ..." So either you don't think the Constitution means what it says, or you somehow believe in spite of all the reporting that judges and state officials didn't make changes to state voting laws without getting them okayed by the legislatures. Which is it?

Once again getting back to polls, here's this one from AP/NORC. It has quite a number of questions, these ones caught my eye. Note that the poll is reporting American Adults, not Registered Voters (much less Likely Voters).

How well would you say democracy is working in the United States these days?

• Extremely Well 2
• Very Well 14
• Somewhat Well 38
• Not Too Well 32
• Not at All Well 14
• Not Sure 1

So that's 16% Extremely/Very Well, 38% Somewhat Well, and 46% Not Too/Not at All Well. Looks like a good reason to advance vote integrity policies to me.

Which statement comes closer to your own view?

• Americans are united and in agreement about the most important values 11
• Americans are greatly divided when it comes to the most important values 88

And people don't expect this to improve any time soon.

And thinking about five years from now, do you think the country will become more divided on the most important values, less divided on the most important values, or be about as divided as it is now?

• More divided 33
• Less divided 36
• About as divided as now 29
• Don't know 1

[Pants-of-dog]

Like I said, a general appeal to authority--and one that ignores that in the vast majority of cases they rejected on procedural grounds rather than the merits.

Can you provide a concrete example that can be discussed?

Once again getting back to polls, here's this one from AP/NORC. It has quite a number of questions, these ones caught my eye. Note that the poll is reporting American Adults, not Registered Voters (much less Likely Voters).

How well would you say democracy is working in the United States these days?

• Extremely Well 2
• Very Well 14
• Somewhat Well 38
• Not Too Well 32
• Not at All Well 14
• Not Sure 1

So that's 16% Extremely/Very Well, 38% Somewhat Well, and 46% Not Too/Not at All Well. Looks like a good reason to advance vote integrity policies to me.

That would be logical only if we assumed that people are worried about democracy because of voter integrity. But people can be worried about US democracy for many reasons: a majority or plurality of Republicans no longer care about facts, a POTUS who ignored congressional oversight, insurrection attempts, the increasing influence of the oligarchy, foreign intervention, and many other reasons.

To assume that voter integrity is the only possible factor is reductionist.

[Doug64]

Here's this weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Thirty-five percent (35%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 4, 2021. This week’s finding remains the same as a week ago. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down one point from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 42% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 52% said it was on the wrong track.

The Rasmussen Reports Immigration Index for the week of January 31-February 4, 2021 fell to 88.3, down from 91.6 two weeks earlier. This is the lowest it’s been since the Immigration Index began in December 2019. This is the seventh consecutive survey in which the index has been under the baseline. Since the week before the November election, the index has fallen by more than 13 points, indicating voters are looking for tighter immigration control from the incoming Biden administration.

41% of American Adults say the U.S. economy will be weaker a year from now. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say the economy will be stronger in a year, and 13% expect it to be about the same. Only 23% think today’s children will be better off than their parents. That’s well down from the 31% who answered yes to that question in January 2017, immediately after President Trump was inaugurated. Fifty-two percent (52%) now say today’s children will be worse off than their parents, up from 42% four years ago. Economic optimism soared in the wake of Trump’s 2017 inauguration, when 50% said they expected the economy to be better within a year. That was the highest number recorded since Rasmussen began regular surveying on the question in 2009.

11% of Likely U.S. Voters thought it very likely the Senate would convict Trump of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Another 20% said conviction was somewhat likely. Twenty-eight percent (28%) thought it not very likely the Senate would convict Trump and 36% said conviction was not likely at all. The House voted last month to impeach then-President Trump on charges that he incited his supporters to riot at the Capitol on January 6. The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate for conviction. Only 15% of voters said they’d watch the entire Senate impeachment trial on TV, and 21% expected to watch most of it. Thirty percent (30%) say they’d watch some of Trump’s trial, but 32% wouldn’t watch any of it.

43% of Likely U.S. Voters say the National Guard deployment to the nation’s capital is a necessary security measure. Forty-eight percent (48%) say the troop deployment isn’t necessary. As many as 25,000 National Guard were deployed to D.C. in the immediate aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot. About 7,000 troops remain in Washington as the Senate decides whether Trump is guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for inciting his supporters to riot. Seventy-one percent (71%) of GOP voters say the National Guard deployment isn’t necessary, while 68% of Democrats say the extra level of security is needed. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 53% say the troop deployment is not necessary.

50% of Likely U.S. Voters think that when media outlets release classified information, they are hurting national security. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say the media provide a public service when they publish government secrets, while 21% are not sure. Those numbers reflect a significant shift from when we asked the same question four years ago, shortly after Trump became president. In that February 2017 survey, 45% of voters said media outlets are hurting national security by publishing government secrets, while 38% said the media are doing a public service when they release classified information. The 60% of GOP voters who say media leaks hurt national security is about the same now as it was four years ago, but many Democrats apparently have changed their minds now that Joe Biden is president. While 45% of Democrats in 2017 said media outlets provide a public service by publishing government secrets, only 38% say that now. And while only 31% of Democrats said classified leaks damaged national security when Trump was president, 38% say so now.

36% of American Adults say they look forward to Valentine’s Day. Twenty-four percent (24%) say Valentine’s is a day they dread, and 40% say they’re not sure. Only 8% say they consider Valentine’s Day one of our nation’s most important holidays, while 53% say it’s one of the least important holidays. The romantic holiday is slightly more popular this year than in previous surveys. In 2015, only 28% said they looked forward to Valentine’s Day, and just 5% said it was one of America’s most important holidays.

11% of Likely U.S. Voters say they are very confident social media can censor questionable content in a fair and unbiased way. Another 18% are somewhat confident that social media censorship is unbiased, but 68% are either not very confident or not confident at all that social media can censor content fairly. Thirty-three percent (33%) of voters say they use social media like Twitter and Facebook every day, and another 14% say they use social media nearly every day. That marks a significant decline from a year ago, when 44% of voters said they used social media every day and another 17% said they used it nearly every day. The biggest decline of reported social media usage is among GOP voters. A year ago, 49% of Republicans said they used social media every day, but only 36% of GOP voters now say they’re daily social media users. Thirty-three percent (33%) of Democrats say they use social media daily, down from 41% a year ago. Among voters unaffiliated with either major party, 28% say they use social media every day, down from 41% a year ago.

57% of Likely U.S. Voters say Biden won the 2020 presidential election fairly, but 61% of Republicans say Biden did not win the election fairly. The impeachment case presented by House Democrats in the Senate trial accuses Trump of making false claims about election fraud that incited his supporters to riot at the Capitol on January 6. But 34% of voters say Biden did not win the election fairly, including 36% of voters not affiliated with either major political party. Furthermore, a majority say public figures should not be punished for saying the 2020 election was stolen. Only 35% of voters say public figures should be punished for saying the election was stolen, while 54% say they should not, and 11% are not sure.

Here's Biden's job approval for the last week:


• Strongly Approve: 35% (+1)
  
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 51% (+1)
• Total Disapprove: 46%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 35%
• Strongly Disapprove: 38% (-1)
• Total Approve: 50% (+1)
• Total Disapprove: 47%

[Doug64]

On that record low immigration index number? Here's the questions and responses that underlie it. For which positions and policies have the support of at least a plurality of all three political classifications, we have:

• Mandate that all employers use E-Verify.
• Limit chain migration to spouses and minor children.
• That when employers have trouble finding enough workers it's better for them to raise their wages and try harder to employ non-working Americans rather than bring in more foreign workers, even if that will result in higher costs.
• Limit immigration-driven population growth in order to slow the growth of cities into wildlife habitats and farmland (only a plurality for all three groups, though).

For where Democrats and Independents stand together against Republicans:

• Give lifetime work permits to the roughly two million undocumented migrants brought to the US as minors.

Where Republicans and Independents stand together against Democrats:

• The government isn't doing enough to reduce illegal border crossings and visa overstays.
• Do not give lifetime work permits to most of the estimated 12 million illegal residents of all ages who currently reside in the United States.
• The country already has enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs, we don't need to import more.
• We should slow down or stop immigration-driven population growth in order to preserve quality of life.

For how many new immigrants should be allowed each year, Republicans say it should be reduced to fewer than 500,000, Independents say it should be reduced to around 750,000, and Democrats say it should be maintained at around a million.

So a Democratic immigration reform package that a majority of US Likely Voters would support (at least for its constituent parts):

1. Mandate all businesses use E-Verify.
2. Limit chain migration to spouses and minor children.
3. Give lifetime work permits to those undocumented migrants brought to the US as minors while not giving such permits to the rest of the undocumented migrant population.
4. Limit--or at least not increase--the number of permits given out for foreign workers, even if doing so will result in higher prices, in order to preserve quality of life and increase employment opportunities for US residents.

We'll see if doing more to lower the number of migrants illegally coming across the border or overstaying their visas stays below 51%, now that the rush on the border thanks to Biden's election has begun, and the new administration has begun to encourage more.

On the question of illegal immigration, is the government doing too much or too little to reduce illegal border crossings and visitor overstays? Or is the level of action about right?

• Too much 20%
• Too little 50%
• About right 21%
• Not sure 9%

Republicans

• Too much 14%
• Too little 72%
• About right 10%
• Not sure 4%

Independents

• Too much 14%
• Too little 53%
• About right 22%
• Not sure 12%

Democrats

• Too much 29%
• Too little 29%
• About right 30%
• Not sure 12%

In trying to control illegal immigration, should the government mandate that all employers use the federal electronic E-Verify system to help ensure that they hire only legal workers for U.S. jobs?

• Yes 71%
• No 18%
• Not sure 12%

Republicans

• Yes 87%
• No 7%
• Not sure 6%

Independents

• Yes 67%
• No 17%
• Not sure 16%

Democrats

• Yes 59%
• No 28%
• Not sure 14%

Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose giving lifetime work permits to most of the approximately two million illegal residents who came to this country when they were minors?

• Strongly favor 30%
• Somewhat favor 23%
• Somewhat oppose 17%
• Strongly oppose 24%
• Not sure 6%

Republicans

• Strongly favor 12%
• Somewhat favor 20%
• Somewhat oppose 21%
• Strongly oppose 41%
• Not sure 6%

Independents

• Strongly favor 26%
• Somewhat favor 21%
• Somewhat oppose 21%
• Strongly oppose 23%
• Not sure 8%

Democrats

• Strongly favor 50%
• Somewhat favor 26%
• Somewhat oppose 9%
• Strongly oppose 11%
• Not sure 4%

Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose giving lifetime work permits to most of the estimated 12 million illegal residents of all ages who currently reside in the United States?

• Strongly favor 20%
• Somewhat favor 21%
• Somewhat oppose 17%
• Strongly oppose 36%
• Not sure 5%

Republicans

• Strongly favor 7%
• Somewhat favor 11%
• Somewhat oppose 17%
• Strongly oppose 60%
• Not sure 4%

Independents

• Strongly favor 15%
• Somewhat favor 21%
• Somewhat oppose 21%
• Strongly oppose 37%
• Not sure 6%

Democrats

• Strongly favor 37%
• Somewhat favor 31%
• Somewhat oppose 13%
• Strongly oppose 14%
• Not sure 5%

Now, I'm going to ask you about authorized legal immigration: Recent federal policies have added about one million new permanent immigrants to the United States each year. Which is closest to the number of new immigrants the government should be adding each year -- fewer than 500,000, 750,000, one million, one and a half million, or more than one and a half million?

• Fewer than 500,000 39%
• 750,000 16%
• One million 19%
• One an a half million 7%
• More than one and a half million 8%
• Not sure 12%

Republicans

• Fewer than 500,000 60%
• 750,000 14%
• One million 12%
• One an a half million 3%
• More than one and a half million 4%
• Not sure 7%

Independents

• Fewer than 500,000 37%
• 750,000 14%
• One million 20%
• One an a half million 7%
• More than one and a half million 8%
• Not sure 14%

Democrats

• Fewer than 500,000 22%
• 750,000 19%
• One million 23%
• One an a half million 9%
• More than one and a half million 12%
• Not sure 15%

Do you favor legal immigrants being allowed to bring with them only a spouse and minor children, or do you favor them also eventually bringing in other adult relatives in a process that can include extended family and their spouses' families?

• You favor legal immigrants being allowed to bring with them only a spouse and minor children 64%
• You favor also eventually bringing in other adult relatives that can include extended family and their spouses' families 26%
• Not sure 10%

Republicans

• You favor legal immigrants being allowed to bring with them only a spouse and minor children 77%
• You favor also eventually bringing in other adult relatives that can include extended family and their spouses' families 15%
• Not sure 8%

Independents

• You favor legal immigrants being allowed to bring with them only a spouse and minor children 61%
• You favor also eventually bringing in other adult relatives that can include extended family and their spouses' families 27%
• Not sure 13%

Democrats

• You favor legal immigrants being allowed to bring with them only a spouse and minor children 54%
• You favor also eventually bringing in other adult relatives that can include extended family and their spouses' families 36%
• Not sure 10%

When businesses say they are having trouble finding Americans to take jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality and other service work, what is generally best for the country? Is it better for businesses to raise the pay and try harder to recruit non-working Americans even if it causes prices to rise, or is it better for the government to bring in new foreign workers to help keep business costs and prices down?

• Better for businesses to raise the pay and try harder to recruit non-working Americans even if it causes prices to rise 65%
• Better for the government to bring in new foreign workers to help keep business costs and prices down 18%
• Not sure 17%

Republicans

• Better for businesses to raise the pay and try harder to recruit non-working Americans even if it causes prices to rise 71%
• Better for the government to bring in new foreign workers to help keep business costs and prices down 12%
• Not sure 17%

Independents

• Better for businesses to raise the pay and try harder to recruit non-working Americans even if it causes prices to rise 68%
• Better for the government to bring in new foreign workers to help keep business costs and prices down 15%
• Not sure 18%

Democrats

• Better for businesses to raise the pay and try harder to recruit non-working Americans even if it causes prices to rise 56%
• Better for the government to bring in new foreign workers to help keep business costs and prices down 26%
• Not sure 17%

Should Congress increase the number of foreign workers taking higher-skill U.S. jobs or does the country already have enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs?

• Increase the number of foreign workers taking higher-skill U.S. jobs 28%
• The country already has enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs 61%
• Not sure 12%

Republicans

• Increase the number of foreign workers taking higher-skill U.S. jobs 14%
• The country already has enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs 78%
• Not sure 8%

Independents

• Increase the number of foreign workers taking higher-skill U.S. jobs 22%
• The country already has enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs 66%
• Not sure 12%

Democrats

• Increase the number of foreign workers taking higher-skill U.S. jobs 45%
• The country already has enough talented people to train and recruit for most of those jobs 41%
• Not sure 15%

The Census Bureau projects that current immigration policies are responsible for most U.S. population growth and will add 75 million people over the next 40 years. In terms of the effect on the overall quality of life in the United States, do you favor continuing this level of immigration-driven population growth, slowing down immigration-driven population growth or having no immigration-driven population growth at all?

• Continue immigration driven population growth at the current levels 29%
• Slow down immigration driven population growth 47%
• Have no immigration driven population growth at all 17%
• Not sure 8%

Republicans

• Continue immigration driven population growth at the current levels 13%
• Slow down immigration driven population growth 58%
• Have no immigration driven population growth at all 25%
• Not sure 4%

Independents

• Continue immigration driven population growth at the current levels 23%
• Slow down immigration driven population growth 52%
• Have no immigration driven population growth at all 16%
• Not sure 9%

Democrats

• Continue immigration driven population growth at the current levels 47%
• Slow down immigration driven population growth 32%
• Have no immigration driven population growth at all 10%
• Not sure 11%

Should immigration-driven population growth be reduced to limit the expansion of cities into U.S. wildlife habitats and farmland?

• Yes 44%
• No 27%
• Not sure 29%

Republicans

• Yes 48%
• No 19%
• Not sure 32%

Independents

• Yes 42%
• No 26%
• Not sure 32%

Democrats

• Yes 41%
• No 35%
• Not sure 24%

[Doug64]

Here's this weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, for the week ending February 11, 2021. This week’s finding is up three points from a week ago. Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down three points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 46% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 50% said it was on the wrong track.

35% of American Adults say there should be a separate federal holiday for Lincoln’s birthday. Forty-seven percent (47%) are against making Lincoln’s birthday a separate holiday, and 18% are not sure. Support for making Lincoln’s birthday has slightly increased since 2018, when 30% were in favor of honoring Lincoln with a separate holiday. In general, Americans oppose the creation of more federal holidays. However, Americans actually have a higher opinion of Lincoln than they do of Washington. Eighty-four percent (84%) of Americans have a favorable view of the 16th president who guided the country through the Civil War in the 1860s. That includes 56% with a Very Favorable opinion of him. Just six percent (8%) have a somewhat or Very Unfavorable opinion of Lincoln. Seventy-seven percent (77%) regard Washington favorably, including 44% with a Very Favorable opinion. Only 12% have a somewhat or Very Unfavorable view of the nation’s first president who has long been described as the Father of Our Country.

45% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer that the case for impeachment presented by House Democrats in Trump’s Senate trial “was powerful, emotional, and strong.” However, an equal number agree with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz that House Democrats did not “come remotely close to demonstrating that President Trump's conduct violated the law.” Not surprisingly, partisanship largely explains this disagreement. Seventy-three percent (73%) of Democrats agree with Schumer’s assessment that the case against Trump was “powerful, emotional, and strong,” while 69% of GOP voters disagree. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, 36% agree with Schumer, 50% disagree and 14% are not sure. Likewise, 64% of Republicans agree with Cruz that House Democrats did not “come remotely close” to proving Trump violated the law, while 62% of Democrats disagree with Cruz’s statement. Among unaffiliated voters, 49% agree with Cruz, 36% disagree and 15% are not sure.

86% of American Adults say it’s more important for the media to get the story right than to get it first. However, 66% believe most major news organizations are more concerned with getting a story first than getting it right. That number hasn’t changed much since we asked the same question four years ago. In February 2017, 63% said the media care more about getting a story first than about getting it right. But that was an improvement from 2013, when 84% said the media valued speed over accuracy. Only 7% of Americans rate getting it first as more important than getting it right when it comes to the media’s reporting of news events.

65% of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress should investigate whether officials are reporting accurate information about COVID-19 cases. While Americans are divided over many issues, support for a congressional investigation into official COVID-19 reports is strong across party lines. Seventy-four percent (74%) of GOP voters support such an investigation, as do 60% of Democrats and 59% of voters not affiliated with either major party. When it comes to whether officials can be trusted to report COVID-19 information accurately, however, Republicans are significantly more skeptical. Only 13% of GOP voters say they have a lot of trust in information from public officials about the number of cases and the number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic. By contrast, 44% of Democrats say they have a lot of trust in information from public officials about the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Twenty percent (20%) of unaffiliated voters say they have a lot of trust in such information.

42% of Likely U.S. Voters say the recent impeachment proceedings against Trump didn’t make much difference in their opinion of the former president. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all voters said the impeachment made their opinion of Trump worse, while 28% said they have a better opinion of Trump after his second impeachment. The impeachment over accusations that Trump incited the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol did little damage to Trump’s standing in the eyes of Republican voters. Forty-four percent (44%) of GOP voters say the impeachment proceedings made their opinion of Trump better. Forty-one percent (41%) of Republicans say the impeachment didn’t make much difference in their opinion of the former president, and only 13% of GOP voters said the impeachment made their opinion of Trump worse. Seventy-three percent (73%) of GOP voters say Trump is still the kind of leader the Republican Party needs, compared to 24% of Republicans who say the GOP needs to get away from the legacy of Trump.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of Americans are obese, but a much lower percentage actually consider themselves overweight. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 25% of American Adults say they are overweight. Sixty-three percent (63%) say they’re not overweight, and 12% say they’re not sure. These numbers are basically unchanged since 2017, although the percentage of Americans who say they’re overweight has declined since 2012, when 42% said they were overweight. According to the CDC, “Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death.” Obesity has also been identified as a risk factor in the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those who have seen a doctor for a general physical exam in the past year, 28% say their doctor recommended lifestyle changes in the way they eat, drink or exercise. That’s down from 36% four years ago. Sixty-nine percent (69%) say their doctor didn’t recommend any lifestyle changes.

54% of Likely U.S. Voters say they agree with this statement: “Joe Biden’s not the moderate nice guy that they made him out to be. He’s a puppet of the radical left.” Forty percent (40%) of voters disagree. That statement is a direct quote from Donald Trump Jr., in an interview last week with Washington Examiner columnist Paul Bedard. Not only do 82% of Republicans agree with Trump Jr.’s statement, but so do 27% of Democrats and 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party. In general, 49% of Likely Voters say the left wing of the Democratic Party has too much influence on Biden. Thirteen percent (13%) say the left wing does not have enough influence on Biden and 30% say the left has about the right amount of influence on the new president.

Here's Biden's job approval for the last week:


• Strongly Approve: 35%
  
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 51%
• Total Disapprove: 46%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 35%
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 50%
• Total Disapprove: 47% (-1)

And for fun, I've decided to add comparisons for the same time periods for Trump and Obama.

For Trump, this week:


• Strongly Approve: 37%
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 53%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 39%
• Strongly Disapprove: 37%
• Total Approve: 54%
• Total Disapprove: 46%

And for Obama this week:


• Strongly Approve: 38%
• Strongly Disapprove: 25%
• Total Approve: 60%
• Total Disapprove: 38%

And since his election:


• Strongly Approve: 40%
• Strongly Disapprove: 22%
• Total Approve: 61%
• Total Disapprove: 36%

[late]

The Politico Biden Job Approval poll had Biden at 62. That's 50% more than Trump had at his peak approval.

Granted, that's an outlier, the RCP average of 5 polls is 54.3, still a lot better than Trump ever did.

Which is the problem with Rasmussen, they have a little fun with the numbers, and then try to make it sound even worse in their text.

This approval is in the face of unrelenting bad news. But it looks like Biden is working, trying to make things better, so most of us will cut him some slack..

[Doug64]

@late, knock off the 2.7 by which the RCP polling average missed the Biden result in the election, and your 54.3 puts Biden at 51.6. And you'll note that at this point in Trump's presidency he was at 53%, with an average to date of 54%. So yes, Trump did achieve these kinds of numbers at one point. Of course, Obama was at 60%+, but that was Obama. Biden isn't Trump, but he's become the "president" of a badly divided country.

[late]

@late, knock off the 2.7 by which the RCP polling average missed the Biden result in the election

and your 54.3 puts Biden at 51.6. And you'll note that at this point in Trump's presidency he was at 53%

Statistics does not allow that.

Only on Rasmussen, he spent most of the time in the 30s, with an occasional moment in the low 40s.

But thanks for demonstrating my point.

[Doug64]

@late, actually, the average for Trump's entire four years is 47% approval, 52% disapproval. Obama's average for both his first term and his entire time in office is 48% approval, 50% disapproval.

[late]

@late, actually, the average for Trump's entire four years is 47% approval, 52% disapproval. Obama's average for both his first term and his entire time in office is 48% approval, 50% disapproval.

You're using Rasmussen, again.

The RCP average of 5 polls is a lot more accurate. But I get the feeling accuracy is not in the cards.

[Doug64]

You're using Rasmussen, again.

The RCP average of 5 polls is a lot more accurate. But I get the feeling accuracy is not in the cards.

Whether an average of polls is more accurate depends purely on the quality of the polls included. Also, who they're polling--you can ignore pretty much any poll that covers Americans, and Likely Voters is to be preferred to Registered Voters. Besides, so far as I know, Rasmussen is currently the only pollster giving us presidential polling for every weekday, pollsters that drop in once a month can be spectacularly wrong and there's no way to really say.

[late]

Whether an average of polls is more accurate depends purely on the quality of the polls included. Also, who they're polling--you can ignore pretty much any poll that covers Americans, and Likely Voters is to be preferred to Registered Voters. Besides, so far as I know, Rasmussen is currently the only pollster giving us presidential polling for every weekday, pollsters that drop in once a month can be spectacularly wrong and there's no way to really say.

Doing a poll right is quite expensive. So you're trying to sell quantity over quality as a plus.

It isn't. Every once in a great while, in an important election, you will see a poll where they dropped some serious coin trying to do a good job. And even then, it doesn't always work out. There's only a couple of firms that do that, Quinnipiac is one of them.

All those polls have a weakness or three, and the best thing you can is take an average and hope that evens things out.

You like the Rasmussen bias, and you keep trying to make excuses for it.

[Doug64]

@late, funny you should mention Quinnipiac, they missed the Biden/Trump spread by 6.5, almost twice as much as Rasmussen in the opposite direction. I'm not sure that's the poll I would consider as an example of neutrality.

Here's this weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 18, 2021. This week’s finding is down four points from a week ago. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, up four points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 45% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 51% said it was on the wrong track.

The Rasmussen Reports Immigration Index for the week of February 14-18, 2021 fell to 86.0, down from 88.3 two weeks earlier. This is the lowest it’s been since the Immigration Index began in December 2019, and the second consecutive survey in which the index has reached a new record low. The Immigration Index has been under the baseline in eight consecutive surveys. Since the week before the November election, the index has fallen by nearly 15 points, indicating voters are looking for tighter immigration control from President Biden’s administration.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the coronavirus relief bill currently being negotiated in Congress. Thirty-three percent (33%) oppose the measure and 10% of voters are not sure. However, 79% say they’re concerned that members of Congress have included costly items in the massive relief bill that have nothing to do with the coronavirus, including 57% who say they’re Very Concerned. The $1.9 trillion package reportedly includes hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout funds for state and local governments. Voters are sharply divided over such bailouts. Forty-one percent (41%) of voters say the federal government should provide bailout funding for states with serious financial problems, but 42% say the federal government should not bail out financially troubled states. Eighteen percent (18%) say they’re not sure.

Twenty-eight percent (28%) of American Adults believe maintenance and repair of infrastructure is primarily a federal responsibility. Forty-seven percent (47%) say state governments should be primarily responsible for infrastructure maintenance and repair, while 7% say it’s primarily a job for local governments and 18% are not sure. Those opinions haven’t changed much since 2017, when 31% said infrastructure maintenance was primarily a federal responsibility and 52% said it was a state responsibility. Asked to rate the safety of infrastructure – roads, bridges, dams, tunnels and the like – in the area where they live, 9% rate infrastructure safety as excellent and 31% rate it as good. Thirty-nine percent (38%) rate their local infrastructure as fair and 19% rate it as poor.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Likely U.S. Voters say every person the president nominates to serve as a judge or in a government position should receive an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. Only 21% disagree, while another 21% say they’re not sure. Voters are divided over whether it’s good for confirmation of Biden’s Cabinet appointments to be delayed by the Senate. Thirty-six percent (36%) say it’s good for the country that Republicans in Congress are delaying approval of some of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees, while 38% say it’s bad for the country. Seventeen percent (17%) say the delay will have no impact. Those numbers are roughly the same as in late January 2017, when Democrats were delaying confirmation for many of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointments. At that time, 33% of voters said it was good for the country that the Senate was delaying Cabinet confirmations, 39% said it was bad and 23% said the delay would have no impact. And in February 2017, 62% of voters said all the president’s nominees deserved an up or down vote on the Senate floor.

Twenty-six percent (26%) of American Adults say homelessness should be primarily a responsibility of the federal government. Thirty-eight percent (38%) see homelessness as primarily a responsibility of state governments and 23% say local governments should primarily be responsible. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Americans agree that homelessness is a serious problem in America, with 55% who say the problem is Very Serious. These findings have changed very little in surveys since 2009 just after the Wall Street bubble burst. However, 57% of Americans say government policies and practices encourage increased homelessness in some cities and states more than others, and only 15% disagree. Another 28% are not sure if state and local policies encourage increased homelessness.

Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters say Biden’s policy toward China is worse than Trump’s China policy. Thirty-one percent (31%) say Biden’s China policy is better than Trump’s, while 11% rate the China policy about the same between the two administrations. Partisanship may explain some difference of opinion on the China policy, but not all of it. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans say Biden’s China policy is worse than Trump’s, but so do 23% of Democrats and 55% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Far more voters view China as an enemy of the United States than as an ally. Fifty percent (50%) of Likely Voters say China is an enemy, while only 8% say China is an ally and 37% say the relationship is somewhere in between. By a margin of more than 4-to-1, voters say China is a greater economic threat to the U.S. than a military threat.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of Likely U.S. Voters have an unfavorable view of Ocasio-Cortez, including 44% whose view of her is Very Unfavorable. Only 16% view have a Very Favorable view of AOC, and another 18% have a Somewhat Favorable view. AOC has become so controversial so quickly that, even though voters express a more negative opinion of Pelosi (48% have a Very Unfavorable view of the House Speaker), more say congressional Democrats should be more like Pelosi (31%) than like Ocasio-Cortez (22%). Forty-six percent (46%) said they are not sure which is the better model for Democrats.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults think being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in our country today. That’s slightly down from 71% in 2018. The all-time high was 76% in 2012. Just 19% do not consider teaching one of the most important jobs in the country today, while 14% are undecided. As important as they think teachers are, Americans don’t view teaching as a desirable career. Only 29% say most Americans still consider teaching a desirable profession to go into. Forty-three percent (43%) say teaching is not considered a desirable profession and 28% are not sure.

Here's Biden's job approval for the last week:


• Strongly Approve: 32% (-3)
  
• Strongly Disapprove: 40% (+2)
• Total Approve: 50% (-1)
• Total Disapprove: 49% (+3)

Over the past month:


• Strongly Approve: 34%
• Strongly Disapprove: 39%
• Total Approve: 50%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 34% (-1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 39% (+1)
• Total Approve: 50%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

And for fun, I've decided to add comparisons for the same time periods for Trump and Obama.

For Trump, this week:


• Strongly Approve: 37%
• Strongly Disapprove: 39% (+1)
• Total Approve: 51% (-2)
• Total Disapprove: 48% (+1)

The past month:


• Strongly Approve: 38%
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 53%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 38% (-1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 38% (+1)
• Total Approve: 54%
• Total Disapprove: 46%

And for Obama this week:


• Strongly Approve: 39% (+1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 26% (+1)
• Total Approve: 59% (-1)
• Total Disapprove: 40% (+2)

Over the past month:


• Strongly Approve: 40%
• Strongly Disapprove: 24%
• Total Approve: 60%
• Total Disapprove: 38%

And since his election:


• Strongly Approve: 40%
• Strongly Disapprove: 22%
• Total Approve: 61%
• Total Disapprove: 37% (+1)

[late]

@late, funny you should mention Quinnipiac, they missed the Biden/Trump spread by 6.5, almost twice as much as Rasmussen in the opposite direction. I'm not sure that's the poll I would consider as an example of neutrality.

I was talking about accuracy, not neutrality.

I'd love to see better polls, but the money just isn't there most of the time.

You're still using Rasmussen, which I don't waste my time with...

[Doug64]

@late, so how does missing the spread by twice as much equal more accurate? FiveThirtyEight gives Rasmussen a passing grade, I’d think that would be good enough to at least pay attention to.

[late]

@late, so how does missing the spread by twice as much equal more accurate?

FiveThirtyEight gives Rasmussen a passing grade, I’d think that would be good enough to at least pay attention to.

Clearly it does not.

It leans to the Right, and I do not. The RCP average is ok, but it would be nice to have better quality work.

[Doug64]

@late, so you prefer polls that are less accurate but more Left-leaning, got it.

Here's this weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey for the week ending February 25, 2021. This week’s finding is up four points from a week ago. Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters believe the nation is headed down the wrong track, down three points from a week ago. A year ago at this time, 45% said the United States was heading in the right direction, while 50% said it was on the wrong track.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of American Adults favor making Washington, D.C., a state. Fifty-five percent (55%) are against D.C. statehood and 16% say they’re not sure. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Americans favor statehood for Puerto Rico, with 46% opposed. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure about Puerto Rican statehood. Opposition to D.C. statehood has increased since last October, when 34% said they supported statehood for the District of Columbia, designated by the U.S. Constitution as a federal district, and 50% were against it.

President Biden earned a monthly job approval of 50% in February, his first full month in office. Forty-seven percent (47%) disapproved of his job performance last month. Donald Trump’s monthly approval ran from a high of 51% in February 2017, his first full month in the White House, to a low of 42% in August 2017. This past December, his final month in office, Trump earned a monthly job approval of 47%. Forty-three percent (51%) disapproved.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of American Adults favor allowing transgender students to participate on the sports teams of the gender they identify with. Fifty-four percent (54%) oppose transgender participation on sports teams of the opposite sex. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. The overall findings haven’t changed much since November 2019. Fifty-three percent (53%) believe that the addition of biological males to girls’ and women’s sports is likely to change those sports for the worse. Only 13% think it is likely to change them for the better, while 20% say it will have no impact. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Democratic president sets the agenda in Washington, D.C., these days. Twenty-three percent (23%) say the national media is calling the shots. The Democrat-led Congress is a distant third, with 15% who think Congress is in charge. Only 9% feel the Republican opposition is setting the agenda. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Democrats say President Biden is setting the agenda in Washington these days, but that view is shared by only 24% of Republicans and 28% of voters unaffiliated with either major party. And only 37% of all Likely Voters say it’s likely Biden will be reelected in 2024. Thirty percent (30%) say it is more likely Biden will resign before completing his first term, 23% of voters believe it is more likely Biden will lose to a Republican in 2024, and 10% are not sure.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Likely Republican Voters say Republicans in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation over the past several years. Forty-one percent (41%) of Republicans think their representatives have done a good job representing the party’s values. These numbers are an improvement over previous surveys dating back to 2008, most of which found more than 60% of GOP voters were dissatisfied with their party. For example, in March 2016, 76% of Republicans rated GOP members of Congress as out of touch. That number fell to 62% in an April 2018 survey. Democrats are far more satisfied with their representation in Congress. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Democratic voters say Democrats in Congress have done a good job of representing Democratic values, while 32% say their party’s Congress members have lost touch with Democratic voters from throughout the nation.

Forty percent (40%) of American Adults say they have already filed their income taxes. Another 43% intend to file by the April 15 deadline, while 6% are planning on getting an extension. Thirteen percent (11%) say they are not sure. The number of Americans who say they’ve already filed this early is down from 46% this time last year. That was the highest in the history of our annual survey. This year, 40% of Americans anticipate getting a refund. Twenty percent (20%) say they will owe the government money, while 24% expect to pretty much break even. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. These findings are nearly identical to last year’s numbers, and consistent with surveying for the past several years.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of American Adults say it should be legal for employers to require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Forty-eight percent (48%) say it shouldn’t be legal for employers to make vaccination mandatory for workers. Seventeen percent (17%) say they’re not sure. Forty-six percent (46%) of those surveyed say they or an immediate family member have already gotten vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s up from 27% a month ago. Evidently, the COVID-19 vaccination program has been successful at reaching the elderly, who are most vulnerable to the virus. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Americans 65 and older say they or an immediate family member have already gotten the vaccine, compared to 43% of those ages 40-64 and 38% of those ages 18-39.

Here's Biden's job approval for the last week:


• Strongly Approve: 33% (+1)
  
• Strongly Disapprove: 40%
• Total Approve: 49% (-1)
• Total Disapprove: 48% (-1)

Over the past month:


• Strongly Approve: 34%
• Strongly Disapprove: 39%
• Total Approve: 50%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 34%
• Strongly Disapprove: 39%
• Total Approve: 50%
• Total Disapprove: 47%

For Trump, this week:


• Strongly Approve: 35% (-2)
• Strongly Disapprove: 39%
• Total Approve: 51%
• Total Disapprove: 49% (+1)

The past month:


• Strongly Approve: 37% (-1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 39% (+1)
• Total Approve: 52% (-1)
• Total Disapprove: 48% (+1)

And since he took office:


• Strongly Approve: 38%
• Strongly Disapprove: 38%
• Total Approve: 53% (-1)
• Total Disapprove: 47% (+1)

And for Obama this week:


• Strongly Approve: 40% (+1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 28% (+2)
• Total Approve: 59%
• Total Disapprove: 40%

Over the past month:


• Strongly Approve: 39% (-1)
• Strongly Disapprove: 26% (+2)
• Total Approve: 60%
• Total Disapprove: 39% (-1)

And since his election:


• Strongly Approve: 40%
• Strongly Disapprove: 23% (+1)
• Total Approve: 61%
• Total Disapprove: 37%

[late]

[usermention=41202]

@late[/usermention], so you prefer polls that are less accurate but more Left-leaning, got it.

You definitely do not.

I use the RCP average of 5 polls, and it includes Rasmussen. I've said that before, I even said why. So this time I will say because it should be more accurate. Not always, but usually.

According to that RCP average, Biden's job approval is still going up.