Watch Bush's poll numbers dip waaay down & here's why

[eileen from OH]

He actually mentioned a NUMBER. Remember that most of the vast populace out there doesn't follow news like we do and while they hear and maybe even read numbers and statistics it becomes a jumble and just doesn't register. It's not real. But here, the President himself, not some Senator or candidate or talking head says he's asking for 86 BILLION for Iraq. This WILL register, especially for people who know vaguely that we have some sort of big deficit thing and there's this job problem. Does anyone know if a President, in a national address, ever mentioned an actual figure like that?

Oh, and I betcha the next poll that asks if Iraq was worth it will show a suprising shift as well.

That's my take, anyhoo.

eileen from OH

[w4rma]

1. 87 Billion (n/t)

[LoZoccolo]

2. I'd say that would be tempered...

...by how much they percieve it as protecting them from a threat. He said during the speech that Iraq had possesed and used weapons of mass destruction (was he talking about fifteen years ago? He couldn't have been talking about 2003), and seemed to imply that there was a link between al Quaeda and Iraq. We know these things are not true, but the fact that he mentioned them would most likely cement them as true in the minds of people who generally aren't following these stories (they must be true if the president said them - how could he think he'd get away with it if he was lying?). If they think they're under threat though, they'll spend it.

That having been said, this is a nightmare. I can't believe this country is so messed up.

[madrchsod]

5. just think

it took just two and half years, could you imagine another 4?

[madrchsod]

3. never thought of that !

you are right-i can hear the talk tomorrow in the workplace- this number will register with the people..of course it wouldn`t hurt to mention it to everyone you see.....

[TheYellowDog]

4. I would be not surprised

if the polls taken this week and next week show Bush with an under 50% approval rating, or barely 50/50. I could see 49 approve, 51 disapprove, happening. The key thing, folks, is to get him under 50%. Then the Democratic candidates can say that the majority of folks don't think Bush is doing a good job.

[fizzana]

6. Zogby already has him at below 50% (45% to be exact)

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=732

Bush Job Performance
Positive % Negative %

September 2003
45 54

August 2003
52 48

July 2003
53 46

March 2003
54 45

September 2002
64 36

September 2001
82 17

August 2001
50 49

January 2001
42 36

[MnFats]

7. Jeeeezaaaaahs! How many schools, public health centers...

....treatment programs, bridges, highways, scholarships, space exploration projects....well, you get the idea...could you fund with $86 billion?
what a fucking waste.

[ljm2002]

8. According to Senator Graham,

$87B would pay for *all* federal money spent on education. Or, alternatively, it would pay for *all* federal money spent on highway infrastructure and public transportation.

That's a very concrete picture of the tradeoff we have made in becoming a militaristic country.

[Dudley_DUright]

11. The federal share of education is about $50 billion

(and more like $20 billion for K-12 directly), so yes another $87 billion would more than double federal education spending.

[Arianrhod]

12. isn't this what the old Soviet Union did?

Propped up a handful of wealthy men who ran the country, undercut every social service and supportive infrastructure, and poured all its money into the military?

[waggawagga]

9. My Prediction, Bush Sinks to the Low 40s and Stays There

The $86 billion will hurt a bit. What will hurt him much more, though, is that he presented no exit strategy. He could have announced tonight some timetable for elections in Iraq. I think that's what the public will be looking for next November, some bona fide sense that the US will withdraw some day. There's so much in what Bush said tonight which suggests that he doesn't grasp this problem the Democrats should be feeling pretty good (because he's probably not going to figure it out over the next year, that will erode his numbers until he hits his base, around 40%, and it will be hard for him to come up).

[opihimoimoi]

10. Wrong, the dude will drop to 30 percent and maybe more.

He will soon be reduced to a babbling idiot of which he is close as I type

[Atlant]

13. He'll never drop below ~30%.

He'll never drop below ~30% because that's about how many
Fundie nutcases we have in this country, and they'd vote for
Bush even if Jesus Christ himself appeared and beseached them
not to.

NO Republican position ever polls lower than the low-mid thirties.

Atlant

[samsingh]

14. excellent analysis

i think you're right - people can now relate to an actual number.