Yes, the convicted liar is more credible than the President of the United States
by digby
New polling from Quinnipiac:
President Donald Trump committed crimes before he became president, American voters say 64 - 24 percent in a Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.
Republicans say 48 - 33 percent that President Trump did not commit crimes before he was president, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University National Poll finds. Every other listed party, gender, education, age and racial group says by wide margins that Trump committed crimes.
But U.S. voters are divided 45 - 43 percent on whether Trump committed any crimes while he has been president. A presidential candidate paying money to hide a negative story during a campaign, and not disclosing that payment, is unethical and a crime, 40 percent of voters say. Another 21 percent say it is unethical, but not a crime, and 20 percent say it is not unethical.
So most people know he was a crook in business but aren't sure if he's committed actual crimes while in office.
But they aren't at impeachment yet even though they know Trump is an inveterate liar:
Congress should not begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, American voters say 59 - 35 percent. But Congress should do more to investigate "Michael Cohen's claims about President Trump's unethical and illegal behavior," voters say 58 - 35 percent.
American voters believe Cohen more than Trump 50 - 35 percent. Cohen told the truth, 44 percent of voters say, while 36 percent say he did not tell the truth.
Voters approve 41 - 36 percent of the way Democrats in Congress handled Cohen's testimony before the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Voters disapprove 51 - 25 percent of the way Republicans handled the Cohen hearing.
"Cloudy and 38. The future of Donald Trump's presidency and the percentage of people who support him mirror the March weather in D.C.," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"The answers to two survey questions deliver a double-barreled gut punch to the honesty question."
"When two-thirds of voters think you have committed a crime in your past life, and almost half of voters say it's a tossup over whether you committed a crime while in the Oval Office, confidence in your overall integrity is very shaky," Malloy added.
This poll shows him still mired in the 30s approval rating:
American voters give Trump a negative 38 - 55 percent job approval rating, compared to a negative 38 - 57 percent in a January 29 Quinnipiac University National Poll.
Voters say 65 - 30 percent that Trump is not honest, his worst grade ever on that character trait. He gets negative grades on other traits:
- 39 - 58 percent that he has good leadership skills;
- 39 - 58 percent that he cares about average Americans;
- 22 - 71 percent that he is a good role model for children.
Trump gets mixed or negative grades for handling key issues:
- 49 percent approve his handling of the economy and 45 percent disapprove;
- Negative 38 - 56 percent for handling foreign policy;
- Negative 40 - 58 percent for handling immigration issues.
His only positive rating is on the economy and he doesn't even get 50%.
I think people are wrong about impeachment with this one. I always tend to believe it's better to use election to get rid of miscreants. But Trump is an exception and I think impeachment is important even if it doesn't succeed in the Senate.
Regardless of whether they impeach Trump, the investigations are essential. If there is any chance of moving forward in a positive way, this has to be done. If there's no accountability for someone as clearly dishonest, unethical and criminal as Donald Trump, I think the whole experiment in democracy is pretty much doomed.
