Here's Your Anti-War Extremists, Norah

I know that it must be tough for Norah O'Donnell filling in for Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball. What, with makeup, the hair stylist and all, I'm sure she doesn't have the time to actually look up any, well, facts before the pretty camera light goes on.

The Yellow Dog Blog is here to help. So, Norah, before you go on the air and once again refer to Cindy Sheehan and the protestors in Crawford as "anti-war extremists," please have a look at numbers showing that the good people at Camp Casey are very much in the mainstream.

From the CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll of Aug. 5-7, 2005:

• 54 percent of Americans believe the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq.
• 54 percent say it was not worth going to war in Iraq.
• 56 percent believe things are going either "moderately badly" or "very badly" in Iraq.
• 57 percent of respondents say that the war with Iraq has made the U.S. less safe from terrorism.

How about the Newsweek Poll from Aug. 2-4, 2005?

• 61 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq.
• 64 percent say that the Iraq war has not made Americans safer from terrorism.

Let's look at the Associated Press/Ipsos poll dated Aug. 1-3, 2005:

• Respondents were asked "When it comes to handling the situation in Iraq, do you approve or disapprove or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling that issue?" 59 percent disapprove.

So you see, Norah, people who disagree with the war in Iraq are actually in the majority.

You're welcome. Now, please apologize to Coleen Rowley, who you blindsided on Hardball last night. Say you're sorry to Cindy Sheehan while you're at it.

Oh, and don't worry, the secret – and the incredible irony -- that you have a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, is safe with me.