NEWS AND OPINION:
Culture watchers have reported for years that there is a persistent nostalgia in Russia for the Cold War and the old Soviet Union. Americans haven’t forgotten it either, but it’s not nostalgia they’re feeling.
“Russia now edges out North Korea as the country Americans consider the United States’ greatest enemy,” writes Jeffrey Jones, a Gallup analyst. “Two years ago, only 2 percent of Americans named Russia, but that increased to 9 percent in 2014 as tensions between Russia and the U.S. increased, and now sits at 18 percent.” Indeed, Russia heads the list of the “top U.S. enemy,” followed by North Korea, China, Iran, Iraq, “countries in which [the Islamic State] operates,” the entire Middle East region, Syria, Afghanistan and the “United States itself,” to round out the Top 10.
Yes, you read that right: Americans apparently are jittery about America.
The American view of Russia, meanwhile, is the worst Gallup has measured in 26 years, with 24 percent having favorable and 70 percent unfavorable views. Russia’s favorability rating has declined 20 points in two years, and were more positive than negative only three years ago.
“Americans increasingly see Russia’s military power as a threat to the United States, rate Russia the worst they have since the Cold War ended and are more likely to name Russia as the United States’ greatest enemy over any other country, including longstanding U.S. foes such as North Korea and Iran,” Mr. Jones observes.
“The feeling appears to be mutual,” he says, citing a Gallup World Poll survey of Russians that found 4 percent of Russians approving and 82 percent disapproving of U.S. leadership.
A PERTINENT PUBLICATION
PJ Media announces that a new book will be free to download for the next few days. That would be “Surviving the End” — we’re talking bioterrorism, dirty bombs and electromagnetic pulse attacks, among other things. The author is James Jay Carafano, a former U.S. Army officer and Heritage Foundation’s lead expert on national security and foreign policy challenges.
“This guide has given you the best there is to offer of simple, practical, useful measures you can take to keep your loved ones safe. But there is another important message in the guide as well. We all will survive better if we pull together — not as mindless lemmings following Washington, but as free Americans who fight together for the future of freedom,” Mr. Carafano writes. Find it all at PJTV.com; check under PJ Store. Normally the download cost would be $7.
ALREADY THINKING ABOUT IT
Coming to CPAC 2015, the annual conservative rite of spring that begins in eight days: “A Conversation on America’s Role in the World: Can Conservatives Apply Reagan’s Vision of Peace Through Strength in the 21st Century?” The formal discussion will include Fox News contributor KT McFarland, a former deputy assistant defense secretary during the Reagan administration; Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint; and American Enterprise Institute president Arthur Brooks.
“Peace through strength as articulated by Ronald Reagan is needed again as Americans crave strong leadership in the face of a dramatic weakening of American economic, cultural and military strength. Reagan’s vision of America’s role in the world was one in which America leads by example by expanding our economy, having a respected military and a strong culture,” summarizes Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
TERRI SCHIAVO NOT FORGOTTEN
Glenn Beck is among those who will step forward to remember Terri Schiavo, who was taken off life support almost a decade ago, becoming a symbol for those in medically vulnerable circumstances. The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network will mark the exact anniversary March 31 with a memorial event and a grand evening gala in Philadelphia, with Mr. Beck as keynote speaker, plus awards for those advocates who’ve taken on the cause.
“My sister Terri became an accidental hero,” says her brother, Bobby Schindler. “She was an everyday person who, because of her vulnerable situation, touched the hearts and minds of millions around the world.” Indeed, she is listed alongside Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa on USA Today’s list of “25 Lives of Indelible Impact.”
Mr. Schindler also has an eye on the 2016 presidential campaign, especially the candidacy of Jeb Bush. “I always felt Gov. Bush was sincere. He never backpedaled, and he worked hard to help Terri. When Congress passed Terri’s Law, it was one of the most bipartisan laws enacted at the time, passing unanimously in the Senate with no objections. In the House the bill passed 203-58,” Mr. Schindler adds. Find the group at TerrisFight.org.
HOME AGAIN
If you’re curious, here’s what’s on President Obama’s schedule following his four-day getaway to California. On Tuesday he attends “meetings at the White House.” On Wednesday Mr. Obama will deliver remarks at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism. Thursday he heads to the State Department to deliver remarks about the aforementioned summit and then, “afterward, the President will travel to Chicago to announce the Pullman National Monument,” according to a White House dispatch.
On Friday he addresses the Democratic National Committee’s winter meeting in the nation’s capital, and Sunday the president speaks before the National Governors Association Dinner at the White House.
NO RUSH TO CHANGE RUSHMORE
Leave Mount Rushmore “as is,” say most Americans. They are content with the monumental likenesses of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt — carved on a stone mountaintop in South Dakota. But 21 percent of Democrats would like to see the face of President Obama join those presidents in the future. Meanwhile, 16 percent of Republicans say Ronald Reagan should be the next face to be added. So says a new poll from Rasmussen Reports released Monday.
Findings differ among all Americans: 51 percent say Mount Rushmore should be left alone. Still, 13 percent overall think Franklin D. Roosevelt should be added to the site, while 12 percent overall favor adding Mr. Obama to Mount Rushmore. Ten percent think the newcomer to the mountain should be John F. Kennedy, while 9 percent would opt for Mr. Reagan. And there’s the inevitable partisan divide: 52 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of those not affiliated with either major party prefer to keep Mount Rushmore as it is. Just 42 percent of Democrats agree.
And of note: Mount Rushmore took 14 years to craft, and was completed in 1941 — the work of 400 workers and artisans, and a lot of dynamite. The blasts removed 450 tons of rock — and there were no fatalities, according to the National Park Service. And the total cost was $989,992 — and 32 cents.
POLL DU JOUR
• 78 percent of Americans say Congress should vote to give President Obama authority to use force against the Islamic State; 79 percent of Republicans, 76 percent of independents and 78 percent of Democrats agree.
• 77 percent of Americans say Mr. Obama was “right” to ask for congressional authority; 80 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of independents and 72 percent of Democrats agree.
• 21 percent overall said he should have the option to act alone; 16 percent of Republicans, 21 percent of independents and 26 percent of Democrats agree.
• 47 percent favor sending ground troops to counter Islamic forces; 60 percent of Republicans, 48 percent of independents and 36 percent of Democrats agree.
• 41 percent overall say U.S. military action is going well against Islamic forces in Iraq and Syria; 34 percent of Republicans, 39 percent of independents and 51 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: A CNN/ORC poll of 1,027 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 12-15.
• Chilly observations, lukewarm assessments to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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