Americans to Congress: Stop squabbling

Congress should quit the partisan squabbling when it comes to debating issues such as taxes and economic policy, more than half of Americans said in a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll.

As the House is slated to continue work on the economic stimulus bill this week, 52 percent said the parties' failure to agree was "unnecessary... during wartime," while 36 percent said it was a sign of healthy politics. Twelve percent were undecided.

When asked about whether Congress should pass the stimulus plan, respondents were almost evenly divided between saying the plan was necessary (42 percent) and that the economy would improve on its own (44 percent).

The Ratings Game

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush have high favorable ratings, while former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have divided ratings, the Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll shows. Bush had an 84 percent favorable rating and a 12 percent unfavorable rating. The first lady had a favorable/unfavorable rating of 76/5. Clinton's rating was 42/50, and Gore's was 47/40.

Approval For ABM Decision

The majority of Americans agree with Bush's decision to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, according to a new Ipsos-Reid poll conducted over the weekend. Fifty-eight percent said they agreed with the decision, and 31 percent disagreed. Eleven percent were unsure.