President Bush's Current Job Ratings Compare Well With Those of His Predecessors
ST. LOUIS, MO, (PRNewswire) January 4, 2004 - President George W. Bush's latest job ratings in The Harris Poll (51% positive, 48% negative) are remarkably close to those of his predecessors in the last December of their first term in office. Indeed, if one makes an allowance for possible sampling error, there is no statistical difference between President Bush's latest ratings and those of President Clinton, President George H. Bush, President Reagan and President Carter.
Historically the presidents' job ratings at this time in their first terms was not in any way a predictor of whether or not they would be re-elected.
The only president in the last forty years with substantially higher ratings at the end of his first three years was Lyndon Johnson. In December 1965, his Harris Poll ratings were 67% positive, 33% negative. Unlike all of his successors he chose not to run for re-election because, many people believe, he thought he might lose.
The presidents who were re-elected for a second term - Nixon, Reagan and Clinton - did not, on average, have better ratings than those who were defeated - Ford, Carter and George H. Bush.
President Bush will visit the Pierre Laclede Grade School in St. Louis, Monday, January 5, prior to a fund-raiser at America's Center. Organizers project the event could raise more than $2.5 million for his re-election effort.
Auto Executives Don't See Big Profit Rise Until 2006
ST. LOUIS, MO, (PRNewswire) January 4, 2004 - The global automotive industry is not expected to return to peak profitability levels until at least 2006, according to the results of an annual global survey by KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm. However, automotive executives indicate the worst is behind them, citing 2003 as the worst year for profits in the half-decade.
KPMG's fifth annual survey, conducted in October and November 2003, polled 100 American, Asian and European automotive executives from 19 automakers and from 49 Tier 1 and 32 Tier 2 suppliers.
In the study, 29 percent of the 100 executives surveyed said they expect overall auto-industry profitability to be at its greatest level in 2006, followed by 2008 (16 percent), 2005 (15 percent), 2007 (12 percent), 2004 (9 percent). In KPMG's survey last year, 18 percent anticipated greater levels of profits in 2004, with 30 percent forecasting better profits in 2005. Auto execs in prior year's studies have alluded to the year 2000 as the year of highest profitability.
"In a down economy, our survey has found executives always pushing profitability a few years out, and this year is no different," said Brian Ambrose, national industry director of KPMG's automotive practice. "But what the executives are telling us this year is that they have seen the worst and that the industry is poised for a rebound."
Unlike past KPMG surveys, automotive executives are not expecting dismal profits in the immediate year ahead, indicating they believe the industry has turned the corner. In fact, this year when asked to cite the worst year of profitability, 36 percent identified 2003, with 13 percent expecting it to be 2004. In contrast with KPMG's 2002 study, 27 percent cited 2002 as the worst year of profitability with another 30 percent expecting it to be in 2003.
"We are seeing the convergence of improved economic conditions, the leveling off of sales incentives and the huge amount of new vehicle launches scheduled over the next few years all playing a factor," said Ambrose. "During the past few years we saw the executives pointing off into the future in the hopes that profits lay there. Today, the profitability picture is much more clearly coming into focus."
Woman Indicted For Selling Fake NASCAR Tickets Over Internet
KANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com) January 4, 2004 - A Jackson County grand jury has indicted Olivia Doty on eight counts of unlawful merchandising practices at the request of Attorney General Jay Nixon.
The indictment alleges Doty used eBay to advertise tickets to the NASCAR Winston Cup Banquet 400 and the Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 races held Oct. 3, 4, and 5 at the Kansas Speedway. The indictment states racing fans bought eight sets of tickets for a total of $7,143.93. None of the purchasers received the tickets and some of the seats Doty auctioned do not even exist.
Attorney General Jay Nixon conducted the investigation in cooperation with the Blue Springs and Lake Lotawana Police Departments.
Unlawful merchandising practices is a class D felony under Missouri law, with each count punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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