Comments on: August Blues For Bush http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/comment-page-1/#comment-1666 Justin Gardner Sat, 27 Aug 2005 22:07:20 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/#comment-1666 <blockquote>My approval only goes about as far as supporting the war and his tax cuts. However, given the same choices I had last time, I’d still vote for him.</blockquote> I think many, when given the choice between him and Kerry, think that there wasn't really a choice there to begin with. <blockquote>Interestingly, the MSM hardly ever points this out when reporting on approval polls, giving the false impression that public opinion is in fact shifting to the Democrats just because Bush’s approval ratings are down.</blockquote> I understand your point, but that's not up to them to decide. Actually, that would show bias, because it would be guessing what people are thinking. That's not the media's job. Of course, they could do overarching polls and present his approval ratings, the Democrat's approval ratings and the Republican's approval ratings every time they do one of these studies. But that's Gallup's reponsibility, not the MSM's

My approval only goes about as far as supporting the war and his tax cuts. However, given the same choices I had last time, I’d still vote for him.

I think many, when given the choice between him and Kerry, think that there wasn’t really a choice there to begin with.

Interestingly, the MSM hardly ever points this out when reporting on approval polls, giving the false impression that public opinion is in fact shifting to the Democrats just because Bush’s approval ratings are down.

I understand your point, but that’s not up to them to decide. Actually, that would show bias, because it would be guessing what people are thinking. That’s not the media’s job. Of course, they could do overarching polls and present his approval ratings, the Democrat’s approval ratings and the Republican’s approval ratings every time they do one of these studies.

But that’s Gallup’s reponsibility, not the MSM’s

]]> By: Joshua http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/comment-page-1/#comment-1665 Joshua Sat, 27 Aug 2005 21:10:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/#comment-1665 It's a pretty good bet that a big chunk of the disapproval actually comes from the right. (Cultural/social conservatives who think he's too soft on stuff like abortion, fiscal conservatives and libertarians who don't like his continued expansion of government, Iraq/terror hawks who don't think he's waging those wars aggressively enough, etc.) Therefore the high disapproval ratings don't necessarily translate to a shift in the Democrats' favor. Interestingly, the MSM hardly ever points this out when reporting on approval polls, giving the false impression that public opinion is in fact shifting to the Democrats just because Bush's approval ratings are down. The MSM may be leftward-biased, but they sure aren't doing the Democrats any favors by doing this. It’s a pretty good bet that a big chunk of the disapproval actually comes from the right. (Cultural/social conservatives who think he’s too soft on stuff like abortion, fiscal conservatives and libertarians who don’t like his continued expansion of government, Iraq/terror hawks who don’t think he’s waging those wars aggressively enough, etc.) Therefore the high disapproval ratings don’t necessarily translate to a shift in the Democrats’ favor.

Interestingly, the MSM hardly ever points this out when reporting on approval polls, giving the false impression that public opinion is in fact shifting to the Democrats just because Bush’s approval ratings are down. The MSM may be leftward-biased, but they sure aren’t doing the Democrats any favors by doing this.

]]> By: ford4x4 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/comment-page-1/#comment-1664 ford4x4 Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:18:59 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/#comment-1664 Aprroval ratings don't mean much... I voted for him, and I think he's doing a fairly miserable job. My approval only goes about as far as supporting the war and his tax cuts. However, given the same choices I had last time, I'd still vote for him. Aprroval ratings don’t mean much…

I voted for him, and I think he’s doing a fairly miserable job.
My approval only goes about as far as supporting the war and his tax cuts. However, given the same choices I had last time, I’d still vote for him.

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/comment-page-1/#comment-1656 Justin Gardner Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:55:33 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/#comment-1656 <blockquote>Personally, I think that’s even worse than just being plain unopopular, because you’re destroying the political fabric and cohesion of the country.</blockquote> I tend to agree with this, although not as strongly. His politics and way he goes about setting policy is basically, "My way or the highway" and that doesn't help unite anybody.

Personally, I think that’s even worse than just being plain unopopular, because you’re destroying the political fabric and cohesion of the country.

I tend to agree with this, although not as strongly. His politics and way he goes about setting policy is basically, “My way or the highway” and that doesn’t help unite anybody.

]]> By: Jeremy http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/comment-page-1/#comment-1652 Jeremy Sat, 27 Aug 2005 02:43:08 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2005/08/26/august-blues-for-bush/#comment-1652 These figures should always be posted with a partisan breakdown, if possible. Because that breakdown shows that Bush isn't necessarily an unpopular president, he's just an extraordinarily polarising one. When I've seen it, the disapproval has been something like 80/20 for democrats, 60/40 for independents and 25/75 for Republicans (my figures aren't meant to be precise, it's off the top of my head). Personally, I think that's even worse than just being plain unopopular, because you're destroying the political fabric and cohesion of the country. Also, thanks to the way the electoral college system works, it means he might still be re-elected if an election were called tomorrow - despite his appaling approval rating. These figures should always be posted with a partisan breakdown, if possible. Because that breakdown shows that Bush isn’t necessarily an unpopular president, he’s just an extraordinarily polarising one. When I’ve seen it, the disapproval has been something like 80/20 for democrats, 60/40 for independents and 25/75 for Republicans (my figures aren’t meant to be precise, it’s off the top of my head).

Personally, I think that’s even worse than just being plain unopopular, because you’re destroying the political fabric and cohesion of the country. Also, thanks to the way the electoral college system works, it means he might still be re-elected if an election were called tomorrow – despite his appaling approval rating.

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