Pew polls US partisan divide on Israel, Russia, world leaders, etc.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Gaza and the West Bank should be Israel , they won a war that palestians and their allies started and when you start a war and lose the victor obviously gets some of your territory .

Are you in the 19th century? This is not how things are done anymore, for very obvious reasons.

except it was Palestine who started the War not Israel , if they never started a war of aggression Israel would never have had the territory they want back. Its simple they lost the war they started, so they have no reason to complain . In this case actually Israel = IF Kuwait beat Iraq, Palestine = Iraq (Agressors )

What I mean, is that the idea of "spoils of war" is largely considered unfashionable because of ... various historical reasons.

[Bismarck]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Most democrats (like most normal non-atlas people) don't know much about Merkel beyond her role in the refugee crisis, as a representative of the established world order and as a vague opponent of the Trumpists of the world.

[Intell]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

Which is fycking dumb. Conservatives should love her though, as she's stopping CDU, and slowly implementing a conservative, neo-liberal economic agenda through Europe, and would also do that full-on in Germany if the wind swayed that way, and the social democrats weren't in coalition.

[TJ in Oregon]

Oh boy, Republicans sure know what major threats are

I never took this poll. I don't personally know anyone who did. Republicans I know agree with the 41% who say Putin is a threat.

-He's a much bigger friend to the U.S. than Israel is, as Israel's not fighting ISIS, despite it being directly on its border. Russia is a much smaller threat to the U.S. than Israel (it's less influential in American politics) and is about the same size a threat as, say, Britain.

Russia has less influence on American politics??  Did Israel just hack a US election that I missed?

Unless you can prove voting machines were altered, that is a false statement.

I never said the voting machines were altered.  I said the election was HACKED.  Take your fake news elsewhere.

The problem with the bolded sentence is that it is so vague it could mean anything from:

Russia managed to get John Podesta's email via phishing scam and released a bunch of unflattering emails showing DNC chicanery

or:

Russia hacked us voting machines to alter the outcome of the election by interfering in the ballot counting process.

Yet the media continually repeats just about the least articulate way of describing things as possible. I get why the Democrats are displeased since they feel they've been unfairly targeted by a foreign government, but the US tries to influence elections in other countries all over the place too. Let's at least be specific in our claims.

[TJ in Oregon]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

Which is fycking dumb. Conservatives should love her though, as she's stopping CDU, and slowly implementing a conservative, neo-liberal economic agenda through Europe, and would also do that full-on in Germany if the wind swayed that way, and the social democrats weren't in coalition.

From a conservative perspective, Merkel is one of the most damaging figures to the cause out of all leaders in the West. She's taken a conservative party and slowly stripped it of principle. It's much better to be in the opposition every now and then and stand for something than to have a conservative party be in power so long that it is reduced to mere liberal conservatism as to not rock the boat. But then again I am not a liberal conservative.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

You're a new poster and I already think you are a fool. Congrats.

Why does Israel have to get involved in the war on ISIS? It's the only stable country in the Middle East. The U.S. should be happy that Israel isn't complicating an already complex conflict.

-This is a pitiful excuse for not fighting ISIS, quite frankly. It's not "complicated" to fight ISIS. And no, Israel is not the only stable country in the Middle East -Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, etc. all fall into that category.

Also, what? Israel is more of a threat to us then Russia? What world do you live in? A white supremacist dream world?

Israel does not influence American elections. American Pro-Israel groups are not agents of Israel. Nor are they the only lobby that supports aligning with certain countries. The Cuban-American, Armenian-American, Azeri-American, Greek-American, Arabic and Turkish-American lobbies all have a lot of power as well.

-I remember when Paul Ryan invited Putin to speak before the House and as Putin thanked the House members for their common support for Russia decade after decade he was greeted with cheers and claps of joy from the whooping House members. Nope, no influence. Not one bit. No threat here.

I am a big fan of Trump's concept of America First. That means allies second, so they aren't ripping the US off.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

Which is fycking dumb. Conservatives should love her though, as she's stopping CDU, and slowly implementing a conservative, neo-liberal economic agenda through Europe, and would also do that full-on in Germany if the wind swayed that way, and the social democrats weren't in coalition.

From a conservative perspective, Merkel is one of the most damaging figures to the cause out of all leaders in the West. She's taken a conservative party and slowly stripped it of principle. It's much better to be in the opposition every now and then and stand for something than to have a conservative party be in power so long that it is reduced to mere liberal conservatism as to not rock the boat. But then again I am not a liberal conservative.

If it's any consolation, the cdu never has had any principles.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Most democrats (like most normal non-atlas people) don't know much about Merkel beyond her role in the refugee crisis, as a representative of the established world order and as a vague opponent of the Trumpists of the world.

-This is basically true.

[Suburbia]

Yes, climate change is a big issue, but it is not the biggest threat to national security. Democrats need to stop thinking that climate change is the super biggest threat to national security in the 21st Century. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)'s question to Mike Pompeo today about climate change as a super issue looks tone-deaf. The biggest threat is terrorism, and intelligence. Yes, climate change is a big issue, but it should not be overblown. It is a complex issue.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/kamala-harris-grills-cia-nominee-pompeo-on-gay-rights-and-climate-change/article/2006261

[Xing]

Honestly, the climate change numbers are the most depressing to me. Yes, it might not be classified as a "national security threat", but the wording of the poll is just "major threat", which it absolutely is. Frankly, I don't give a damn whether or not focusing on climate change polls well with swing voters. Reality should not be ignored because it's electorally inconvenient.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Yes, climate change is a big issue, but it is not the biggest threat to national security. Democrats need to stop thinking that climate change is the super biggest threat to national security in the 21st Century. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)'s question to Mike Pompeo today about climate change as a super issue looks tone-deaf. The biggest threat is terrorism, and intelligence.

Terrorism is not a big threat to the U.S.  Even in their most successful year, 2001, terrorists haven't killed even as many as a third of what we do to ourselves each year with drunk driving.  Except for that one bad year, we typically will see a hundred times more Americans die from domestic violence as opposed to terrorism.

Terrorism is flashy and gets attention, but as long as we exercise some reasonable prudence and precaution, it isn't a big threat, it's a little threat, at least to us. Now for those in the front-line areas of terrorism, it is a big threat, but that's the sort of internationalist reasoning that you're rejecting with respect to climate change. Global warming isn't a big threat to the U.S. because we have the wealth and other resources to be able to respond to its impacts, but that's not the case in much of the world. That is what makes climate change the next big thing likely to destabilize the world, often in countries already destabilized by terrorism.

[DavidB.]

It's really hard to argue terrorism is not a big threat to the U.S. because more people die from domestic violence or drunk driving and then to state that there are countries that are currently being destabilized by terrorism. Those countries doubtlessly have a higher number of deaths by drunk driving and perhaps domestic violence too. Which one is it?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm aware of the implicit reasons some on the right are exhibiting sympathy for Putin, but what are the explicit reasons? Even if we want to be "realists" and, chuckling, agree amongst ourselves that we can "help each other", that doesn't mean we need to express fealty, loyalty, or admiration. So, what gives?

[DavidB.]

I'm aware of the implicit reasons some on the right are exhibiting sympathy for Putin, but what are the explicit reasons? Even if we want to be "realists" and, chuckling, agree amongst ourselves that we can "help each other", that doesn't mean we need to express fealty, loyalty, or admiration. So, what gives?

"Strong leader who protects his country unlike NOBAMA"

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm aware of the implicit reasons some on the right are exhibiting sympathy for Putin, but what are the explicit reasons? Even if we want to be "realists" and, chuckling, agree amongst ourselves that we can "help each other", that doesn't mean we need to express fealty, loyalty, or admiration. So, what gives?

"Strong leader who protects his country unlike NOBAMA"

That's as much a reason to view him as a threat. He obviously appears positive relatively to his polity in comparison to Obama, but why the association of the Russian people with our people, and the assumption that what serves the Russian nationalist serves the American one--to the point that this implies natural camaraderie on the world stage?

[pbrower2a]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

Angela Merkel is a conservative. Donald Trump is nearly a fascist. Get the difference?

[Intell]

Democrats are stupid in liking Angela Merkel, who's policies have inflicted pain and suffering in Germany, less so because of the coalition with the social democrats, but throughout Europe with austerity and increased neoliberalism.

Yeah there seems to be a perception in the US that Merkel is a left leaning politician.

Angela Merkel is a conservative. Donald Trump is nearly a fascist. Get the difference?

Which should mean you should oppose her and trump.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Yes, climate change is a big issue, but it is not the biggest threat to national security. Democrats need to stop thinking that climate change is the super biggest threat to national security in the 21st Century. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)'s question to Mike Pompeo today about climate change as a super issue looks tone-deaf. The biggest threat is terrorism, and intelligence. Yes, climate change is a big issue, but it should not be overblown. It is a complex issue.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/kamala-harris-grills-cia-nominee-pompeo-on-gay-rights-and-climate-change/article/2006261

You know how the current refugee crisis almost destroyed the EU right? Imagine the crisis that would result in swathes of Bangladesh or coastal India being swamped, or large areas of the African interior effectively becoming uninhabitable, or vast proportions of the world's arable land lost. It would be unimaginable mess of refugees and societal collapse.

[RINO Tom]

The Russia trends are hilarious.  Shows how few people have concrete views on anything.

[Santander]

I'm aware of the implicit reasons some on the right are exhibiting sympathy for Putin, but what are the explicit reasons? Even if we want to be "realists" and, chuckling, agree amongst ourselves that we can "help each other", that doesn't mean we need to express fealty, loyalty, or admiration. So, what gives?

Christianity.

[RINO Tom]

I'm aware of the implicit reasons some on the right are exhibiting sympathy for Putin, but what are the explicit reasons? Even if we want to be "realists" and, chuckling, agree amongst ourselves that we can "help each other", that doesn't mean we need to express fealty, loyalty, or admiration. So, what gives?

Christianity.

He stands for a whole lot less to do with American conservatism (individual liberty, freedom of speech/expression, etc.) than he does for things that have a connection to American conservatism (Christianity...?), though, don't you think?  Plus, the SHARP increase in Republican "support" of him during and after this election is intellectually suspect, to say the least.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

It's really hard to argue terrorism is not a big threat to the U.S. because more people die from domestic violence or drunk driving and then to state that there are countries that are currently being destabilized by terrorism. Those countries doubtlessly have a higher number of deaths by drunk driving and perhaps domestic violence too. Which one is it?

You seem to forget that the U.S. elected Trump. What happens in Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan is no longer important. While Europe has much to worry about with an unstable Middle East, it doesn't particularly affect us unless we choose to be affected by it. Heck, our next Secretary of State may well appreciate more Middle East uncertainty since a rise in oil prices would help both Exxon-Mobil and Russia right now. Elections have consequences, and that means the rest of the world is going to be free to go to Hell as it pleases for the next four years thanks to people like bronz4141.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Not good. Netanyahu allied the Republicans, and made Israel a partisan issue in America. Another reason he's a disastee as a leader.