Collected before this story broke about Harry Reid and timelines, this Pew poll reflects data taken Sept 12-16:
Dem Leaders Not Going Far Enough
By nearly two-to-one, more say Democratic leaders in Congress are not going far enough, rather than too far, in challenging Bush's policies in Iraq (42% vs. 22%). A quarter of Americans believe that Democratic leaders are handling this about right.
Opinions about the Democrats' approach on Iraq have been largely stable since March. However, somewhat fewer Republicans say Democratic leaders are going too far than did so in July (50% today vs. 63% then). The current balance of opinion among Republicans is closer to where it stood in June and March.
Meanwhile, a 61% majority of Democrats think Congress is not doing enough, up from 54% in July. And by a wide margin, independents also would like to see Congress do more to challenge Bush on Iraq. Currently, 48% of independents say Congress is not going far enough in challenging Bush's Iraq policies, up from 43% in July.
The Pew subheading was Increases in Optimism Mostly Limited to Republicans and reflects observations made here before:
- people have made up their minds
- gains in polling from Bush/Petraeus are R’s only (also true for Bush approval, still 29% in CBS poll)
- majority view is Dems do not go far enough (Harry Reid's move is what the public wants, including independents)
- more want gradual than immediate withdrawal, but majority wants withdrawal
Along with the CBS poll and the USA Today/Gallup poll, minds (outside DC) have not been swayed by the Bush speech and Petraeus testimony. That's not surprising, because no one likes Bush and no one trusts him, except Republicans – and they are a distinct minority (and they're not so keen on him, either).
Compared with public attention to Gen. Petraeus' testimony before Congress, far fewer Americans took note of President Bush's Sept. 13 address to the nation on Iraq. Among those interviewed Sept. 14-16, 55% say they had read or heard nothing at all about the speech; just 16% heard a lot, while 28% had heard a little. About half of Republicans (54%) say they heard a lot or a little about Bush's speech, compared with 44% of independents and 39% of Democrats.
So, do you think the media and the pundits will now reflect the reality of the situation? Do they have enough polling data? Don't hold your breath. Regurgitating conventional wisdom is much easier to do than doing your homework.