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Brother, can you spare a job?

Dave Heller — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:41:02 +0000

In the middle of the struggle to find employment, those who work still prefer to have a man as a boss. As matter of fact 56% of workers have males bosses, 30% female and the rest are self employed. In the two sides of the coin category while a large proportion of Americans say they're dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country , most are pretty happy with their personal lives. Overall consumer confidence can be summarized with one word: terrible! All that and more today on What Are We Thinking.

The GOP-Tea Party factor

Dave Heller — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:27:58 +0000

While the tea party is testing its influence and power , most traditional Republicans don't seem totally convinced; 25% of Americans supports the Tea Party. Meanwhile Rick Perry moves up in Gallup's positive intensity ranking , right there with Michelle Bachmann with the support of the TP. President Obama approval rating is doing better than anticipated even after the debt crisis dispute and the stock market roller coaster. The President has maintained a 47% rating since January 2011. All that and more this week on What Are We Thinking.

An aftershock, of sorts

Dave Heller — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:08:03 +0000

Well, August second is gone, default is averted and a new heap of problems is in the horizon. Gallup poll's numbers indicate that 46% of Americas disapprove of the agreement, 39% approve. Republicans are much more upset than Democrats at the deal. Not surprisingly jobs and the economy tops the list of what worries the country now a days. As far as the GOP primary elections, no real picture yet. All that and more today on What Are we Thinking.

Public attitudes around the debt ceiling debate

Dave Heller — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:30:58 +0000

Public attitudes around the debt ceiling debate.

The economy is all that matters

Dave Heller — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:08:27 +0000

While the debate in Washington is about debt ceiling limits, revenues and cuts, for most Americans the real issue is the economy and access to jobs. The general consensus in this Gallup poll is that the public supports a balanced solution to the budget impasse. As the 2012 elections gets near, at this moment the majority of citizens are not paying too much attention to what's happening. Republicans remain undecided about which candidate they might support although new names are starting to add to the list, including Texas Governor Rick Perry and NY's Rudy Giuliani. All that plus smokers lose respect in society , today on What Are We Thinking on NewsWorks Tonight.

Locking Horns in Washington

Dave Heller — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:50:42 +0000

So what do Americans really feel about the budget impasse? Well most want Congress to do something. Right now, the legislative body has a remarkably low approval rating (13%) while the President's rating has remained at a steady mid forty. On the GOP candidates front when asked who would you vote for at this moment Republicans polled by Gallup responded "I don't know" an unprecedented response at this stage in the electoral calendar. All that and more today on What Are We Thinking.

GOP's Got Religion

Dave Heller — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:03:10 +0000

Gallup's research finds that religion is still one of the stonger's indicators of political identity. In a trend that started during the Reagan presidency religion became closely identified with Republicans. Speaking of the GOP, Senator Rick Santorum's name recognition is at a standstill. Not a good sign for his bid as presidential candidate. George W. Bush is 65, officially a baby boomer, a good time to look at his impact as President All that plus reaction to Casey Anthony's verdict , today on What Are We Thinking on NewsWorks Tonight.

Bachmann's GOP appeal

Dave Heller — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:24:40 +0000

Michelle Bachmann's candidacy has been generating high positive energy according the Gallup Poll, more than Mitt Romney at this point. Bachmann is doing better among men than women, but then again there are more men in the GOP .

Although last week's poll indicated that most families prefer to have boys , the desired family size has remained at 2.5 since the late '30 and not 3.6 before that.

All that and a growing support for same sex families, today on What Are We Thinking.

No girls wanted

Dave Heller — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:56:20 +0000

Baby girls loose out when it comes to parents gender preference . In a one-child family 40% of parents prefer to have a boy, 20% a girl. This tendency is higher in parents under 35 years old.

Also, when asked which branch of the military is the most important to national defense, the answer is somewhat surprising: the Army and the Marines win the vote . Speaking of the military, President Obama's decision to bring 10,000 troops back from Afghanistan echoes the popular sentiment about that war,

All that today on What Are We Thinking.

GOP diversity at the debate table

Dave Heller — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:57:43 +0000

How much we have changed! For years Gallup has been asking Americans if they would vote for women, African American , Catholic or Mormon candidates. The response is not really , as long as they're equally well-qualified to do the job.

In the GOP front Romney continues to lead, followed by Bachmann and Cain with no movement at all for the rest of the candidates.

The economy and employment dominate the national conversation and expectations for a recovery remaining low.

All that plus the debt ceiling today on What Are We Thinking.