NBC/WSJ poll: U.S. pessimism on increase

[Judi Lynn]

NBC/WSJ poll: U.S. pessimism on increase
Doubts about children’s future and concerns about wars weigh heavily

By Mark Murray
Political reporter
NBC News
Updated: 10 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - With the congressional midterm elections less than four months away, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that candidates will be facing a public that has grown increasingly pessimistic, as nearly two-thirds don't believe life for their children's generation will be better than it has been for them, and nearly 60 percent are doubtful the Iraq war will come to a successful conclusion.

In addition, only 27 percent think the country is headed in the right direction, while just 34 percent approve of the president's handling of Iraq. Fifty-eight percent say they are less confident the Iraq war will come to a successful conclusion.

And there's more pessimism: Among those who believe that the nation is headed on the wrong track, a whopping 81 percent say it's part of a longer-term decline and that things won't get better for a while. Just 12 percent think the problems are short-term blips.

And 65 percent say they feel less confident that life for their children's generation will be better than it was for them. In December 2001, the last time this question was asked, respondents — by a 49-42 percent margin — said they were confident life would be better for their children.
(snip/...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14044391/

[rzemanfl]

1. Can't figure that if I were any more pessimistic I'd shoot myself.

Who still has any pessimism left on their dread-o-meter?

[shadowknows69]

22. My needle zoomed past pessimistic

a while ago. It's still buried in the red under "Overwhelming feeling of doom"

[Redstone]

2. Again: They needed a POLL to figure that out?

Redstone

[MADem]

5. I agree....all ya gotta do is open the paper, watch the news

look at how people are struggling to get by.

Talk about a "No shit, Sherlock!" expose on their part!

[bronxiteforever]

3. Well you fools -you didn't care about your children when you voted Bush

we can only hope you come to your senses before it is too late for them and TIME is against us and them thanks to the GOP disasters

[krkaufman]

23. Don't forget that it is the "other" who is dragging the country down.

Congress is inept and corrupt, but *my* Senator and *my* Representative are doing a fine job. etc.

[katty]

4. This has been happening for YEARS

[Lindacooks]

12. Yeah, about six.

[valerief]

6. I remember decades ago when I was child and the grownups

told us how bad the communists were and why they were bad. I felt sorry for those poor Russians who had to live under communist rule. Today we've become those poor Russians. I wonder when we'll be waiting in line for 4 hours for a roll of toilet paper. I imagine the day is nigh.

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Brian Williams was very bummed out about it tonight

when he talked about it with Tim Russert. I believe he called things "bleak for us" and what can be done to turn things around. You could tell which side he was on.

[llmart]

8. Well, you can thank the Repugs for that................

They spent all their energies persecuting the Clintons during the 90's and I remember saying that someday they would realize how good they had it during his tenure as President. Of course, the anti-Clintons will never admit it out loud, but you know they must be thinking to themselves, how the hell did it all go so wrong?

My pessimism began when the Bush cabal stole the first election.

[BillZBubb]

13. My pessimism began when polls in 2000 showed Bush could win

I knew if the American public was that stupid, we were in for a bad ride. The fact that after 8 years of peace and prosperity, that the outcome was even in doubt showed the public did not understand a thing.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. Mine began when polls showed Reagan could win.

I knew if the American public was that stupid, we were in for a bad ride.

[xchrom]

20. finally! somebody said REGEAN!

and -- whoops -- there it is --

[klyon]

21. mine started when he became governor of Tx

I moved

[Tellurian]

9. Pessimistic is too soft a word. Disgusting, abhorring, appalling are ap-

propriate descriptives of our government's behavior.

The following line is deceptive in itself:

And 65 percent say they feel less confident that life for their children's generation will be better than it was for them.

Sending a mixed message that presently their live are pretty good.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Change is possible once problems are brought to the public's

"conscious" level, even if it seems idiotic to report what's painfully obvious.

There's been a lot of denial going on, in addition to a lot of heavy lying, and some clear propaganda getting passed off as authentic information. Running articles like this can help.

[Straight Shooter]

11. Pessimism? This isn't "pessimism." It's despair. n/t

[Sherman A1]

14. Yup

you got it.

It's always darkest, right before it goes pitch black.

[intheflow]

18. I was thinking it was "reality," not pessmism.

But despair is a good assessment, too.

[Guaranteed]

19. Looks like we need a bigger, better scapegoat! nt

[donkeyotay]

25. They need to expand their polling to include the people past pessimism

It's like the weather channel's UV index that seems to premanently read "very high." It's not much use.

I'd be delighted to only feel pessimestic. Our country has been destroyed. Even under the best scenario, we will be paying for George Walker Bush, the Popular Wartime President, for years to come.

[goforit]

16. Time to throw the tea overboard!!! Kick the assholes outa D.C.

[Erika]

17. When W said Christ was his greatest philosopher, I knew we

were doomed. He said that in the debates.

The religious people I've known who brag about their religion and pimp it, have turned out to be the least Jesus Christ, Christian.

Take Hitler for one. He pimped Christ good. W appealed to the same mindset. Voila, today's America.

[City Lights]

24. This pessimism is making me optimistic.

Maybe, just maybe, the pukes won't be able to steal their way into hanging on to the House and/or Senate. They can't steal a race unless it's close. Let's hope the close races are kept to a minimum. I will shout from the rooftop if we win either chamber of Congress.

[CANDO]

26. My pessimism is bipartisan.

How long ago was it that my beloved Democratic Party sold out the American dream to global corporate interests? We here at DU understand that we are not only fighting the GOP, but also for the heart and soul of the party that used to be for the people. If we can dump some of these corporate shills such as Lieberman, then maybe I'll start to feel better.