Ponzi Polls & Panicked Pachyderms
The Extreme Media is up to its usual propaganda tricks. Just look at how the ASSociated Press reports the results as though they were genuine:
Recall that the AP/Ipsos poll was one of the most inaccurate of the bunch in last year's presidential campaign. Bear in mind as well that the anti-Bush bias of the AP wasn't far from CBS levels.
It's easy, absent an election context, to forget just how cynically skewed this poll and its fellows typically are - especially when compared with the recent Zogby poll on the Terri Schiavo slaying, where an accurate depiction of the issue produced results diametrically opposite from the "Congress should have let Terri die" results the EM dutifully generated. Ditto the "war in Iraq," which is almost an oxymoron as evinced by how the Bushophobic anti-war agitating and ghoulish body counts have faded from the front pages since the January 30th Iraqi elections.
This, however, brings us to the third thing we have to remember: these polls are not aimed so much at herding public opinion as they are panicking Pachyderms into another pell-mell retreat from their strongest issues, Social Security reform and breaking the Senate Democrat obstruction of Bush judicial nominees. And on that score, the EM appears to be making headway:
Take this with the grain of salt that it is an AP report - even if "some Senate Republicans" are not.
The grassroots definitely had some things to say about this burgeoning el foldo:
None of the above is anything I haven't said to the point of projectile nausea over the years. Indeed, there are times when I marvel that the GOP is actually in control of both elected branches of the federal government, given how incompetent at, and disinclined to, the wielding of that power they are. This time I'm just the messenger, keeds.
Oh, and before I forget, "Sailor" McCain announced his opposition yesterday on Face the Nation to breaking the Donk judge filibuster.
It appears that President Bush is the only 'Pubbie who doesn't get buffaloed by EM propaganda:
The President might want to bundle up some of that testicular fortitude and infuse it into his minions on Capitol Hill, though, while there's still a chance to prevent his re-election from having been a futile gesture. Otherwise, unified Republican governance will not last long enough to shed its status as a historical novelty.
The public's dissatisfaction with President Bush and the Republican-led Congress is growing, with ratings dropping amid record high gas prices, war in Iraq, the Social Security debate and the emotional Terri Schiavo case.
The Republican president's job approval is at 44%, with 54% disapproving. Only 37% have a favorable opinion of the work being done by Congress, according to an AP-Ipsos poll.
Recall that the AP/Ipsos poll was one of the most inaccurate of the bunch in last year's presidential campaign. Bear in mind as well that the anti-Bush bias of the AP wasn't far from CBS levels.
It's easy, absent an election context, to forget just how cynically skewed this poll and its fellows typically are - especially when compared with the recent Zogby poll on the Terri Schiavo slaying, where an accurate depiction of the issue produced results diametrically opposite from the "Congress should have let Terri die" results the EM dutifully generated. Ditto the "war in Iraq," which is almost an oxymoron as evinced by how the Bushophobic anti-war agitating and ghoulish body counts have faded from the front pages since the January 30th Iraqi elections.
This, however, brings us to the third thing we have to remember: these polls are not aimed so much at herding public opinion as they are panicking Pachyderms into another pell-mell retreat from their strongest issues, Social Security reform and breaking the Senate Democrat obstruction of Bush judicial nominees. And on that score, the EM appears to be making headway:
[S]ome Senate Republicans "are considering temporarily sidetracking President Bush's plan for personal investment accounts under Social Security," in an effort to bring obstinate Democrats to the table to fix Social Security.
Several GOP officials said Thursday that Republican leaders discussed the possibility privately this week, recognizing that unified Democratic opposition to the accounts has so far stalled efforts to advance the President's top domestic priority.
Take this with the grain of salt that it is an AP report - even if "some Senate Republicans" are not.
The grassroots definitely had some things to say about this burgeoning el foldo:
Stephen Moore, of the Free Enterprise Fund, has this to say:
“Republicans trying to fix Social Security without establishing personal accounts makes as much sense as jumping out of an airplane without a parachuste. Without the personal account option for workers, a reform package is likely to mean a combination of higher taxes and lower benefits that will give young workers a deal that’s even worse than the bad deal they get now. Social Security reform without personal accounts will lead to a political Waterloo for Republicans and could jeopardize the GOP's majorities in the House and Senate in 2006.”
Charlie Jarvis of USA Next, says,
“Have these Republican Senators forgotten their party lost eight Senate seats and their majority in 1986 precisely because they had pushed very minor adjustments of Social Security benefits? It appears they do not remember the past; therefore they may repeat their devastating mistake. For Republican Senators to approach the 2006 elections championing Social Security tax hikes, benefit cuts and the actuarial games played for decades is a clear sign of utter insanity.
”Social Security reform without Personal Retirement Accounts is a Republican political deathwish. Senate Republicans should be presenting a dynamic vision of Social Security for the 21st Century that provides absolute protection of Seniors and prosperity and expansive financial freedom for future generations. Instead some Republican Senators prefer the roles of accountant and bean counters with a confused understanding of basic math and basic politics.”
None of the above is anything I haven't said to the point of projectile nausea over the years. Indeed, there are times when I marvel that the GOP is actually in control of both elected branches of the federal government, given how incompetent at, and disinclined to, the wielding of that power they are. This time I'm just the messenger, keeds.
Oh, and before I forget, "Sailor" McCain announced his opposition yesterday on Face the Nation to breaking the Donk judge filibuster.
It appears that President Bush is the only 'Pubbie who doesn't get buffaloed by EM propaganda:
The President was asked Friday about his falling ratings in some polls, and he claimed indifference.Hard not to notice that little bit of editorializing, "he claimed indifference." All of which goes to show that they don't misunderstand (and "misunderestimate") Bush because they aren't capable of "getting" him, but because they don't want to.
"Some of them were going up the other day," he responded as he flew back from Rome on Air Force One. "You can find them going up and you can find them going down. You can pretty much find out what you want in polls is my point."
The President might want to bundle up some of that testicular fortitude and infuse it into his minions on Capitol Hill, though, while there's still a chance to prevent his re-election from having been a futile gesture. Otherwise, unified Republican governance will not last long enough to shed its status as a historical novelty.
posted by JASmius at 10:18 AM
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