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[However, Kennedy adjusted the numbers to account for undecided black voters, who overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, and said the runoff election currently stands in Blanco's favor. With that adjustment, Blanco would get 53 percent of the vote, compared to Jindal's 47 percent]
Republican Primary Trial Heat (among Republican voters): Cecil Underwood 30% Robin Capehart 8% Sarah Minear 8% Dan Moore 3% Monty Warner 3% Doug McKinney 2% Other 3% Undecided 43%
Democratic Primary Trial Heat (among Democratic voters): Joe Manchin 46% Darrell McGraw 11% John Perdue 5% Jim Humphreys 4% Lloyd Jackson 3% Jim Lees 3% Spike Maynard 2% Robin Davis 2% Other 1% Undecided 25%
"Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?"
Right Track: 38% (42%) Wrong Track: 50% (44%)
* * * * *
Ipsos-Reid 9/16 - 18
"Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?"
Right Track: 37% (39%) Wrong Track: 57% (56%)
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Fox News 9/23 - 24
Who should control congress?
Democrats 41% Republicans 36% Neither/Unsure 23%
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Democracy Corps 9/14
Who should control congress?
Democrats 47% Republicans 42% Neither 1% (unch) Not sure 11%
Friday, April 04, 2003
Equal Time
Because I, unlike most conservatives, believe that more than one view is valuable to a debate, I offer you this reader response to my prior post praising Kerry:
"Just a note in response to your article on getting to like Kerry as a presidential candidate...We demonstrated outside of his office at the end of October (trying to persuade him to vote against giving Bush the right to invade), we sent tens of thousands of emails, faxes, letter, phone calls...NOT EVEN A RESPONSE!!! Nothing!
God knows the Democrats need a good candidate for the 2004 elections, but this guy wouldn't even respond to his Massachusetts voters. I don't quite trust him. I won't forget that snub so easily."
"In a speech Wednesday in Peterborough, N.H., Kerry said President Bush so alienated allies prior to the U.S.-led war against Iraq that only a new president can rebuild damaged relationships with other countries."
`"'What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States,' said Kerry."
...and then came the predictable GOP rumblings, but what happened next was happily surprising.... Kerry stood fast. It's true, instead of cowing to the GOP Daschle-style, Kerry instructed the chicken-hawk trio of Hastert, Frist and DeLay to go blow it out their [ear]s!
"I don't need any lessons in patriotism or in caring for America,'' Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, told Democrats ..."We're fighting for the rights of Americans. ... I speak out for America, not for politics."'
Tell you what, if Kerry keeps this up, he will easily secure my support for his candidacy. (As a note, from a practical perspective, "War-Hero" Kerry has a much better chance of defeating Bush in 2004 than does Dean. Remember, the goal for 2004 is first to remove Bush from office and second, to elect the "ideal" progressive candidate. The realities of our political system require that there be a give and take. Hopefully Nader feels the same way.)
Reuters News Wire - "Iraqi information minister says 'tonight' Iraq may take non-conventional action" - Whatever that means. Of course most interpret this as meaning they will use WMD. Personally I think it is a scare tactic...all the Iraqi's have left in their arsenal. Almost guaranteed the threat will result in absolutely nothing.
UPDATE: Iraqi Information Minister clarifies his "non-conventional" comment by stating that they will conduct a "kind of martyrdom operation", not using any sort of WMD.
Also, CNN reports that white powder found in industrial complex is merely a conventional explosive, not a chemical weapon as was first speculated.
U.S.: Iran will infiltrate 5 Iraqi cities: (UPI) Iran's senior leadership decided last month to send irregular paramilitary units across their border with Iraq to harass American soldiers once Saddam Hussein's regime fell, according to U.S. intelligence reports. On March 24, a U.S. intelligence agency issued a "spot report" to a wide range of senior U.S. officials detailing conversations in a meeting of the Islamic Republic's top leadership in the equivalent of the U.S. National Security Council. The council, which is working on Iran's post-conflict strategy, includes Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. "This confirmed all of our suspicions that the Iranians are not our friends and not for peace in the region. They are in fact for a piece of the region," one U.S. intelligence official told United Press International. This official said the units would target the Iraqi cities of al-Najaf and Karbala, the two places in Iraq considered holiest by the country's Shiite Muslim majority. But also targeted would be Baghdad, where several hundred thousand Iraqi Shiites live in the suburb known as Saddam City, as well as Basra and the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk.
U.S. seizes Saddam Airport: (Washington Times) The U.S. Army seized control of Saddam International Airport in the shadow of Baghdad last night, the first military tactic in a plan to encircle the city and squeeze Saddam Hussein's regime into submission. "The coalition forces are destroying most of the equipment associated with these Republican Guard divisions," said Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff. "A lot of the people have been killed." Asked by a reporter if the Guard's disappearance might be a ploy to draw the United States into a trap, the general said, "To call it a ploy, after they've been decimated and had their effectiveness reduced ... it's hardly a ploy." Earlier yesterday, an allied special-operations team helicoptered into one of Saddam's favorite palaces on Lake Tharthar near his hometown of Tikrit. Backed by an AC-130 gunship, the commandos snuffed out light resistance and carried away some documents.
US: 'WE CONTROL AIRPORT': (Edmonton Journal) The US Army says it has control of Baghdad's international airport, with a senior officer proclaiming: "It's ours".
Coalition prepares to squeeze Saddam: (Washington Times) The allies plan an aggressive encirclement of Baghdad and will pick their spots for air strikes, special-operations raids and ground incursions until the regime crumbles, military officials say. U.S. officials say allied commander Army Gen. Tommy Franks wants to avoid all-out urban combat to take the capital. Planners do not envision a siege that chokes the city, allowing nothing to get in or out. Instead, the encirclement will involve a network of "strong points" using Marines and the Army's V Corps, which includes the 101st Airborne and 3rd Infantry divisions.
Myers: No 'siege' planned for Baghdad: (UPI) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers said Thursday U.S. troops do not intend to lay siege to Baghdad but plan only to isolate it from the rest of the country. The U.S. military expects a good portion of the 5 million residents -- the oft-persecuted Shiite population in the eastern half of the city -- could quickly switch their loyalty to U.S. forces. If not an active help, they may not oppose U.S. troops. "You could assume that they might be helpful," Myers said.
Special forces inside capital as bombs black out power supply: (UK Telegraph) Allied special forces were inside Baghdad last night, seeking out "regime leadership targets" after US troops launched an assault to capture the main airport and entered the city outskirts. Allied aircraft dropped "black-out" bombs on to the main power supply lines plunging the capital into complete darkness in order to allow the SAS and its US Delta Force counterparts to enter the city unimpeded. They were looking for the Special Republican Guard that are thought to be lying in wait should regular allied troops venture into the city.
Huge Explosions Rock Central Baghdad: (Boston Globe) Large explosions and warplanes were heard over the Iraqi capital early Friday morning, and the long-awaited "battle of Baghdad" appeared imminent. Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, a Shiite leader who had been under house arrest in Iraq, issued a fatwa urging Iraqis to remain calm and not to interfere with coalition troops. Senior Defense officials told Fox News that a number of Islamic clerics in Iraq will issue similar statements or religious edicts. "In coming days we know several clerics will issue statements of support for coalition operations," one official said. "We expect to see a lot of them."
Iraqi 'Chatter' Threatens Use of Chemicals: (LA Times) Alarmed by intercepts of Iraqi communications mentioning use of "special" weapons and other fresh intelligence, U.S. special operations teams and mobile units of scientists and weapons experts have stepped up their search for suspected Iraqi caches of chemical and biological weapons, U.S. officials said Thursday. U.S. experts believe that Iraq can no longer rely on biological weapons to stop or slow U.S. forces, because microbe-based agents such as anthrax or botulinum toxin may not take effect for days or weeks. "Any biological attack would take too long now to have a useful military effect," one official said. Instead, U.S. military officials chiefly worry that Iraqi troops may try to use such deadly nerve gases as Tabun, sarin or VX. Such agents, which Iraq is known to have produced in the past, attack the central nervous system and can cause death in hours or even minutes.
CIA Unsure if Saddam Tapes Prerecorded: (Associated Press) Some military intelligence analysts have concluded that all of Saddam Hussein's television appearances since the beginning of the war in Iraq were prerecorded, most likely before the fighting started, but the CIA says it has made no such determination. A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Thursday that an in-depth analysis of various aspects of the video images has led some analysts to believe the tapes were recorded before the war.
Has Saddam Fled Baghdad?: (Sky News) Saddam Hussein may have fled Baghdad, according to US intelligence reports. Intelligence officials said there were increasing signs he may have gone to his home town of Tikrit. Saddam has a unit of his Republican Guard there, commanded by loyal members of his immediate family.
Is Saddam in Syria? (Debka) DEBKA's Middle East sources have tracked down the top Iraqi leadership's bolt-hole. It is a large 1,600-room luxury resort with 600 meters of private sandy beach in the Mediterranean coastal town of Latakiya called Cote d'Azur De Cham Resort, prepaid and chartered in toto by Baghdad. The group may include Saddam Hussein or his sons, but this is not confirmed. The hotel is located close to the Assad family villa. Top Iraqi officials are reported hiding there since March 23, four days after the US-led coalition invaded Iraq. They are guarded by a Syrian commando unit armed with anti-air missiles while Syrian naval missile boats secure the port. The little hard information reaching DEBKA's most reliable intelligence sources is that Saddam and his sons departed Baghdad some days ago. It is safe to say that Saddam and the senior members of his family are no longer at the helm of government.
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Sun Tzu Files 
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indicate whether the poll numbers are up or down from the previous poll. Incumbents are in italics. (prior results in '()')