Why we no longer have color coded terror alerts - Bush Busted!

[FormerRepublican]

"This study investigates the possibility that government-issued terror warnings could increase support for the president. This contention is supported anecdotally by the large increase in presidential approval immediately following the attacks on the United States of September 11,
2001. Additionally, social identity theory suggests that fear of external attacks leads to increased support for standing leaders. To evaluate this proposition, I conducted several time-series analyses on the relationship between government-issued terror warnings reported in the Washington Post between February 2001 and May 2004, and Gallup poll data on Americans' opinions of President George W. Bush. Across several regression models, results showed a consistent, positive relationship between terror warnings and presidential approval. I also found that government-issued terror warnings increased support for President Bush's handling of the economy. Analyses intended to determine the duration of these effects were inconclusive."

Link to study

Research studies busted King George at his little game. Bushie doesn't have as much fun when "We the people" are onto him and call him on it every time he tries to use his unethical little tools.

[Mikimouse]

1. I think I can safely vouch for this one...

The methodology appears sound, and one of the contributors is one of the finest social psychologists in the field.

[rodeodance]

3. surprize surprize

[Tab]

2. I didn't read the whole analysis

but it'd be even better if it juxtaposed it with potential negative news at the time the alert was issued.

Example: Monday morning we were supposed to see box office returns from Fahrenheit 9/11 - Terror alert.
On and on, there were many of them. Bad news for the administration, suddenly... terror alert!

Elections come, and magically the alerts stopped.

Go figure.

[tkmorris]

5. I agree, but that would be subjective

There is no way to quantify how "bad" some news item was, or it's potential to harm presidential approval numbers. It is almost certainly true that alerts were used in order to prop up approval, steal headlines from unwelcome stories, or to prop up flagging support for the faux "War on Terror" (© 2001 Bushco), however it cannot really be proven without a whistleblower or some unfortunate email admitting it to be pilfired from someone's computer.

[Tab]

8. Agreed, which is why it wasn't in the study

but it sure would make for an interesting footnote.

[Thor_MN]

4. I'd like to see someone analyze gas prices in purple states vs

national avergage for the last several years. I have a gut feeling that big oil is going easy on Minnesota in an attempt to soften us up for the fall elections...

[WePurrsevere]

6. Interesting study... Verifies what DUers suspected... Too bad the MSM

probably won't find it or pick it up if they do... although increasingly some do seem to be breaking free of whatever weird hold the WH had on them so who knows.

:hangover:

[clyro]

7. wow

an R-squared of 0.91 for model 4... mighty impressive. certainly backed up by theory too.

Of course there are other factors at play here, but the significance shown in this paper is enough to show a very strong association.