Hot Air Mobile
Home The Vault Gear About
Hot Air -- get your fill


Gallup: 58% disapprove of GOP’s handling of stimulus debate

posted at 1:50 pm on February 9, 2009 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly

Commenters have been kicking this around in Headlines, trying to figure out how the GOP can be taking a beating when big majorities favor more tax cuts in the bill and less spending. My guess: A combination of Hopenchange fee-vah among the public and the fear that something big needs to be done soon, in whatever form. CNN’s out this morning with its own new poll showing that slim majorities support the bill — 54 percent overall and 51 percent of independents — but 76 percent approve of Obama. He got high marks on the economy in Gallup’s poll, too. If this were being sold as the Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi stimulus package, which is what it is, it’d be dead on arrival, but put the Messiah on TV warning about the end times if he doesn’t get his way and it’s just enough to eke out a majority in favor. CBS and USA Today recently found 52 and 51 percent support for the bill, respectively; after tonight’s primetime sermon, expect that to bump up to 55 or more.

People are also wondering why Rasmussen’s numbers are so much lower than everyone else’s. Read Mark Blumenthal for a theory on that. Exit question: Why do majorities support the stimulus when poll after poll shows few people expect it to have a dramatic effect? Exit answer: Because, I think, the politics of a sharp economic downturn are such that the public wants to see the government doing something even if what it’s doing is a longshot to work. That’s why Republicans like Hoover and Bush were willing to intervene to try to stem the crises that began on their respective watches. It would take a strong free-market ideologue, on the order of Reagan or Ron Paul, to resist the political pressure to act for the sake of acting. Frankly, it’s amazing that so many congressional Republicans have been able to resist.


Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Comment pages: 1 2

Seems the approval rating of the President and the GOP are inverse of each other. Any coincidence?

dengar007 on February 9, 2009 at 1:51 PM

My guess: A combination of Hopenchange fee-vah among the public and the fear that something big needs to be done soon, in whatever form.

My guess : Stupidity. The same people probably think the republicans are running congress right now.

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 1:53 PM

I mean Obamas’ overall approval rating — not his 76 approval of how he’s handling the bill.

dengar007 on February 9, 2009 at 1:53 PM

I’m sure the majority think the GOP leaders should have been jumping up and down on the steps of the capitol.

Snowe, Collins, and Specter should be ashamed.

Oink on February 9, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Rush reports that calls going into congressional offices are hundreds to one against the stimulus, much along the lines of the amnesty bill.

BrianA on February 9, 2009 at 1:55 PM

This only proves the ignorance of most idiots who are polled. The Repubs have been shut out of the process and the bill sucks, what choice do they have but to oppose it? Fuck polls anyway. When the stimulus fails, that is when the true read on this will occur.

echosyst on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

Grow some balls GOP. The One’s “popularity” is falling by the day. People are beginning to see that he’s not so much a President as one who plays one on TV.

And what ever happened to doing the right f-ing thing? Screw the (probably biased) polls. Stand on the right side of this generational screw job or be ready to deal with the repercussions in 2010.

Sugar Land on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

So 58 percent of those surveyed are wrong… that’s all.

D2Boston on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

I don’t need no stinking poll to validate me that what is being considered in Washington is folly.

Unlike the elite, I can think for myself, thank you.

turfmann on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

The Republicans can never properly frame an issue.

How about

This is the worst economy since Jimmy Carter’s recession – and how did we get the economy rolling again? – with President Reagan’s tax cuts.

huckleberryfriend on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

58% actually believe there was a debate.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

MILLIONS voted AGAINST this POS PotUS and are burning uo the phone lines… These polls are lies! The Messiah is full of pork as is this un-Stimulus Bill… As more and more see the garbage in it, we gain support, but again, as usual, the Republicans are doing a horrible job of explaining the PORK… Take it line by line and call it out and we’d win over America fast… If not, the CULT wins!

Mark Garnett on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Why don’t I ever get polled? What are the odds of an accurate poll when only 1000 are polled?

ctmom on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Yes, but what do they disapprove of. That’s the real question, isn’t it?

I don’t think the GOP has been stellar here, but better than it has been recently.

lorien1973 on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Here’s an idea. It’s about expectations. Congress has to be seen doing something. Obama is out there saying pass it or else the economy burns down.

The GOP is saying they’re against this stimulus porkfest, but the public isn’t buying. Okay, but what action are they hoping the GOP to take?

Could it be that they want the GOP to hold the line on spending and do more to bring down the porkfest to reasonable levels and not go along with spending for government growth’s sake?

The Gallup question doesn’t exactly differentiate with the kind of action and why the GOP is not seen in a more positive light. It could be the result of being against the wishy-washy “bipartisan” efforts or it could be that they’re against the against the stimulus package altogether.

lawhawk on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

58% actually believe there was a debate.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Exactly.

Maxx on February 9, 2009 at 1:58 PM

It’s ok, the elections aren’t for two years. Keep standing firm, keep fighting, and keep telling the truth about what’s actually in the bil. The Porkulus bill is a sham, and the people must know it.

El_Terrible on February 9, 2009 at 1:58 PM

well, times change. Stick to your guns and they will. If not…you tried. and you weren’t a Yellow belly.

tomas on February 9, 2009 at 1:58 PM

Or maybe they want the GOP to oppose this bill with even more vigor and not even pretend to compromise.

Conservative Voice on February 9, 2009 at 1:58 PM

Why the surprise? I’m betting that the vast majority of the population still think the republicans are in charge of Congress. So, it doesn’t matter if Pelosi/Reid keep the republicans out of the room while crafting crap sandwich 2.5 because Mr. HopeNChangy got an awesome townhall/campaign stop coming up to inspire us to work together (except for those dastardly republicans)!

The country gets the gov’t it votes for.

I, for one, welcome our new socialist masters.

Mich_93 on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Sorry, but telling my kids we squandered their life’s earnings because “something had to be done, even if it was wrong”, just doesn’t cut it for me.

…and I would hope they expect nothing less.

cntrlfrk on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

58% are furious that the GOP isn’t going to filibuster.

ctmom on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Commenters have been kicking this around in Headlines, trying to figure out how the GOP can be taking a beating when big majorities favor more tax cuts in the bill and less spending.

Answer: the combined effects of the Marxist illiteracy cult (control of state-run schools) and sensuality cult (control of the cinema). This has been the most brilliant psychological operation in history. The Marxists are beating us and we don’t even know it.

Send_Me on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

BS poll devised by Axelrod, surely.

misslizzi on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Gee, 56% of the people who voted, voted for Him and 58% of the people polled are on board with this disaster. Hmmmm…I’d like to see the break down on that. Anyone?
I don’t put much credence in polls but “76 percent approve of Obama” is evidence that the honey moon is NOT over, yet.

Christine on February 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Comrade Obama’s Foreign Policy:

Free terrorists, Jail Bush

faraway on February 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM

And now for something completely different.

Weight of Glory on February 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM

The Republicans can never properly frame an issue.

huckleberryfriend on February 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM

Some try, but they have to first, frame it well with a great spokesman out there presenting it, second, they have to overcome the MSM in getting their message out, and third, they also have to fight against some of their own who work hand in hand with the Dems.

INC on February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Per Blumenthal, support is much less when you mention Congressional Democrats.

The Republicans necessarily are indetified as the Congressional GOP.

Congress is unpopular.

Republicans are slightly less popular at the moment than the GOP.

Who’da thunkit?

Put another way, this has almost nothing to do with the stimulus bill.

Karl on February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM

It is still a honeymoon, anything Obama does has to be defended or all of the pundits and his voters will look like goofs.
Right now he can do anything, and it will be accepted…until it fails…and so far, after about 3 weeks nothing has really failed (except him putting together a cabinet).

right2bright on February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM

“You cursed brats! Look what you’ve done! I’m melting! Melting! Oh, what a world, what a world! Who would’ve thought a good little girl peons like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness? I’m gone! I’m gone! I’m going!”

The switchboards are melting.
How dare Americans take control of their own nation, not to hard to predict after the amnesty debacle.

Speakup on February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Gee when you do all your polling on the Upper West Side, Cambridge, San Francisco, and Ann Arbor – what do you expect?

Hilts on February 9, 2009 at 2:02 PM

The same people probably think the republicans are running congress right now.

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Sadly, I think you may be right about this. Then again it’s not helping that Obama and the other Senate Democrats are making it seem like it’s the Republicans that are blocking this bill.

This bill has no road block except for the public disapproval and the Democrats wanting some cover for when everything ends in disaster.

MobileVideoEngineer on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

And now for something completely different.

Weight of Glory on February 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM

You won’t find that poll on CNN or NYT…good catch.

right2bright on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

The reason people don’t like the GOP’s handling of the stimulus debate is because nobody likes the GOP’s handling of anything… too bad they can’t talk about spreading the wealth and community organizing because that’s the only way you kill government… until they figure that out they’re screwed…

ninjapirate on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

We need Christian Bale handling the stimulus debate for us.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

At this point, its all about brand name, and recognition.

Any mention of the GOP comes with an over 50% negative factor, no matter what they are doing or saying…

You could do a poll that says “The GOP says the sky is blue, do you agree?” and over 50% would disagree, just because you mention the Republicrats.

And I might add… I, as a Fiscal Conservative, do not agree with how the PARTY is playing this… individuals have the right idea, but the party as a whole has no direction… or the three Senate Traitors would not be so bold…

Romeo13 on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Read mrc.org or newsbusters.org and you’d understand why.

Information has been turning the tide, but the lamestream media is intentionally keeping the public from knowing the truth.

madmonkphotog on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Rush reports that calls going into congressional offices are hundreds to one against the stimulus, much along the lines of the amnesty bill.

BrianA on February 9, 2009 at 1:55 PM

Glad to hear that. I’ve called my own senators in state because D.C. is busy, busy, busy.

I have been able to reach Collins and Snowe in Maine. I’ve called all of Specter’s PA numbers twice. I think I may have gotten through to one voice mail at the last number, but I wasn’t sure as it seemed to rout me into dead air.

INC on February 9, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Thank you Send_Me…that seems to be the most plausible assessment yet.
The way questions are posed in these pollz are always suspect.

Christine on February 9, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Take another poll when China decides not to pay for Obama’s spending tornado anymore.

Chuck Schick on February 9, 2009 at 2:04 PM

My guess: A combination of Hopenchange fee-vah among the public and the fear that something big needs to be done soon, in whatever form.

AllahPundit displays a classic case of projection.

BigD on February 9, 2009 at 2:04 PM

The country gets the gov’t it votes for.

I, for one, welcome our new socialist masters.

Mich_93 on February 9, 2009 at 1:59 PM

thats for sure…and I hope the libs benefit the most

right4life on February 9, 2009 at 2:05 PM

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Amen!

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:05 PM

People are also wondering why Rasmussen’s numbers are so much lower than everyone else’s.

Hell, that’s easy. Read Blumenthal’s exposure of the crap questions. Rassmussen’s poll is the only one that even hints at who has put this POS together.

It is, therefore, the only one to consider. Ignore everything else, and wtf would anyone care what CNN has to say about partisan politics?

Jaibones on February 9, 2009 at 2:05 PM

At one time, polls were a useful assessment of public opinion.

Now, any poll you see is more likely to be propaganda than the truth.

Like everything else, the criminal politicians and their hollow-cheeked press sychopants have turned truth into fairy tales.

notagool on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

I could care less what most people think about the GOP’s handling of the debate NOW.

The public wants us to entertain more ideas that can fuck up the economy? Is that what they mean? Well then they can go complain about it while standing in an unemployment line for all I care.

Tacitus_SGL on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

We might be burning up the lines, but we are not burning up the lines with our comments or suggestions…I have called at least 12 times and I am sent to a mailbox that is full…Then simply told “Goodbye” The bastards are not taking calls or allowing comment from anyone as their minds are held hostage by the Magic Suit…Anyone else get this treatment??

b4lucy on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

I think I could survey 1,000 people right now and find the same result: people are not paying attention.

Republicans need to find 1-5 talking points on this bloated bill and keep hammering them. They had success when mocking the national mall grass spending, the contraceptive spending and the hollywood money feast. So those were quickly taken out.

Now, Republicans should go after 1-5 more of the crazy spending items and do the same. Wash, rinse, repeat. Short attention spans – keep it simple for the people.

Rockygold on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

I call BS on this poll on BO.

The MSM are trying their best to cover Obama and liberal’s asses. All of us can smell the reeking stench of the bill and phone lines are jammed as well as e-mail storage. We hate this bill and the hike on taxes and the inflation that will result from this bill.
Since the White House has their little girl chat with Stephanopolus, Carville, Begala, and Rahm; why wouldn’t they have one with pollsters.
Rasmussen is the one I trust here. And he has consistently shown approval ratings for Obama and the porkulus sliding.

jencab on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

Who would’ve thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness? I’m gone! I’m gone! I’m going!”

Speakup on February 9, 2009 at 2:01 PM

LMAO.

Jaibones on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

So far, I have not heard of ANYONE at all who likes this bill and it comes up in just about every conversation. The other polls are either lying or polling folks they know will take the far left stance.(or both)

jeanie on February 9, 2009 at 2:06 PM

58% disapprove of GOP’s handling of stimulus debate

I wonder if this has anything to do with McCain being the “Face” of the Opposition.

ChrisM on February 9, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Don’t concentrate so much on Obama’s overall approval number. Look at the drill down metrics. According to Rasmussen:

1/23/09
Strongly approve: 45%
Strong disapprove 16%

Today:
Strongly approve: 38%
Strong disapprove 24%

The lemmings are finally waking up. The battles are always for the middle. And this means that 7-8% just moved from Kool-Aid drinking Obamatrons who see the MESSIAH as doing no wrong, to middle of the road types. All in just 2 weeks.

angryed on February 9, 2009 at 2:08 PM

My guess: A combination of Hopenchange fee-vah among the public and the fear that something big needs to be done soon, in whatever form.

AllahPundit displays a classic case of projection.

BigD on February 9, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Actually, I think I’ve figured out who AllahPundit is.

Arlen Specter.

BigD on February 9, 2009 at 2:08 PM

Obamas no to the Iraq war is what gave him the MSM cred “judgment to lead” when that turned sour .

Another “do anything now” , situation.

The fact that he was wrong about the surge, well, another story.

So standing against the Porkulus will give cred when it tanks. And the debt is even larger , and give a mandate to change..

If the economy recover with the porkulus, no one will vote for GOP anyway. When it tanks with the support of GOP , why not reelect the devil you know ( Democrats ) .
It hard to get a mandate with “we voted for it , but we were against it”.

the_nile on February 9, 2009 at 2:09 PM

Fear is a powerful motivator. It will over ride common sense and make people do things that in hindsight were counter intuitive.
With unemployment numbers as high as they are, and continuing talk of more months of hundred of thousands layoffs it is not hard to see how most people want something to be done, even if it isn’t the right thing.
The only argument that works around here is telling folks there is not a single thing in this bill that will instantly bring the jobs back. No matter how much money the government throws at this, it will in the end, be the private sector that has to straighten this out.
In most sections of this bill, regardless of what sector they are targeted towards, billions of dollars of our money is going to be entrusted into the hands of a few people to make the decisions on how to spend it.
For instance the Department of Energy is getting $51 billion dollars. Steven Chu is the new Energy Secretary and gets to decide how it will be spent. Before assuming this post he was holed up in a tree in Berkeley, CA protesting the plan to cut down the trees. Last week he was speaking out on how global warming was going to wipe out the agriculture business in CA.
Feel better now.

Just A Grunt on February 9, 2009 at 2:10 PM

It would take a strong free-market ideologue, on the order of Reagan or Ron Paul, to resist the political pressure to act for the sake of acting.

Actually, this has less to do with the free market than with the care of our monetary system. The problem is that we are risking our monetary system to save economic pain. That is an awful risk/reward ratio, as the risk is the total disintegration of our nation.

progressoverpeace on February 9, 2009 at 2:10 PM

Yeah the three that are turncoats!

Easydoesit on February 9, 2009 at 2:10 PM

Anyone think that the press will magically change in about 12-14 months showing that things are “turning around”?

Anyone believe there won’t be story after story from the press about how we need to keep Dems in office so they can finish what they started and “keep turning things around”?

Anyone believe we’ll get these stories whether they are true or not?

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:11 PM

Take another poll when China decides not to pay for Obama’s spending tornado anymore.

Remember, Bush was popular with the Chinese. I don’t think Obama will be, especially when he starts acting like a dictator.

izoneguy on February 9, 2009 at 2:12 PM

Raise your hand if you have ever been polled….

Bueller? Frye? I’ve been polled by market research companies about do I like Coke or Pepsi. But never in my 35 years on this earth have I ever been asked by a pollster anything to do with politics. And I find that a little odd given the fact there are literally thousands of polls done ever year. And if each poll asks 1000 people, that means there are millions of people being polled every year. And you’d think that once, just once I would be part of that.

Instead it always seems to be people who think spending $1T on giving out condoms and caulking crack houses is a good idea.

And so to paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld…who the fuck are these people that are getting the calls from Gallup?

angryed on February 9, 2009 at 2:13 PM

Take another poll when China decides not to pay for Obama’s spending tornado anymore.

I am not an economist, but I have heard for years now that the Chinese will never call in their chits because it is the American consumer that props up their whole economy.

So, what happens when Americans stop consuming?

BigD on February 9, 2009 at 2:14 PM

MSM Polls are irrelevant.

Firebird on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Has anyone noticed that the 2010 Census is now being controlled by the White House? Particularly Rahm Emmanuel?

Uh…..this actually has more importance than how many billions we’re going to throw away….

BobMbx on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

BTW this weekend Barney Frank was on Meet the Depressed and actually said something I agree with. Paraphrasing but something along the lines of the American voter is responsible for who is in congress so the average voter must take some responsibility for this spending bill.

Just A Grunt on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

President Ogabe is doing so well that he has to hit the campaign trail to sell his stimulus monstrosity?

Bishop on February 9, 2009 at 2:16 PM

Just A Grunt on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Typical lowering of expectations. The Dems know this is a POS. They. Don’t. Care.

When this POS blows up and splatters the entire country, the Dems will blame the American populace

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM

Just wait until America has to pay the bill…. things will CHANGE, I HOPE.

stenwin77 on February 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM

Just A Grunt on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

So he was basically saying, everyone knows i am an idiot, but the people who voted me in are bigger idiots, and responsible for putting an idiot like me in charge. Ha that’s classic!

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM

Barry,

Put the Porkulus on eBay, just like Blago did with your senate seat.

/Iowahawk, I’m looking at you!

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:18 PM

As I wrote in the headline thread:

Who gives a rat’s a$$ if a majority approves of the way the debate is handled? A year from now, all they are going to know is that this crappy “stimulus” passed and that it didn’t do squat to help the economy. To the degree they remember the Republican opposition to the bill by then, it can only be helpful to the GOP.

thirteen28 on February 9, 2009 at 2:19 PM

Stupidity and ignorance go together. They voted for Obama didn’t they?

tarpon on February 9, 2009 at 2:19 PM

My guess : Stupidity. The same people probably think the republicans are running congress right now.

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Target. Cease fire.

Just listening to the yo yo’s here at the bank I work for doesn’t bode well.

Plus given the kid glove treatment of BO with the broken glass glove treatment to Repub’s I’m surprised the number wasn’t higher.

VikingGoneWild on February 9, 2009 at 2:20 PM

do we really need ANOTHER poll to prove the stupidity of the voting public? i thought that matter was settled conclusively Nov 4 ‘08

gatorboy on February 9, 2009 at 2:22 PM

I want the Republicans to forcefully oppose the pork bill, but they have failed to offer an alternative.

Given the agenda that drove the development of this bill and the fact that there is apparently no one who has a handle on all of its provisions, it can’t be rehabilitated by amendment. The R’s don’t have any plan of their own and have yet to articulate core values– because the party lacks core values.

obladioblada on February 9, 2009 at 2:24 PM

Plus given the kid glove treatment of BO with the broken glass glove treatment to Repub’s I’m surprised the number wasn’t higher.

VikingGoneWild on February 9, 2009 at 2:20 PM

Great point.

MDWNJ on February 9, 2009 at 2:24 PM

The approval number for Republicans is getting hit on both ends. Conservatives think they are not doing enough to stop the bill, and RINOs/liberals think they are being obstructionist. All that in spite of the fact that they can do little to stop/obstruct the bill in any way.

I think the 58% number is misleading because people on both ends of the spectrum are voting “dissatisfied” with Republicans for opposite reasons.

forest on February 9, 2009 at 2:24 PM

I think Porkulus and Spendulus are catchy, but they lack a personalizing touch. We need to pin this thing on Barry permanently. For the ages. For the children. Ladies and gentlemen, I present for your consideration The Obama Doctrine.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

The poll is simply designed to get that exact effect – make squishy Republicans squirm so maybe they’ll jump on board.

No coincidence this came out right the day the vote is expected?

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

THE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA IS COMPLETE!

Thank you mainstream lying media…..

SDarchitect on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

Has anyone noticed that the 2010 Census is now being controlled by the White House? Particularly Rahm Emmanuel?

Uh…..this actually has more importance than how many billions we’re going to throw away….

BobMbx on February 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Yea don’t be surprised when Alabama, Texas and Georgia suddenly have a 10% drop in population while Michigan miraculously gains 200,000 people and California gains 2 million people = more EVs for Obama’s 2012 campaign locked in.

angryed on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

The Obama Doctrine Economy.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

Better?

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Reagan even ran up defecits, to the point the Rothbard clique called him a Traitor and ‘warmongerer’.

That type of spending isn’t always bad, especially if GDP is growing larger(which it did, and has been doing until very recently). Milton Friedman taught that was the big measure, spending as percent of GDP. Its ashame this problem wasn’t kicked down the road a year or so

jp on February 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM

If the public heard what Rush is talking about right now regarding Dem plans to limit Seniors access to healthcare, and require them to live with their conditions as a normal process of aging because its too expensive to treat them, these numbers would flip in a minute.

Yoo Hoo, Sen. Specter. You shouldn’t have treated your cancer. You’re elderly and a costly burden. It’s for the greater good, dontcha know.

Buy Danish on February 9, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Well, we were simply raised to tell the truth.
That concept would probably poll worse than that 58% negative from the crappy corrupted electorate that this nation is currently saddled with.

TexasJew on February 9, 2009 at 2:28 PM

One, if you oversample democraps and independents you will get numbers like this. Moreover, the public may still somehow believe that the republicans are the majority in congress not the democrats (hence the republicans are obstructing Obama, but if the dems were the majority they could sail any decent bill through).

eaglewingz08 on February 9, 2009 at 2:30 PM

to add on to Allah’s point on “Hoover/Bush”….I think in Bush’s case he had to make a choice, effectively. Burn all his political capital on Foreign Policy and National Security, don’t take a devistating and dangerous Defeat in iraq the Dems chose to politicize/lie about and keep a truely strong standing in the world. At the cost of whoring yourself out to congress to keep them from pulling the rug out from under this like Vietnam.

Or, let us collapse and look like a truely weak Paper Tiger and spend all of your political capital domestically. i.e. stand up to COngress, veto, etc.

I don’t think in our political environment, with all the power that has been gradually stripped from the Executive branch, you can do both.

jp on February 9, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Yoo Hoo, Sen. Specter. You shouldn’t have treated your cancer. You’re elderly and a costly burden. It’s for the greater good, dontcha know.

Buy Danish on February 9, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Surely he must understand that? Unless, of course, he regards himself as somehow above the requirements for the average citizen.

Jaibones on February 9, 2009 at 2:34 PM

Thank you Send_Me…that seems to be the most plausible assessment yet.
The way questions are posed in these pollz are always suspect.
Christine on February 9, 2009 at 2:04 PM

A more thorough answer.

Send_Me on February 9, 2009 at 2:34 PM

forest is correct. Unless the question specifically asks in what way these people are dissatisfied with the GOP, then the whole poll is flawed and misleading from the get go.

MobileVideoEngineer on February 9, 2009 at 2:34 PM

The Obama Doctrine Economy.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM

Better?

catmman on February 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM

That works in the particular, yes. The Obama Economy is part of the overarching Obama Doctrine.

Christien on February 9, 2009 at 2:35 PM

Why don’t I ever get polled? What are the odds of an accurate poll when only 1000 are polled?

ctmom on February 9, 2009 at 1:57 PM

When I moved and set up a new phone account, they gave me the number of someone who had recently been disconnected and the previous owner of that phone number was on the pollsters’ A-List because all of the polling companies were calling for about a month or two, until they realized my responses to their questions weren’t what they were expecting.

I’m sure they call random phone numbers until their results begin to deviate from their desired results, and then they start calling their reliable respondees to get those poll results where they want them.

If the RNC called for all Republicans to boycott pollsters, the pollsters would all go out of business tomorrow. It would be beautiful.

Buddahpundit on February 9, 2009 at 2:36 PM

That type of spending isn’t always bad, especially if GDP is growing larger(which it did, and has been doing until very recently). Milton Friedman taught that was the big measure, spending as percent of GDP. Its ashame this problem wasn’t kicked down the road a year or so

jp on February 9, 2009 at 2:27 PM

But our GDP is shrinking, at the same time that our spending is tripling. Sounds like that ratio is currently exploding. And that was at a time when we weren’t 100% reliable on foreign bondholders keeping us all afloat by paying for our fiscal crack cocaine with a trillion in their shrinking dollar surpluses.
Friedman is lucky he didn’t live to see this fiasco.

TexasJew on February 9, 2009 at 2:37 PM

The people polled want the GOP stand up, like they got a pair, and call a spade a spade……this porkulus is ersatz communism pure and simple and it should be refuted with extreme prejudice.

paulsmos on February 9, 2009 at 2:38 PM

I don’t understand for one minute how the GOP can be losing to Obama with the public on this one. It doesn’t make a lick of sense.

t.ferg on February 9, 2009 at 2:39 PM

And now for something completely different.

Weight of Glory on February 9, 2009 at 2:00 PM

You should send that to Drudge…like someone has already said, no way you’ll see this on the evening news.

teffertoes on February 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM

I don’t think in our political environment, with all the power that has been gradually stripped from the Executive branch, you can do both.

jp on February 9, 2009 at 2:32 PM

Lunch break at the glue factory I see. Try to get some fresh air.

LevStrauss on February 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM

But our GDP is shrinking, at the same time that our spending is tripling. Sounds like that ratio is currently exploding. And that was at a time when we weren’t 100% reliable on foreign bondholders keeping us all afloat by paying for our fiscal crack cocaine with a trillion in their shrinking dollar surpluses.
Friedman is lucky he didn’t live to see this fiasco.

TexasJew on February 9, 2009 at 2:37 PM

oh I know, I just meant in general where some hard core budget hawks go nutter. like with Reagan’s spending on Defense.

depends what you are spending it on, but also if the Economy is Growing. Reagan liberated the economy and for the last 20 something years until very recently Spending was actually declining as a percent of GDP

jp on February 9, 2009 at 2:40 PM

Comment pages: 1 2


You must be logged in to post a comment.