57 percent of voters agree 'things are going to hell in a hand basket'

By Jennifer Harper - The Washington Times - Sunday, September 18, 2016

NEWS AND OPINION:

Got a strange, uneasy feeling about the current state of things? You are not alone. Asked how they feel about the state of the world these days, 57 percent of all voters agreed that “things are going to hell in a hand basket.”

No, really. Those are findings from a substantial Fox News poll of registered U.S. voters released Sunday, which found that 74 percent of Republicans, 59 percent of independents and 41 percent of Democrats agree with the gloomy statement. Among the 28 different demographics listed in the survey, the numbers were highest among the GOP voters, followed by evangelicals (73 percent), military veterans (63 percent), white women (also 63 percent), and rural residents (62 percent).

But wait. The survey also found 50 percent of voters overall agree that “the country is in deep trouble and our leaders are too incompetent and corrupt to deal with it.” An alarmed 77 percent of Republicans agree, as do 56 percent of independents and 23 percent of the more optimistic Democrats. Once again, the numbers were highest among the GOP voters, followed by conservatives (70 percent), evangelicals (also 70 percent) plus veterans and white men (both with 62 percent).

NOW THAT’S A SHAME

“By the time I finished this book, I resented its existence.”

— A review of “Stronger Together,” a 237-page book written by Hillary Clinton and running mate Sen. Tim Kaine, by Carlos Lozada, associate editor of The Washington Post. He calls the book “an embarrassment, sloppy, repetitive, dutiful and boring.”

NEW YORK ADVENTURES

Aw. President Obama missed Bill Clinton’s 70th birthday extravaganza Saturday night, staged at the sensational Rainbow Room, glittering in the sky 65 stories above New York City. The event including performances by Barbra Streisand, Wynton Marsalis and Jon Bon Jovi, and oh gee, it was also a fundraiser for the Clinton Foundation. Tickets were priced as high as $250,000 each for access to the sparkling art deco-era venue, which features a rotating dance floor.

Well, moving right along, keep the magnificent but pricey Air Force One warmed up. Mr. Obama arrived in Manhattan on Sunday to attend a private Democratic fundraiser and then remain in the Big Apple to attend a similar event Monday. When Tuesday dawns, it’s off to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, a bustling collection of speeches, meetings, summits and photo-ops. The president attends six such events. Then he heads off to the U.S.-Africa Business Forum on Wednesday, plus a meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos before returning to the nation’s capital.

BORDER PATROL AGENTS CONDEMN CLINTON POLICY

The National Border Patrol Council — which represents 18,000 Border Patrol agents — is already critical of President Obama’s immigration policy, calling it the administration’s “biggest and deadliest lie” and “the product of special interest collusion” which has upped criminal activity and granted “drug cartels the opportunity to expand their territory across America.” The council is equally upset about Hillary Clinton’s immigration policy.

“To our deep dismay and concern, the Clinton immigration plan embraces and expands the Obama policies that created the era of no consequences. These policies fueled the illegal immigration crisis and drug epidemic that victimized entire cities and destroyed families. Those that were hardest hit by these policies included minorities, single mothers, existing lawful resident aliens, and others who had to compete for services and charities that were overwhelmed by the massive influx of illegal aliens,” the organization noted in a fierce statement.

“Clinton calls immigration a family problem. However, the families she ignored are all American. Her plan does nothing to protect those who are victimized every day by our blind pursuit of open borders, and in fact subjects them to a greater threat. No one, in either party, should run for office unless they are willing to put the interests of American families above anything or anyone else,” the council said.

“Clinton’s plan is another troubling example of her eagerness to ignore the inconvenient truth that we live in dangerous times. She continues to put the desires of social elites above the deafening choir of hard-working everyday citizens who are demanding real border security. We can no longer afford to weaken border security and hope for the best. Clinton’s immigration plan is dangerous, and may win her fringe voter support at the risk of every family’s security.”

HOLA AMERICA

“The explosive growth of programs serving limited English speaking students in public schools — fueled by historic levels of immigration — is costing taxpayers nearly $60 billion a year and diluting the quality of education for all students,” states a new report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

One in every 10 public-school students — some 4.9 million — are now designated with “limited English proficiency”; 74 percent of these students are either illegal immigrants, or the children of same. Local taxpayers foot the bill 99 percent of the time, the advocacy organization noted.

“This fiscal impact is felt well beyond the southern border states — Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California — where problems related to immigration are typically associated. In fact, 11 of the 13 states spending more than $1 billion each on language programs in 2016 don’t border Mexico: Colorado, Illinois, Washington, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Maryland,” the analysis noted.

POLL DU JOUR

• 38 percent of U.S. voters have “a fair amount” of trust and confidence in the wisdom of the American people when it comes to making a choice on election day; 38 percent of Republicans, 31 percent of independents and 44 percent of Democrats agree.

• 35 percent of voters overall don’t have much trust and confidence; 40 percent of Republicans, 36 percent of independents and 31 percent of Democrats agree.

• 13 percent of voters overall have “a great deal” of trust and confidence; 12 percent of Republicans, 12 percent of independents and 14 percent of Democrats agree.

• 11 percent of voters overall have no trust or confidence at all; 8 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 9 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Fox News poll of 1,006 registered U.S. voters conducted Sept. 11-14.

• Cheers, jeers to jharper@washingtontimes.

• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.