Newspaper Page Text
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
Georgians sound off
on voting, politics
Special to the HHJ
ATLANTA - Strategic
Vision, LLC, a public rela
tions and public affairs
agency, announced the
results of a three-day poll
of 800 likely Georgia voters
this week. The poll has a
margin of error of ±3 per
centage points. In the poll,
350 (44 percent) Democratic
voters were surveyed; with
330 (41 percent) Republican
voters surveyed; and 120
(15 percent) Independents
and other party affiliation
polled.
The poll found that 57 per
cent of respondents approved
of Governor Sonny Perdue’s
job performance, with 31
percent disapproving, and 12
percent undecided. Senator
Saxby Chambliss received
a 50 percent approval rat
ing with 39 percent disap
proving, and 11 percent
undecided. Senator Johnny
Isakson received a 53 per
cent approval rating, with
32 percent disapproving, and
15 percent undecided.
“Georgians seem pleased
with their elected officials,”
said David E. Johnson, CEO
and Co-founder of Strategic
Vision, LLC. “This is a trend
that seems to dominate in
the South compared in the
Northeast and Midwest,
where we have been polling
and there is a great deal of
dissatisfaction toward both
state and federal officials.”
President Bush’s overall
approval was 45 percent
approving, 46 percent disap
proving, and 9 percent unde
cided.
When asked if they
approved of the President’s
handling of the economy, 43
percent approved; 50 per
cent disapproved; and 7 per
cent were undecided. When
asked if they approved of
the President’s handling
of the Iraq War, 47 percent
approved; 47 percent disap
proved; and 6 percent were
undecided. When asked
if they approved of the
President’s handling of the
war on terrorism, 49 per
cent said approved; 42 per
cent disapproved; and 9 per
cent were undecided. When
asked if they approved of the
President’s handling of the
immigration issue, 40 per
cent approved; 51 percent
disapproved; and 9 percent
were undecided.
“The President’s poll num
bers continue to be far below
what one would expect in
a state like Georgia,” said
David E. Johnson, CEO and
Co-Founder of Strategic
Vision, LLC. “The reasons
for this can be attributed to
the continuing immigration
debate and a continued loss
of support among described
conservative Republicans.”
When Republicans
were asked if they viewed
President Bush as a conser
vative in the mode of Ronald
Reagan, 31 percent said yes;
54 percent said no; and 15
percent were undecided.
“The President was viewed
as the ideological heir of
Ronald Reagan by conser
vative Republicans,” said
Johnson.
“This view sustained him
during his first term. He
lost that mantle among
Republicans with the spend
ing after Hurricane Katrina
and the Miers nomination
last summer and has never
regained that support and
trust. This, more than any
thing else, attributes to his
low poll standings.”
When asked if they thought
Georgia was headed in the
right direction or wrong
direction, 51 percent said
right direction; 41 percent
said wrong direction; and 8
percent were undecided.
“This is a number to
watch for incumbents and
the number saying the state
is headed in the wrong direc
tion can be attributed to
concerns about the econo
my, particularly rising gas
prices,” said Johnson. “Still,
those feeling the state is
headed in the right direction
is far higher than in states
such as Michigan, Wisconsin
and New Jersey where we
have polled.”
When asked if they would
like to see the Supreme
Court overturn Roe v. Wade,
55 percent said yes; 35 per
cent said no; and 10 percent
were undecided.
When asked if they expect
ed another terrorist attack
in the United States in the
next six months, 74 percent
said yes; 14 percent said no;
and 12 percent were unde
cided.
When asked if they favored
an immediate withdrawal of
United States military forces
from Iraq within 6 months,
36 percent said yes; 54 per
cent said no; and 10 percent
were undecided.
When asked if they favored
granting amnesty to illegal
immigrants currently in the
United States, 7 percent said
yes; 76 percent said no; and
17 percent were undecided.
When respondents were
asked if they favored build
ing a wall along the southern
border of the United States
to stop illegal immigration,
86 percent said yes; 6 per
cent said no; and 8 percent
were undecided.
“In Georgia, as in any
every state that we have
polled, there is strong feel
ings on the issue of immigra
tion and a desire for tough
enforcement that crosses
Party lines and income,”
said Johnson.
On the issue of banning
same sex marriages in
Georgia, 64 percent of the
respondents favored a ban
on same-sex marriage; 29
percent opposed a ban; and 7
percent were undecided.
Lieutenant Governor
Mark Taylor received a 54
percent job approval rating;
with 34 percent disapproval;
and 12 percent undecided.
Secretary of State Cathy
Cox received a 52 percent
approval rating; 38 percent
disapproval; and 10 percent
undecided.
When Democrats were
asked their choice for
Governor in 2006, Taylor led
Cox in the poll with 46 per
cent to 42 percent for Cox
with 12 percent undecided.
“This is the first time
in our polling that Taylor
has led Cox and this can be
attributed to his advertising
and strong support among
African-American voters,”
said Johnson. “Additionally,
the damage being done
to Cox can be seen in the
decline in her job approval
numbers.”
In potential match-ups
between Governor Perdue
and Lt. Governor Taylor, the
results were Perdue 50 per
cent; Taylor 44 percent; and
6 percent undecided. Against
Cathy Cox, the results were
Perdue 53 percent; Cox 40
percent, and 7 percent unde
cided.
“This poll shows that
Taylor now runs stronger
than Cox against Governor
Perdue which can be expect
ed with the advertising
under way,” said Johnson.
“However, Governor Perdue
is in strong shape as he seeks
re-election, especially when
compared to Governors like
Jim Doyle in Wisconsin
and Jennifer Ganholm in
Michigan.”
On the Democratic race
for Lieutenant Governor, the
poll found Jim Martin with
29 percent; Greg Hecht with
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STATE AND OPINION
24 percent; Steen Miles with
20 percent; Griffin Lotson
with 4 percent; Rufus Terrill
with 2 percent; and 21 per
cent undecided.
In the Republican contest
for Lieutenant Governor, the
poll found that Ralph Reed
led State Senator Casey
Cagle in a match-up 44 per
cent to 41 percent with 15
percent undecided. Ralph
Reed is viewed favorably by
38 percent of Republicans
with 47 percent viewing him
unfavorably and 15 percent
undecided. State Senator
Casey Cagle was viewed
favorably by 43 percent
with 20 percent viewing him
unfavorably and 37 percent
undecided.
“This race will be watched
throughout the nation,”
said Johnson. “While both
candidates increased their
support, Cagle showed the
strongest increase and has
now basically drawn into
a tie with Reed. Reed still
retains a strong base of sup
port around 40 percent to 45
percent that appears willing
to stand with him no matter
what and that could be deci
sive in a race where turnout
will be key.”
When Republicans were
polled on whom they would
support in 2008 for the
Republican
Presidential nomination,
former New York Mayor
Rudy Giuliani received
27 percent; Senator John
McCain received 22. per
cent; Former House Speaker
Newt Gingrich 15 percent;
Virginia Senator George
Allen received 8 percent;
Massachusetts Governor
Mitt Romney received 4 per
cent; Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist received 4 percent;
Pennsylvania Senator Rick
Santorum received 1 per
cent; New York Governor
George Pataki received 1
percent; Nebraska Senator
Chuck Hagel receiyed 1 per
cent; and 17 percent were
undecided.
“At this point, the
Republican race is more
one of name identification
which explains the numbers
for Giuliani, McCain, and
Gingrich,” said Johnson.
When Republicans were
asked if they would like
to see Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice run in 2006,
44 percent said yes; 35 per
cent said no; and 21 percent
were undecided.
When Secretary Rice was
included the poll, the results
were, Giuliani with 23 per
cent; McCain 16 percent;
Gingrich 14 percent; Rice
12 percent; Allen 4 percent;
Romney 4 percent; Frist 3
percent; Santorum 1 per
cent; Pataki 1 percent; Hagel
1 percent; and 21 percent
undecided.
On the Democratic side,
New York Senator Hillary
Clinton led with 32 percent;
former Vice President A 1
Gore received 18 percent; for
mer North Carolina Senator
John Edwards received 14
percent; Virginia Governor
Mark Warner received 5
percent; former General
Wesley Clark received 5 per
cent; Massachusetts Senator
John Kerry received 5 per
cent; Wisconsin Senator
Russ Feingold received 4
See POLL, page 6 A
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The terrorist-tipping times
The New York Times
(proudly publishing
all the secrets unfit
to spill since 9/11) and their
reckless anonymous sourc
es (come out, come out, you
cowards) tipped off terror
ists to America’s efforts to
track their financial activi
ties.
Guess what? It isn’t the
first time blabbermouth
journalists have jeopardized
terror-financing investiga
tions since Sept. 11, accord
ing to the government.
I remind you of the case of
the Treason Times, the Holy
Land Foundation, and the
Global Relief Foundation.
As the New York Post
reported last September, the
Justice Department charged
that “a veteran New York
Times foreign correspon
dent warned an alleged ter
ror-funding Islamic charity
that the FBI was about to
raid its office - potential
ly endangering the lives
of federal agents.” Times
reporter Philip Shenon
was accused of blowing the
cover on a Dec. 14, 2001,
raid of the Global Relief
Foundation.
“It has been conclusive
ly established that Global
Relief Foundation learned
of the search from reporter
Philip Shenon of The New
York Times,” U.S. attorney
Patrick Fitzgerald wrote
in an Aug. 7, 2002, letter
to the Times’ legal depart
ment. Shenon’s phone
tip to the Muslim charity
(which occurred one day
before the FBI searched
the foundation’s offices),
Fitzgerald said, “seriously
compromised the integrity
of the investigation and
potentially endangered
the safety of federal law
enforcement personnel.”
The Global Relief
Foundation (GRF) wasn’t
some beneficent neighbor
hood charity sending shoes
and Muslim Barbie dolls to
poor kids overseas.
It was designated a ter
ror-financing organiza
tion in October 2002 by
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ComSOT*
Michelle Malkin
Columnist
malkin@comcast.net
the Treasury Department,
which reported that GRF
“has connections to, has
provided support for, and
has provided assistance to
Usama Bin Ladin, the al
Qaida Network, and other
known terrorist groups.”
The Muslim charity had
“received funding from
individuals associated with
al Qaida. GRF officials
have had extensive con
tacts with a close associ
ate of Usama Bin Ladin,
who has been convicted in
a U.S. court for his role in
the 1998 bombings of the
U.S. embassies in Kenya
and Tanzania.” Moreover,
the Treasury Department
said, “GRF members have
dealt with officials of the
Taliban, while the Taliban
was subject to international
sanctions.” Shenon’s then
colleague, Judith Miller,
had placed a similar call
to another Muslim terror
ist-front financier, the Holy
Land Foundation, a few
weeks before Shenon’s call
to the GRF. She was suppos
edly asking for “comment”
on an impending freeze of
their assets. According to
Fitzgerald in court papers,
Miller allegedly also warned
them that “government
action was imminent.” The
FBI raided the Holy Land
Foundation’s offices the
day after Miller’s article
was published in the Times.
The Times’ reporters - sur
prise, surprise - refuse to
cooperate with investiga
tors trying to identify the
leakers. The government is
appealing a ruling protect
ing the loose-lipped report
1357-D Sam Nunn Blvd.
Perry, GA 31069
476-987-01 72
questions@comsouth.net
www.comsoutti.net
SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2006 ♦
' -
mi
HME- -
ers’ phone records. Which
side are they on? Actions
speak louder than words.
Oh, and while they con
tinue to sabotage terror
financing investigations,
the blabbermouths of the
Times should be reminded
as the conservative blog
gers Bill Keller despises so
much are doing - of their
own call in the immediate
aftermath of 9/11 for vigor
ous counterterrorism mea
sures to stop the bankroll
ing of terror: “The Bush
administration is prepar
ing new laws to help track
terrorists through their
money-laundering activity
and is readying an executive
order freezing the assets
of known terrorists. Much
more is needed, including
stricter regulations, the
recruitment of specialized
investigators and greater
cooperation with foreign
banking authorities. There
must also be closer coor
dination among America’s
law enforcement, national
security and financial regu
latory agencies.”
“Much more is need
ed?” Right. And when the
Bush administration came
through, the Times stabbed
them, and us, in the backs.
The lesson is clear. When
terror strikes, don’t believe
a word the know-it-all
Times prints. They are
opportunistic, hindsighted
hypocrites who endanger us
all.
Michelle Malkin is author
of the new book “Unhinged:
Exposing Liberals Gone
Wild.” Her e-mail address
is malkin@comcast.net.
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