NationStates Jolt Archive


Survey Says....

Whittier-
08-10-2004, 05:48
Recent poll of 31,000 US military personnel shows the majority of American troops supporting the reelection of George W. Bush and supporting his policies on Iraq according to the Army Times.

1. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote for president?
Active Duty:
George W. Bush 72%
John Kerry 17%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 6%


National Guard And Reserves:
George W. Bush 73%
John Kerry 18%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 5%

Active Duty Never Deployed:
George W. Bush 72%
John Kerry 18%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 6%

Active Duty Deployed for two or more months
George W. Bush 74%
John Kerry 17%
Undecided 6%


National Guard and Reserve Never Activated
George W Bush 71%
John Kerry 21%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 6%

National Guard And Reserve Activated since Sept. 11 2001
George W. Bush 76%
John Kerry 17%
Ralph Nader 17%
Undecided 5%

Troops not deployed to major combat zone since 9/11/2001:
George W. Bush 73%
John Kerry 19%
Undecided 5%

Troops deployed to major combat zones for two months or more since 9/11/2001:
George W. Bush 76%
John Kerry 16%
Ralph Nader 0%
Undecided 5%



2. Do you approve of the way President Bush is handling the situation in Iraq?
Active Duty:
Approve 60%
Disapprove 23%
No opinion 8%

National Guard and Reserves:
Approve 63%
Disapprove 25%
No Opinion 5%

3. In making your decision about voting for President, how important is the military service record of the candidates?
Active Duty:
Very Important 12%
Some what important 47%
Somewhat unimportant 19%
Very unimportant 10%
Don't Care 11%

National Guard And Reserves
Very Important 16%
Somewhat important 54%
Somewhat unimportant 14%
Very Unimportant 7%
Don't Care 8%

4. Do George W. Bush's Actions while in National Guard make you more or less likely to vote for him or will they not have much effect on your vote?
Active Duty
More likely 6%
Less likely 12%
No Effect 73%

National Guard and Reserve
More likely 10%
Less likely 16%
No effect 68%

5. Does John Kerry's combat experience in the Vietnam War make you more or less likely to vote for him, or will it not have much effect on your vote?
Active Duty:
More likely 12%
Less likely 21%
No effect 58%

National Guard and Reserves:
More likely 15%
Less likely 26%
No effect 53%

6. Do John Kerry's antiwar activities after he returned from serving in the Vietnam War make you more likely or less likely to vote for him, or will they not have much effect on your vote?
Active Duty:
More likely 7%
Less Likely 65%
No effect 24%

National Guard and Reserves:
More likely 9%
Less Likely 67%
No effect 20%



Most important election year issues for military personnel:
Active Duty:
War in Iraq 66%
Candidate's personal character 64%
The economy 53%
Social issues 34%

National Guard and Reserve:
The war in Iraq 72%
Candidate's personal character 66%
The economy 58%
Social issues 36%

Party Affiliation:
Republican 57%
Democrats 13%
Independents 20%

In 2000 only 14% of military personnel voted for Al Gore.

A majority said the candidates needed to stop talking about Bush's Guard Service and Kerry's Vietnam records and get to more important issues.

One in five did say that Kerry's war record hurts him and made it less likely they would vote for him.
2/3 of respondents said they don't like Kerry cause he always bashes the military.
A quarter said that Bush could do a better job as Commander in Chief.
Kerry's attempts to sway military voters by attacking Bush on Iraq and on his Guard Service appears to be backfiring.
Most military personnel said they felt they could trust Bush with their lives cause he does what he says while Kerry is always changing his minds, which some personnel said could cost American lives.
Most military personnel don't think Vietnam is a legitimate issue for the election and would prefer to see the candidates discuss Iraq.
A majority of respondents said that Kerry's flip flops would damage US credibility and undermine public confidence in the war.
Most troops interviewed said the US will be in Iraq for 10 to 20 years to settle the situation down.
"Now is not the time to change Commander in Chiefs" said an Army specialist with the 5th Calvary Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (currently stationed in Iraq).
However, some groups caution that releasing the results of the survey could lead to strife between a Kerry Administration and the military. And lead to the public viewing the military as a partisan institution.
Iraq veteran, Paul Riechhoff said the results might make Americans think the military was a monolithic Republican group and discourage other parties from trying to register military members. He said both parties need to work for the military vote and military personnel don't give their votes away for free.

Some in the military consider John Kerry to be a traitor.
Many in the military are very critical of Kerry's antiwar activities and consider him hypocritical.
Kerry's Vietnam protest in the 1970's, combined with his criticism of the Iraq war today, lead many to believe that if elected he would cause America to lose the war on terrorism and give Iraq over to Al Qaeda.
Many personnel want to see more funding of the needs of military personnel (pay raises, child care, healthcare, veterans benefits, training, equipment, support for families of deployed soldiers, etc.), which Kerry said he would cut funding for.
A soldier with the rank of specialist with 3 years in the Army makes only 17,000 dollars a year before taxes. Putting them just below the poverty line.
The maximum for non E-8's is $20,000 per year.


Yep, Bush is going to win in a landslide.
Incertonia
08-10-2004, 05:55
Was this a random sampling of the military or was it an opt-in sort of thing. It reads like the latter, mainly because of the sample size, and if it is, it's statistically invalid because there's no way to be sure of a random sample.
Opal Isle
08-10-2004, 05:58
Yep, Bush is going to win in a landslide.
In 2000 only 14% of military personnel voted for Al Gore.
1. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote for president?
Active Duty:
George W. Bush 72%
John Kerry 17%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 6%


National Guard And Reserves:
George W. Bush 73%
John Kerry 18%
Ralph Nader 1%
Undecided 5%

Looks like Kerry is doing better with the military than Gore did...and Gore got half a million more of the popular vote. The military always votes conservatively.
Opal Isle
08-10-2004, 06:01
I forgot to mention that you're a moron. Did you read the entire thing before you posted? Do you know anything about the military's voting trends aside from the information in this poll? If the rest of the nation voted like the very small portion of the nation made up by the military, the republicans would win every time.
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 06:05
Sampling the military:
The poll questioned subscribers of the Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.
Each was emailed an invitation to answer questions posted on a secure server.
Security measures guarded the survey and prevented respondents from submitting multiple answers and only those got invited were allowed to respond.
The poll was taken from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28.
Responses from everyone who said they were not in uniform were removed from the results.
The military times survey is based on responses from those volunteering to respond and as such, it is impossible to calculate an error rate (since those depend on random sampling).
The dependence on email could have had an impact on the results.
The personal characteristics of Military Times readers could also have affected the results.
More details are available at:
www.armytimes.com
Never mind you have to subscribe to it.
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 06:06
I forgot to mention that you're a moron. Did you read the entire thing before you posted? Do you know anything about the military's voting trends aside from the information in this poll? If the rest of the nation voted like the very small portion of the nation made up by the military, the republicans would win every time.
Nope, your the moron.
Opal Isle
08-10-2004, 06:09
Nope, your the moron.
I'm not the one proclaiming that George Bush will win the election by a landslide because he's got less support of the military than he did in 2000 now am I?
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 06:13
I'm not the one proclaiming that George Bush will win the election by a landslide because he's got less support of the military than he did in 2000 now am I?

No I am not basing it on that. His support among military personnel is only part of the equation.
Kerry's very antiamericaness is the major factor.
Kerry will cost American lives and surrender American soverignty to foreign governments. The American people in general, not just those in the military, see this. That is why I predict a huge landslide for Bush.
The American people will not trust Kerry with the C & C position nor can he be trusted to represent our nation's interests in the world.
Unfree People
08-10-2004, 06:15
Don't flame, everyone.

Unfree People
Forum Moderator
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 06:18
Don't flame.

Unfree People
Forum Moderator
He flamed first. http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7199582&postcount=4
;)
Unfree People
08-10-2004, 06:27
better?
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 06:32
better?
K. I won't flame anymore. Thanks for deleting the extra postings.
Why aren't we allowed to deleted threads?
The Black Forrest
08-10-2004, 08:25
This poll was waste of time.

Big Duh the military supports a republican president.
Chodolo
08-10-2004, 09:17
Lemme dig up a poll showing gays, or unionists, or black people overwhelmingly supporting Kerry.


Then I will say, "Kerry will win by a landslide".


:D
Zaxon
08-10-2004, 15:06
I don't think it in and of itself is a partisan institution, but it does attract a large number of conservative thinkers.
BastardSword
08-10-2004, 15:21
3. In making your decision about voting for President, how important is the military service record of the candidates?
Active Duty:
Very Important 12%
Some what important 47%
Somewhat unimportant 19%
Very unimportant 10%
Don't Care 11%

National Guard And Reserves
Very Important 16%
Somewhat important 54%
Somewhat unimportant 14%
Very Unimportant 7%
Don't Care 8%

4. Do George W. Bush's Actions while in National Guard make you more or less likely to vote for him or will they not have much effect on your vote?
Active Duty
More likely 6%
Less likely 12%
No Effect 73%

National Guard and Reserve
More likely 10%
Less likely 16%
No effect 68%

5. Does John Kerry's combat experience in the Vietnam War make you more or less likely to vote for him, or will it not have much effect on your vote?
Active Duty:
More likely 12%
Less likely 21%
No effect 58%

National Guard and Reserves:
More likely 15%
Less likely 26%
No effect 53%

Anyone notice the irony of these quote?
The poll shows 47-54% importance on military service and yet both candidates are less likely to be voted on based on military service?

Why is the Military "flip-flopping"? Someone should ask lol

I wan to make sure for the poll in this thread... does partidan mean biased toward republican? Or just biased?
Gigatron
08-10-2004, 15:23
And why is the military dumb like a brick and still promotes Bush when he has no notable military experience, while Kerry served in Vietnam? What the hell??? Ah well, military = violent dumbfucks.
Arammanar
08-10-2004, 15:26
And why is the military dumb like a brick and still promotes Bush when he has no notable military experience, while Kerry served in Vietnam? What the hell??? Ah well, military = violent dumbfucks.
As I member of the military, I would appreciate it if you'd hold in your angst when you have nothing of worth to say. Better to have no notable experience than notably bad experience.
Zaxon
08-10-2004, 15:29
And why is the military dumb like a brick and still promotes Bush when he has no notable military experience, while Kerry served in Vietnam? What the hell??? Ah well, military = violent dumbfucks.

Nice assumptions. I know a great many current and former military. I certainly wouldn't consider them violent, nor dumb. You watch too many movies.

Why does anyone support their candidates? The supporters like their candidate's principles. It doesn't matter where Kerry was when he served.
Whittier-
08-10-2004, 18:22
Many people in the military have high levels of education.
Incertonia
08-10-2004, 21:02
Sampling the military:
The poll questioned subscribers of the Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.
Each was emailed an invitation to answer questions posted on a secure server.
Security measures guarded the survey and prevented respondents from submitting multiple answers and only those got invited were allowed to respond.
The poll was taken from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28.
Responses from everyone who said they were not in uniform were removed from the results.
The military times survey is based on responses from those volunteering to respond and as such, it is impossible to calculate an error rate (since those depend on random sampling).
The dependence on email could have had an impact on the results.
The personal characteristics of Military Times readers could also have affected the results.
More details are available at:
www.armytimes.com
Never mind you have to subscribe to it.
So in other words, it's not likely to be a true view of the way the military views the election in general. It's about as accurate as an internet poll, or worse, a Nationstates poll. Thanks for clearing that up.
Crossman
08-10-2004, 21:07
No it doesn't. It just shows that our military realizes that John Kerry is a threat to the Armed Forces. You don't have to be partisan to be smart.
Incertonia
08-10-2004, 21:11
No it doesn't. It just shows that our military realizes that John Kerry is a threat to the Armed Forces. You don't have to be partisan to be smart.Actually, it shows nothing of the sort--it's a statistically irrelevant poll, likely misleading because of the great potential for a biased sample group.
Matoya
08-10-2004, 21:13
No. I just believe the majority of people who go into the army are moral people with work ethic and who will support their country. A.k.a. conservatives.
Star Shadow-
08-10-2004, 21:25
most of those persents don't end up with 100%
Snowboarding Maniacs
08-10-2004, 21:41
No. I just believe the majority of people who go into the army are moral people with work ethic and who will support their country. A.k.a. conservatives.
So are you suggesting liberals aren't moral people? Don't have a good work ethic? Don't support their country? Think before you speak.
Ah well, military = violent dumbfucks.
Completely unnecessary, Gig. Why must everyone throw around insults? :headbang:
I don't think it in and of itself is a partisan institution, but it does attract a large number of conservative thinkers.
It does attract a large number of conservative thinkers, and IMO they do a good job of pushing a conservative point of view in basic training and throughout service.

Ok, I forgot what other points I had here because I just went off searching about 10 websites to see what I could dig up about the psychology of basic training. Ah well...can't we all just get along anyway? :)
Oompa Loompia
08-10-2004, 22:40
Whittier has made a bold statement. Many people open their mouth only to get their foot stuck in it. Intelligence is one thing, wisdom another. It is true that Bush seems standard and straightforward in his thinking. It is true that Kerry seems to want to please everyone. What requirements would you want in a leader?

Someone who pats you on the back and says: "...everything will be alright, I promise."?

Someone who tells you that: "...times are tough, and they are going to get worse before they get better, but they will get better."?

Someone who strives to uphold themselves?

Someone who is held up because of others?

Someone who would break down to build up?

Someone who would stay on top at all costs?

Someone who would make decisions for the encompassing benefit of people for today and tomorrow?

Someone who would solve problems for only as far as the relative sight?

Most people want to do the right thing

Most people fail

Some people fear failure to never understand success

Many people find their success leading only failure

I know of none who can succeed all the time, but if their is one willing to fail doing the right thing, let it be.