The Military Times Poll

by DemFromCT

Given previous discussion here, I couldn't let this item pass. From Hotline On Call:

Dissention In The Ranks?

A major segment of Pres. Bush's base could be erroding, thanks to the war in Iraq, according to a new and surprising poll. The annual survey by the Military Times shows a dramatic drop in support for the war among, of all people, active-duty service members.

Conducted by mail beginning the week after the midterms, the poll shows just 35% of service members approve of Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq, down from 63% in the '04 poll and 54% last year. 42% currently disapprove, marking '06 as the first time more troops have disapproved than approved. Bush's general job approval is slightly higher, at 52% approve to 31% disapprove. That's still 19 points lower than the '04 survey, which had Bush with 71% approval.

Success, say service members, is still likely -- though just 50% say so. 41% say the US is not very or not at all likely to succeed. Only 41% say the US should have gone to war at all, while 37% say the US shouldn't have.

The poll generated a lot of buzz in the lefty blogosphere. DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas highlights the pollsters description of the sample: "the survey's respondents are on average older, more experienced, more likely to be officers and more career-oriented than the overall military population." Kos comments: "In other words, we're talking about the most conservative segment of the military. These are lifers. (The enlisted ranks are far more liberal, drawn mostly from poor African American, Latino, and Anglo demographics, though also young thus politically disengaged.)"

Whether that's so, or not, there's more to supporting the troops than sticking another ribbon on the SUV.

Comments

[Mimikatz]

Just the sort of folks you'd need to circle and disarm Bush (with the advice and consent of Congress, of course).

[oldtree]

and does this also correspond to his trying to have all the military sent out of our country to other ones?
what does that suggest? answer, many things.

[Jodi]

My father who is very high ranking has gone from saying nothing to saying that bad decisions have been made but never names anyone.
He was to have retired but has stayed in to help with the wounded. Mom says he sometimes cries over the phone when he speaks of the broken bodies and lives.

My older brother in his 3rd plus tour is as stoic as any Spartan. He tries to never let mom or grandmom or me, or my little sister see him not smiling, but I see him when he doesn't know I am watching.

:(

[DemFromCT]

My marine friend will be back in April, I hope. no guarantees.

[creeper]

I can't believe I'm posting THIS on a political blog. I can't help it. It needs to be done.

{{{Jodi}}}