Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, inaugurated for a second term on January 5th,
has widely popular policies.
Californians are strongly in favor of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, very hopeful that last year’s bipartisan cooperation in state government will continue, greatly favor universal health care for children, and deadset against the war in Iraq, according to the new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll. Only 29% of Californians approve of President George W. Bush’s performance.
While Californians think their state is on the right track now, they don’t think America is. And this despite the Democratic takeover of Congress, which Californians support. Half have a favorable view of new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was not very well known before. By a 53% to 30% margin, respondents in the poll believe that Congress should set the direction of national policy, not the president. But that’s not the way the system works, so 60% see America heading in the wrong direction as they doubt that the bipartisan cooperation they expect in Sacramento will work in Washington.
The dismay about America’s direction is driven by Californians’ views of President Bush. While clear majorities disapprove of his budget, tax, health care, and environmental policies, the greatest disdain is reserved for his handling of the Iraq War.
75% disapprove of Bush’s Iraq policies, including a near majority of Republicans and overwhelming numbers of independents. 91% of Democrats disapprove, 78% of independents disapprove, and 45% of Republicans disapprove of Bush on Iraq.
70% of Californians oppose the Bush “surge” strategy for Iraq, with 26% in support. Few expect a successful outcome in Iraq, with only 31% expecting a stable democratic government there, so perhaps it is not surprising that 69% now say it was a mistake for the US to invade Iraq. That’s up from 62% a year ago.
Meanwhile, in sharp contrast to their negative assessment of the national scene, Californians are upbeat about the California scene. 55% think California is headed in the right direction. 58% approve of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance, making him twice as popular as the president. That’s an 18-point increase for the former action superstar from a year ago, 11 points from the fall.
Even the Legislature is up to a fairly respectable institutional level, with 40% approval as an institution, much higher than in the past. That’s because 62% expect last year’s cooperation between the governor and the Legislature to continue.
Schwarzenegger’s policies are generally very popular. 76% approve of his latest anti-greenhouse effect effort, a new low carbon standard for motor fuels. 63% support his call for another $43 billion in infrastructure spending. 71% say they support his comprehensive health care plan — which includes employer mandates to offer health insurance or pay into a state insurance pool — including 68% of independents and a noteworthy 55% of Republicans. There’s even greater support for universal health care for children Support drops when illegal immigrants are factored in, however.
63% of Republicans approve of Schwarzenegger’s environmental policies, a sharp contrast with the criticism they receive from conservative Republican activists, bloggers, pundits, and gerrymandered legislators.
One part of Schwarzenegger’s agenda that is not favored is more spending on prisons. Most Californians are against it, despite the systems’s well-publicized crisis, preferring that money go to other concerns such as education or reducing debt.
The PPIC poll of some 2000, conducted by PPIC chief Mark Baldassare, was taken between January 11th and January 18th.
Read 
| Comments (0) |
Bush and Iraq are as popular there as Nixon and Vietnam were.
Bush and Iraq are anchors to everything they touch. Look out McCain and Giuliani.
This is really amazing stuff.
Actually, there is a good base among Republicans for the Iraq surge, so McCain is still in pretty good shape there, at least for the primary.
Republican voters unlike Republican hacks support Schwarzeneger’s “post-partisan” agenda.
That’s because Republican “hacks” are actually paying attention.
It’s because you are ideological extremists who con yourselves into thinking you should’t do what your own voters want.
I’m going through a raft of polling data on Republicans and the environment. It’s quite fascinating. There is very strong support on the particulars for Schwarzenegger’s positions.
63% support his call for another $43 billion in infrastructure spending? Amazing!
Meanwhile I heard a minute or so of Duncan Hunter’s ranting this morning on the radio about how the troops support the war in Iraq as shown by re-enlistment rates, etc. Finally had to switch off the spin and nonsense. Why is this guy running for President? It is as quixotic as when Bob Dornan ran. These right wingers seem to have a destiny fixation or some such.
I trust that our friends on the far right are learning about the real world.
I think Californians understand the need for infrastructure investment. I remember cursing Schwarzenegger after a state Republican convention in 2005 as my car ran over huge ruts in the road. “Do something about the f-cking roads, Arnold!”
Who is Duncan Hunter?
Duncan Hunter is a Republican Congressman who represents South San Diego County.
He is also running a quixotic race for president of the United States.
Our conservative buddies won’t get it.
In the end, they will.
They can’t, ideologues have no flexibility.
Everybody has flexibility. They may not know it, but they do.
The question is whether they’ll “get it” before they’ve screwed up the country, and the world, beyond repair.