Survey: 60% of Troops Pessimistic/Uncertain About Obama as Commander in Chief

[Knightskye]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/military_poll_main_122908/

35% Uncertain
33% Optimistic
25% Pessimistic
8% No Opinion

That adds up to 101%. I'm sure they rounded up with the "No Opinion" number, for whatever reason.

Also, I'm not sure our troops are too good at math:


While nearly half of the respondents said they disapprove of Obama’s proposal to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, a slightly higher percentage said they support the Status of Forces Agreement calling for U.S. forces to leave the country by the end of 2011.

"No, not 16 months, sixteen months!" :rolleyes:

What do you guys think?

[Anti Federalist]

What do you guys think?

I think if asshole neo-cons really supported the troops, like they never tire of saying they do, they would have supported the candidate that received more campaign contributions from the troops than any other candidate.

[libertarian4321]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/military_poll_main_122908/

Also, I'm not sure our troops are too good at math:



The statement said:


While nearly half of the respondents said they disapprove of Obama’s proposal to withdraw combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months of taking office, a slightly higher percentage said they support the Status of Forces Agreement calling for U.S. forces to leave the country by the end of 2011.

What is the problem with that statement? They disapprove of combat troops being out in 16 months (which would be late May of 2010), but they agree with having all troops out at the end of 2011 (~34.5 months).

Where is the "math" problem?

- a soldier/engineer

[libertarian4321]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/military_poll_main_122908/

35% Uncertain
33% Optimistic
25% Pessimistic
8% No Opinion



BTW, this article is a good example of how the media massages numbers to promote an agenda.

The title of the Article was "Troops War About Obama." The first line was:


When asked how they feel about President-elect Barack Obama as commander in chief, six out of 10 active-duty service members say they are uncertain or pessimistic, according to a Military Times survey.

Makes it sound like most were concerned, when in fact, more were optimistic than pessimistic. A slightly more accurate, but still misleading, opening line would have been:

"When asked how they feel about President-elect Barack Obama as commander in chief, SEVEN out of 10 active-duty service members say they are uncertain or optimistic, according to a Military Times survey.

Of course, the real story is that there is no story- they have very mixed numbers- with more being optimistic than pessimistic, but a huge number who are uncertain.

Also, this poll wasn't scientific or representative of the military as a whole- more than half the respondents (Army Times Subscribers) were Republican, only 13% Dem- that isn't representative of the military (there are more Reps than Dems in the military, but it isn't that lopsided). Army Times subscribers tend to be older and more senior folks- it will be heavily influenced by senior officers and NCOs, and the "rank and file" (18-25 year old junior enlisted) will be underrepresented.

[steph3n]

this is as worthless as the others, it is just based on replies to a poll of their subscribers not any reflection of the military.