I really shouldn't be surprised by poll results anymore, but sadly, I still am at times. The most recent such case is a new Quinnipiac poll, where participants were asked, "Do you think going to war in Iraq in 2003 was the right thing for the United States or the wrong thing?"
Here are the results to that very question:
Overall: 32% right thing/59% wrong thing (net -27%)
Democrats: 16% right thing/78% wrong thing (net -62%)
Independents: 26% right thing/65% wrong thing (net -39%)
Men: 32% right thing/61% wrong thing (net -29%)
Women: 32% right thing/58% wrong thing (net -26%)
Where is the surprise in these numbers? Oh, nothing. What came as surprising are these numbers:
Republicans: 62% right thing/28% wrong thing (+34%)
That's right; while roughly one-third of the public still believes the Iraq War was the right move, in contrast with three-fifths that don't, over three-fifths of Republicans believe the 2003 invasion of Iraq was the right move and just a little over one-fourth don't.
Reports, old and new, have shown that the Bush administration knew darn well they were lying to the public about the reason for invading Iraq (a new chemical weapons program). This resulted in a $2 trillion tab, the death of 4,500 soldiers, countless more enemies in the region (as well as "collateral damage"), and extreme distrust in this country from all parts of the world. When looking at all of that, how can anyone in their right mind think, "You know what? That was a good move!"? At least a majority of Independents and Democrats, whom initially supported the war, can admit they were wrong. That doesn't seem to be the case with Republicans. No matter how much money is spent and no matter how many lives are lost, they appear to be in a hypnotic trance, mumbling, "Numbers don't mean nothin'; it was the right move!"
Riiight... Well, given these results, expect at least 62% of Republicans to say the following things in years to come:
- "It's always a wise move when Dick Cheney drinks booze before bird-hunting with friends!"
- "Without question, the making of Teen Wolf II was the right decision!"
- "Trying to deny women abortion rights, contraception coverage, and comprehensive sex education? That's about as sensible as it gets right there!"
- "You know that big play in the Super Bowl where Pete Carroll decided to throw the ball from the two-yard line instead of run it with Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson got intercepted? That was a heck of a call!"
- "Absolutely, it made sense for President Bush to have a 'mission accomplished' banner behind him 8 years before the war actually ended!"
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2228
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/14/us-iraq-war-anniversary-idUSBRE92D0PG20130314
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/4486-american-soldiers-ha_b_5834592.html
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/15/no_bush_was_not_right_about_iraq_how_conservatives_misread_new_times_bombshell/
Here are the results to that very question:
Overall: 32% right thing/59% wrong thing (net -27%)
Democrats: 16% right thing/78% wrong thing (net -62%)
Independents: 26% right thing/65% wrong thing (net -39%)
Men: 32% right thing/61% wrong thing (net -29%)
Women: 32% right thing/58% wrong thing (net -26%)
Where is the surprise in these numbers? Oh, nothing. What came as surprising are these numbers:
Republicans: 62% right thing/28% wrong thing (+34%)
That's right; while roughly one-third of the public still believes the Iraq War was the right move, in contrast with three-fifths that don't, over three-fifths of Republicans believe the 2003 invasion of Iraq was the right move and just a little over one-fourth don't.
Reports, old and new, have shown that the Bush administration knew darn well they were lying to the public about the reason for invading Iraq (a new chemical weapons program). This resulted in a $2 trillion tab, the death of 4,500 soldiers, countless more enemies in the region (as well as "collateral damage"), and extreme distrust in this country from all parts of the world. When looking at all of that, how can anyone in their right mind think, "You know what? That was a good move!"? At least a majority of Independents and Democrats, whom initially supported the war, can admit they were wrong. That doesn't seem to be the case with Republicans. No matter how much money is spent and no matter how many lives are lost, they appear to be in a hypnotic trance, mumbling, "Numbers don't mean nothin'; it was the right move!"
Riiight... Well, given these results, expect at least 62% of Republicans to say the following things in years to come:
- "It's always a wise move when Dick Cheney drinks booze before bird-hunting with friends!"
- "Without question, the making of Teen Wolf II was the right decision!"
- "Trying to deny women abortion rights, contraception coverage, and comprehensive sex education? That's about as sensible as it gets right there!"
- "You know that big play in the Super Bowl where Pete Carroll decided to throw the ball from the two-yard line instead of run it with Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson got intercepted? That was a heck of a call!"
- "Absolutely, it made sense for President Bush to have a 'mission accomplished' banner behind him 8 years before the war actually ended!"
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2228
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/14/us-iraq-war-anniversary-idUSBRE92D0PG20130314
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/4486-american-soldiers-ha_b_5834592.html
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/15/no_bush_was_not_right_about_iraq_how_conservatives_misread_new_times_bombshell/
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