8
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Voters see Bush as decisive,
Running traits
Kerry as intelligent
By Will Lester
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Voters see President Bush
as decisive, likable and able to inspire optimism,
an Associated Press poll found. They view Demo
crat John Kerry as intelligent and compassionate.
On the negative side, a majority of people said Bush
is arrogant, and fewer than half said Kerry is decisive.
Presidential historian Charles Jones said he
thought the perception by two-thirds of voters that
Bush is decisive could help him in November.
“This election is a lot about Bush, whether to keep
him in office,” Jones said. “And decisiveness is one
of the key characteristics of leadership.”
Some analysts say being decisive isn’t necessar
ily a positive trait.
“Being decisive isn't good or bad, it’s part of the
job,” said Robert Shapiro, a political science professor
at Columbia University. “In this case, 67 percent is a
number larger than the number who think he’s doing a
good job on Iraq or the economy and terrorism.
“Overall, these numbers are consistent with this
being a close election,” Shapiro said.
About half or slightly less in various polls ap
prove of Bush’s performance on Iraq and the econ
omy, slightly more on terrorism.
The poll asked voters whether they would or
would not use each of seven words — likable, in
telligent, decisive, compassionate, honest, arrogant
and wealthy — to describe Bush and then Kerry.
While 60 percent said Kerry was compassion
ate, about the same number, 59 percent, said that
of Bush — a finding that was surprising to public
opinion analyst Karlyn Bowman of the American
Enterprise Institute.
“The compassion number surprised me for
Bush because we’ve heard a lot about erosion in
that area,” she said.
A majority of voters, 52 percent, said Bush is
arrogant, while 44 percent viewed Kerry that way.
Shapiro said those numbers do not present a real
problem for either candidate because “people in
leadership are often perceived as arrogant.”
On several qualities, the two were very closely
matched, such as honesty and compassion. Bush
only had a slight edge on being likable.
“They both meet some important thresholds,”
said Bowman. “You have solid majorities saying
they are intelligent, likable and compassionate.”
Public opinion about Bush is firmly formed by
now, while people are still trying to figure out what
they think of Kerry, polling suggests.
in a recent poll, 804 registered
voters were asked whether
each of the following adjectives
describe President Bush
and presidential candidate
John Kerry: Not
Yes sure No
Bush
Kerry
Decisive
Bush asks Congress
to extend tax cuts
olum
By Mary Dalrymple
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
They reduced taxes on
$7,()()() in wages, mere
child tax credit to $1,1
Who makes you feel
more optimistic about
America’s future?
Bush
50 0 /o
Not
sure
1% -
Kerry
44%
Neither
4%
Both 1 %
NOTE: Survey conducted July 5-7 and
has a margin of error of plus or minus
3.5 percentage points.
SOURCE: Ipsos-Publfc Affairs for AP AP
WASHINGTON — House
and Senate Republicans, at Presi
dent Bush's bidding, have started
working to extend tax cuts for
wage earners, married couples
and parents, a summertime re
minder to voters of tax breaks
passed on the president's watch.
Bush wants the package to be
completed next week, before the
Republican and Democratic par
ties hold their presidential nomi
nating conventions, White House
spokesman Trent Duffy said.
“The president wants to get
this done,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist. R-Tenn., said he didn't know
whether the bill can be assembled
and passed in time to meet the
president’s target, however.
At the end of the year, three
tax cuts would fully or partially
disappear unless Congress acts.
taxes for some married coj
who now pay more
mon(
Bl
Hi
would if they were not mair re I i m
House and Senate aide: a || 2C
the bill would not maketk
cuts permanent.
The bill probably also woiJ:
elude a fourth change, passed '
l louse this year and effective;
for a year, that prevents the alt
live minimum tax from cro;
closer to the middle class. 1\
a levy created to prevent wa
individuals from dodgingtas
Republicans have not yeti
ed how long to continue the
ing tax cuts. A five-year exter
could cost roughly $120bill
That price may be toe
for some Democrats.
“Our position is it s
be paid for, period,”
Senate Majority Leaderll
Daschle, D-S.D.
w
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Government considei
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The Agriculture Department
could replace its Food Guide
Pyramid as guidelines are
being reviewed. A new version
is expected in 2005.
WASHINGTON — Most
Americans are familiar with the
federal Food Guide Pyramid
— but a lot of people don’t un
derstand how to use it.
Too many are confused by the
recommendations
and can’t figure
out how to imple- Food pyramid
ment them. The
prcxif. Agriculture
Department of
ficials say, is that
two out of three
Americans are fat.
So, as of
ficials develop
new guidelines
on healthy eat
ing, they also
are looking for
new ways to
get out the mes
sage. Replac
ing the familiar
food pyramid,
first published
in 1992, may be
among them.
Agriculture
Department offi
Only after the eater checlj
pyramid’s supplemental life
does it become clear that sk
ings are sufficient forpeopt
don’t bum a lot of calo*
day, such as sedentary wor
some older adults. ElevensfB 'hnson J
are for those w ith high-rew.y lts that
tabolisms, such as teenagek niUt - Ahl
The ■ e * ner ’
ernment eil j°y s
a g nd«l>;' l : r ■'
enco.r
The fir
Fats, oils
and sweets
Meat,
poultry,
fish
Dairy
Fruit
will
people to
informatioi;
need to eai
ter and act
said Enc
ges, direc
the Agricalt
Depariiwi
Center fot
trition P
and Proirn
The
is askinp
public
on whether tt
pheethepu;
or updated ^° rCj(
Peggy
chief c
e Georg
hursday
“I’m re
coming
ke to go
je a lot
!ered abc
■Whitee
on-5 ere'
>eggy \
Grains
Vegetables
ges said. He
taking nos
on that cli I
ciais talked about SOUR C E: Department of Agriculture
the problem
of the pyramid Monday as they
trolled for ideas about how to perk
up the nation’s nutritional record.
Typical of the pyramid’s short
comings is that some people
thought the graphic’s recom
mendation of 6 to 11 daily serv
ings from the grains group, such
as bread, meant they could have
anywhere from six to 11 servings.
A slice of bread is a serving.
ap “We do noli
a preconifl^
notion,” he said.
Federal officials say
percent of Americans recojif
the pyramid, but about (
cent are overweight or
Similarly, an Associated
Ipsos poll found in May
percent of Americans thi
nation’s top health problem
overeating, but only 12
said they were dieting.
NEWS IN BRIEF
U.S. general
announces
new offensive
KABUL, Afghanistan
Thousands of American
have begun a new opera!
prevent militants from
ing Afghanistan's first
dential election, the top;
commander here said?!
in an interview with TheAss|
ated Press.
Texas
stitute.
rking (
The 3,
id placf
'0 spac
hieverr
Kim J:
as impr
“The
said. “T1
Lt. Gen. David Barno ins#ct that
is 1 icr i
the switch does not blurttie!! rgeeve
Q
itary’s focus on catching
bin Laden and other top fugit lr k* n g (
But he acknowledged he
firm idea where the al-Qaida;
er is hiding or what he mi
planning.
Operation Lightning Resi
“kicking off as we speak,"
said at his headquarters in
ghan capital.
He said the operation cc
enough “offensive punc
keep militants off balance
could see an increase in
intelligence-driven raids,
no specifics.
A 2,000-member Marine^
which has hammered Talib
itants in a southern stro
since it arrived in March, ii
process of leaving the cokj ^ "
Barno said.
The a\
WA5
sent Pre
to give
incenth
cal and
“Thi
gram e
Homek
Christo