Only 22% in U.S. Say Bush Relies on Facts

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
January 31, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States question their president’s motivation in specific policies, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 67 per cent of respondents think George W. Bush is influenced more by his personal beliefs than by facts in Iraq and other major areas.

Bush—a Republican—earned a second four-year term in the November 2004 presidential election. During his tenure, the U.S. launched the war on terrorism in Afghanistan—as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks—and the coalition effort to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq.

The war in Iraq was launched in March 2003. At least 3,081 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 23,100 troops have been wounded in action. 64 per cent of respondents think the U.S. Congress has not been assertive enough in challenging the Bush administration’s conduct of the Iraq war.

On Jan. 10, Bush introduced his new course of action for the coalition effort, which includes an increase in U.S. troop levels. Yesterday, Republican Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter said Bush cannot ignore the upper house’s opposition to his latest proposal, declaring, "I would respectfully suggest to the president that he is not the sole decider. The decider is a joint and shared responsibility."

Polling Data

Do you think U.S. president George W. Bush’s decisions about policy in Iraq and other major areas are influenced more by the facts or more by his personal beliefs, regardless of the facts?

Influenced more by the facts
22%

Influenced more by personal beliefs
67%

Don’t know
11%



Since the Iraq war began, do you think Congress has been assertive enough in challenging the Bush administration’s conduct of the war, or has not been assertive enough?

Assertive enough
27%

Not assertive enough
64%

Don’t know / Refused
9%



Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Newsweek
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,003 American adults, conducted on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.