Bush at 53 percent in Pew poll!

[diplomats]

just saw this on www.pollingreport.com
This poll was done over a longer period of time, mid-July to early August, than other polls so it's less prone to fluctuations from day-to-day events. Bush has dropped 21 points in less than four months, and most importantly his disapproval rating IS THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN, even higher than before 9/11.
Think about it: Bush is just points away from dropping into the 40s, and Rove can't launch a war to save Chimpy this time. BTW, I don't think the Kobe Bryant thing will be enough of a distraction if the economy still stinks.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

1. Rove can't launch a war to save Chimpy this time.

Don't underestimate him.

He could use a terrorist attack instead.

[diplomats]

2. I'm not even that will work

because if there's another attack Bush will get blamed for not protecting the country. He got a pass for 9/11 but that won't happen again.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. It's a fixed game.

BushCorp's "diplomacy" has managed to alienate most of the 3rd world (not to mention the rest of the world). That there will be more "terrorist" attacks either here or on "American Interests Abroad" are a pretty safe bet. Show a few dead Americans, follow it with a stern looking shrub surrounded by flags, troops, Lieberman and Gephardt, announcing that "we" are in terrible danger and he's going to "smoke them out", and the polls will show that he is unbeatable.

What is that H.L. Mencken said, "No one ever went broke betting on the stupidity of the American people."

I hope I'm wrong. The American people always do catch on at some stage. Let's hope it's soon.

[AlinPA]

13. I am afraid you are right on the stupidty and "attacks"

and the poll ratings. But I still believe Bush can be beat. Democrats are getting fired up. This California thing and busy primaries will help with momentum. Broadcast media is our biggest obstacle, owned by rPIGS.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Bush can be beat.

If the Democrats are smart enough to ignore the polls and press and just tell the truth about BushCorps doings and who it benefits.

[sistersofmercy]

26. Agreed Bush can and will be beat

on principle alone. Especially if there is another attack because right now people are still debating the merits of this war based on humanitarian grounds. You know the argument "We're actually saving lives in the long run." and "Saddam could have become a threat." It's ridiculous but even some dems are ignoring the real big picture.

[JNelson6563]

25. Excellent prophecy

That there will be more "terrorist" attacks either here or on "American Interests Abroad" are a pretty safe bet. Show a few dead Americans, follow it with a stern looking shrub surrounded by flags, troops, Lieberman and Gephardt, announcing that "we" are in terrible danger and he's going to "smoke them out", and the polls will show that he is unbeatable.

haha :-)

Brilliant prophecy. You forgot one thing, repeated claims of standing "shoulder to shoulder with pResident Bush...." by the loyal opposition, as precedent tells us is likely to happen.

Julie

[Pobeka]

3. What about attacks in other countries?

Let's say, just for sake of argument, there are a large number of increases in attacks on other countries:

The fear of terrorism remains high.
It appears that we are protected.

Bush is praised.
--
Analysis:

<conspiracy_hat>
Bushista's are behind it.
</conspiracy_ha>

<terrorists_hat>
We did it. Those americans are such fools, they'll re-elect Bush, and he'll trash their rights, and their economy. What a win for us!
</terrorists_hat>

[Starpass]

4. Good Amureakans don't give a rat's ass about attacks in other

countries.........honestly, they don't. Even some things in Iraq--for example they care about more troops being killed but they don't care that the Jordanian Embassy got blown to hell today. To them it's just ragheads blowing up raghead and good riddance. So the terrorists are wasting explosives if they think that bothers Americans..........now American fat cat corporations who need stability and protection in an area are a different breed of cat. They get realy sweaty.

[bluestateguy]

5. Indeed

As I pointed out here, months ago, the American people were not going to lose a lot of sleep over civillian casulties. Only the death of All American Boys in uniform would reduce public support for our policy, hence this is how the anti-war movement should frame its message. I took a lot of heat for that stance, but I stand by what I said.

[karlschneider]

6. It's a Catch-22. The principal thing that will 'fix' the problem is what

we are trying to prevent.
;-(

[alfredo]

20. I don't think they even care if Americans die, just as long as they are no

inconvenienced. Thousands of US soldiers could die tomorrow, just as long as their favorite TV show is not preempted.

[Pobeka]

9. I agree with your basic points, but there's a Rovian angle

The reason we didn't get terrorists attacks in the USA is because Bush is sooooo committed to our homeland security.

I'm going to watch the press on this one, *if* I'm right, they'll really be playing up the offshore attacks. Every little one will be reported. It will keep the citizens worried. Worried citizens vote for Bush, cause worried citizens stop thinking :think:

(and you're especially right about the fat cat corps, if the source of the cheap off-shore out-sourced labor is compromised, they'll be sweating bullets...)

[FubarFly]

7. Touchy.

Someone could point out that he underfunded Homeland Security. If a terrorist attack does occur, shrubs compentency may be called into question. Also, it would hurt the economy at a time when the bushistas are using every trick imaginable to pad their record.

But I agree, they will try something. Hmmm...

Maybe he can save a wet kitten from a well. Or catch OJ's killer. :bounce: :bounce:

Seriously, I predict shrub's bounce will result from either them finding and killing Saddam Hussein, finding and killing Osama Bin Laden,
or- if they want to go for the big bounce- finding hidden in the Iraqi desert, a fully operational Death Star!! :evilgrin: Heck, even an measly nuclear warhead will do the trick.

I guess the point I'm making is that at this stage I think they will try for a "positive" bounce, instead of a generically destructive one. With these sociopathic lunatics in charge we should be prepared for the worst, but expect the worst.

[bluestateguy]

11. "Death Stars"

I'm just waiting for conservatives to use the Star Wars trilogy to justify preemptive wars.

[Pobeka]

12. No, it's OFFSHORE attacks that help bush

Onshore attacks would work against him.

[FubarFly]

14. There have been plenty of terrorist attacks in other countries

So far, nobody cares. However if there was a catastrophe on the scale of 9/11, in France maybe...

:scared:


If they don't try this, they will at least have talked about it.

[Norbert]

8. 57% say it the economy, stupid.

The threat of a terrorist attack is fading some with the voting populice. Well he can start a war, but only after an reinsittution of the draft. That will go over real well with the under-25s. This will be a most interesting 15 months.

Here's the update from the PEW web-site.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=190

[Pobeka]

15. Thus my conclusion

Bush won't abandon his wealthy buddies. (Unless they ultimately start hurting from this trashed economy to, which isn't out of the realm of possibilities...)

Another onshore attack means he loses credibility as our defender.

Offshore attacks mean the terrorist threat is out there, and Bush get's praise because the lack of onshore attacks means he protected us. And the rightwing media knows how to play this up to a fever pitch.

[Melinda]

16. More from PEW - Dimwit (43*) is falling faster than 41 did

War Bounce Smaller Than for Bush Sr.

A 53% majority approves of the job George W. Bush is doing as president while 37% disapprove. That is the highest negative rating the president has received since taking office. After reaching a peak of 86% just after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the president's approval rating declined through much of 2002 and early 2003, before rallying to 74% during the war in Iraq.

This spike was shorter in duration and smaller in size than the one experienced by Bush's father, former President George H. W. Bush, after the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Prior to the start of the war in December 1990, Bush Sr. was at 61% in the polls, and rose to a peak of 86% after the conclusion of hostilities. His approval rating fell afterwards, but did not reach prewar levels until November of 1991. By contrast, George W. Bush was at 55% in mid-March and rose to 74% approval around the time of the fall of Baghdad in early April. He has now fallen back to prewar levels, five months later.

[Pobeka]

17. I saw another interesting thing in the 2000 exit polls today.

In the "upper income class" category (nationwide), more people voted for Gore, it was something like 54% for Gore and 46% for Bush.

I really hope America is waking up, coming to it's senses. Thanks!

[diplomats]

18. Thanks for posting this

I didn't read the whole article on Pew ans missed that. BTW, another encouraging nugget of info is that Bush's approval rating is 91 percent among Repubs but is just 30 percent among Dems and 48 percent among Independents. It's not good at all for Bush to be under 50 percent among Independents. And the gap between Repubs and everyone else is cavernous. The Independents are much closer to the Dems in how they view Bush than to the Republicans.

[West Coast Democrat]

21. Bush* "Re"-Elect Number at 43% versus 38% for Democrat

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh04gen.htm

Also from the Pew Poll

[diplomats]

22. Yes, I saw that

It's interesting that Bush's reelect number is significantly less than his approval rating (53 compared to 43). The guy from Gallup said that's unusual - in Clinton and Reagan's case, their approval and reelect numbers were comparable.

[ButterflyBlood]

23. which of course is proof that the standard attitude is

"I'll put with Bush for now" not "I love this guy! I must vote for him in 2004!"

[West Coast Democrat]

24. There is absolutely no reason to be pessimistic....

about our chances for beating Bush!!! I get so tired of all the negative threads. The man's got a 43% re-elect number. What's that to be worried about?

[Pobeka]

27. You're right

We can't be pessimistic. And there are some signals that the times are a changing...

We have to be optimistic, and realistic, and work tirelessly, as if every effort is needed, because we can't afford to lose this one by a slim margin, if only a *little more effort* would have produced a win.