Bush at 47 percent in American Research Group poll

[diplomats]

And check out the updated Pollkatz graph:

[RaulGroom]

1. You know what I don't get?

Who are these people who, the day before we started bombing Iraq, thought Bush was doing a shitty job, and then, the day after, thought he was cool? "Bush sucks! Oh, he started a war? Never mind. I like him now."

I'm nonviolent generally, but if you absolutely have to slap somebody, please slap one of these people.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. I totally agree

It's utterly mindboggling how poll numbers can jump like that from week-to-week.

But then again, if they didn't, we probably would never have gone to war in the first place.

[NeonLX]

10. Morans. Plain and simple.

The country is full of 'em. And yes, I meant to spell it "morans". You've seen that pic of the pro-war protestor, haven't you?

[RaulGroom]

13. My favorite picture on my hard drive

Is CSPAN's pic of the pathetic anti-anti-war demo last October. There are seriously like twelve people there, standing around looking confused. Funniest thing I ever saw. Their signs were great too; there was one with this weird, goofy pic of uncle sam with George Bush's face that made me vaguely uneasy, like I had lice or something.

Those aren't the people I mean, though - they already were pro-bush in February. I'm talking about people who didn't like Bush before the war but liked him afterwards. Who are these people? I really want to know. Can somebody give me a profile?

[NeonLX]

15. yeah, I know what your talking about

But I can't figure it out either. My guess is that so many people just go whichever way the political winds blow them. They don't have a real firm grasp on the issues and their exposure to "news" might only be on the order of five minutes per day--they just react to soundbites and spin. They don't have any in-depth knowledge of the issues, nor do they want any...

[Brotherjohn]

18. Read my post below. I think it's an artificial war-time bounce. Also...

... what you say about people not being informed is by-and-large true. But as Bush's (or any president's) term nears its end, people do get more and more information with which to judge him... simply because he has more a chance to prove (or hang) himself.

As Bush's term has played out, even the less curious among the populace gain more and more information with which to make their decisions on Bush. As the gradual downward trend shows, the results of this are not good for Bush.

Some point out that his approval is comparable to Reagan or Clinton at similar points in their first terms. While that may be true, both of those presidents' approval ratings were trending UPWARDS, whereas Bush's are heading in the opposite direction. Not a good sign for a president approaching his fourth year. In fact, the trend is not unlike his father's, or Carter's.

[Beetwasher]

19. Past Presidents had already hit their lowest points and were

on the upswing at this point in their terms. I believe it's you who regularly posts that terrific graphic!

Interestingly enough, I believe Kennedy had similar numbers in his term right about now and, well...

[Brotherjohn]

21. You mean past presidents who were re-elected, of course.

Carter and Bush I were not.

Yeah, I often post that graphic. I'd hang it on my office wall, if I knew it wouldn't get me much grief from my work-mates in the Repub haven I live in.

[Brotherjohn]

17. It's more a "pull-together" effect.

People are more willing to say they're "behind the president" during a war. Same thing, to a greater extent, happened after 9-11, when we felt vulnerable and reeling. We REALLY felt "at war" then, when Iraq only felt "sort of" like a war to most Americans. It was enough to give him a small, temporary bump. It wasn't that those people suddenly changed their mind about Bush.

The REAL opinion people have about Bush is demonstrated in the gradual, steady decline throughout his term as demonstrated by the Pollkatz graphic. When he came into office, and especially after 9-11, people were giving him the benefit of the doubt that he was indeed a "compassionate conservative", that he was going to be "a uniter, not a divider". They have gradually, over time, realized that they were mistaken in giving him this benefit, and more and more people have been turning away from him.

[Bandit]

22. The brand new Zogby poll says 31% of DEMOCRATS are proud of Bush*

Democrats my ass.

[Beetwasher]

16. These are people who feel you have to support the Pres.

during a time of war. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll vote for him, but they feel it's necessary to "support" him..

[izzie]

20. Seems if the prez has someone shot off a gun we all stand beside him.

Really is odd. Are we really such war lovers as that?

[RuB]

23. There is a WWF mentality in this country who loves violence.

They cheer on the hard hits in football. They cheer when the benchs are emptied at baseball games. They are the parents who tell their children that you must win at all costs. They are the ones who think sports are more important than academics and find nothing wrong with having the teachers pass them just because they need a successful season of sports. There is a whole culture of violence in this country that like the so-called macho impression the idiot Bushie gives to the country.

I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THE IRAQ WAR, I was for the Afganistan war, even though I didn't decieve myself or try to decieve anyone else, we went to war in Afganistan against a stone age people, so it was kinda hard for me to brag about destroying that country, even Iraq(especially from 5 miles up). Oh and btw, GO YANKEE'S!

[diplomats]

2. Bush's three most recent polls have him at

50 percent (Pew), 49 percent (Zogby) and 47 percent (American Research Group.)

[Submariner]

12. I don't see those reported on the news

The news (TV) keeps reporting that Gallup poll which was 56% yesterday, and chimpy's pundits keep saying the MAJORITY of americans support the pResident. I'm baffled that a majority could support that idiot.

[amlouden]

3. good

this is good, untill the next big thing that happens

[tom_paine]

7. And it will happen...bank on it

Just another coincidentally "lucky trifecta" for the Busheviks.

Perhaps the Death of Raygun is slated for Oct. 2004.

Something sure is, and I would rather the Busheviks murdered Raygun than allowed 3,000 innocent Amerikans murdered as on 9-11.

[Beetwasher]

5. Link?

Thanks!

I feel like a broken record, but again, more evidence that the downward trend is continuing.

Gallup's got lots of 'splainin' to do:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=534560

[diplomats]

6. Sorry!

Here it is:

http://www.americanresearchgroup.com

[Beetwasher]

9. Wow! 47% Dissaproval too!

That's huge, considering the "Undecideds" are more than likely leaning negative, but don't want to SAY they dissaprove...

[MetaTrope]

8. Won't these pollers be surprised

When the infallible touch-screen vote gives Bush a landslide victory next year!

[RaulGroom]

11. And some shameless self-promotion

Has anyone noticed that the Zogby Sound Bites crawler has had my "What About Joe Lieberman" as its top story for three months? He must have really liked when I mentioned him in the same sentence as God and eccentric billionaires.

I'll have to mention him again in my next column, maybe he'll give me some stock options or something. ;)

[papau]

14. 43% approval on economy! - When will US Media blast these numbers around?

Funny how the talking heads do not discuss the lack of success of the last 20 days of Rovian PR - PR that was pre-announced so that it's success could be noted. Maybe only the media are sheep and/or acting like whores to the GOP - while the public is catching on to the right wing bias in the media?

http://americanresearchgroup.com

Bush Job Approval Ratings
10/21/03 Approve Disapprove Undecided

Overall ............47%.. 47% 6%
Economy......... 43%.. 52% 5%

Fits the other polls - Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Oct. 15-19, 2003..
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?" If "Depends": "Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?"
Approve Disap-prove Don'tKnow
% % %
10/15-19/03 50 42 8
9/17-22/03 55 36 9

and Zogby International America Poll and Reuters/Zogby Poll

President Bush -- Job Rating:
Excellent/Good Fair/Poor NotSure
% % % N
10/15-18/03 49 51 -



Likewise the latest Right Track/Wrong Track from Peww Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Oct. 15-19, 2003.

"All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country today?"
Satisfied Dissat-isfied NoOpinion
% % %
10/03 38 56 6
7-8/03 40 53 7
4/03 50 41 9


And from Ipsos-Reid/Cook Political Report Poll. Oct. 7-9, 2003.
"Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?"
RightDirection WrongTrack NotSure
% % % .
10/7-9/03 39 54 7 .
9/16-18/03 37 57 6