CSPAN1 now----focus group with Dem pollster Peter Hart....

[Gloria]

doing it for the Annenberg Center, U of P.

God, they love Laura Bush, called Bill Clinton names, split on Hillary, with about 4 saying she's a "loser" (one guy--dynamic but too outspoken for her own good.)

These people aren't too complimentary about the candidates, either.....



Most resourceful in getting on a full plane...

Hillary (5) ....she's pushy, she's fast on her feet, etc.
Wes Clark (1)
Bill Clinton (talk someone out of their seat)


Most underhanded---
Bill Clinton
Dick CHeney (1)

Use Charm and Intellligence to get on plane

BIll
Hillary
combined...a lot
Laura BUsh (2)

Who would give up
Lieberman (20
Braun
Wes Clark (2)

Left in line, outflanked, left waiting for plane
Laura Bush (5) she's too nice
Lieberman
W
Sharpton

Most likable candidate as a human being even if disagree with policies
Have to fly for 4 hours next to them, no peanuts, will enjoy them
Any two, write down...

BUsh and LIeberman
Lieberman
Braun
George and Laura Bush
Kerry, Edwards
George & Laura (3)
George and Hillary
Hillary
CLinton and Dean

Is George Bush a likable person--why?
MORALS (!!)
Likable but the bulb doesn't burn very bright
Arrogant
Honest
Good cowboy, comes from TX
DIdn't bumble as bad as I expected

[qanda]

1. "Aren't too complimentary?"

Half of them don't even know who the candidates are. Some of them didn't even know Joe Lieberman and he ran for Vice-President. They are about the dumbest group of dimwits I've ever seen!

[Timefortruth]

5. I know!

The worst part is that these people will vote.

How can Hart learn anything useful from them, they can't even spell their names.

[w13rd0]

2. This is revolting...

...one thing it is clearly demonstrating is how easily manipulated and ill-informed people are. Now asking "likable candidates"...

Yikes. George and Laura, sorry, not for under 2 grand a plate you idiots...

Two people say Howard Dean and Bill Clinton are the persons they'd most like to sit down with. One woman said Hillary and Carol Mosley-Braun...

Interesting, but the Bushbots that keep talking about how moral Bush is, and how likable he is. But the people who don't like him aren't as vocal, they seem intimidated. "He comes from Texas"...no, sorry, he comes from Conneticut.

[phegger]

7. because we've all been told that "bush-hating" is treason

the people who don't like him aren't as vocal

because hating * is supposed to be some kind of stupid, knee-jerk emotional response...of course liking him reflexively is OK.


-ph :crazy:

[phegger]

3. yup

These people aren't too complimentary about the candidates, either.....

Hell most of them don't even know who they are. That always surprises me, but maybe it shouldn't. Most of these folks are leaning toward Bush or support him outright. Ack!! But maybe that explains why they have so little interest in looking at alternatives.


-ph B-)

[CWebster]

4. Don't you love the way they complain about the patriot act

and the tax cuts and the failing economy and Enron and environmental destruction and prescription drugs and foreign policy and then claim they are likely to vote for Bush, ("He is doing a pretty good job but he could be doing better") although they don't know who any of the Democrats are.

What in the hell is it going to take?

[phegger]

8. I wish I knew

What in the hell is it going to take?

Well they'd have to pay attention for one thing...

I've always resisted the "voters are stupid" meme, but I'm finding it harder and harder to avoid.

-ph :crazy:

[w13rd0]

6. Democracy fails...

...when people don't take an active role in being informed citizens.

Now talking about Dean.

Help me to meet Dean...huh?

Quiet and confident
Ability to observe
nice-looking
charisma
stands out in a crowd
conservative dresser
distinguished

(wow, a number of these folks are dumb as rocks)

someone who seems to be looking for someone

Is there anything that makes Dean special...haha, a clear Dean supporter, not surprisingly, one of the more well-informed persons. Funny, most of those that are not Bushbots are the more well-informed, shocking.

Ok, quiet demeanor (still on Dean)
intelligent
good speaker

Concerns or reservations:
lack of experience (???)
what's in his past?
like his views, but don't think he's electable...thinks he's liberal/progressive...
not an insider

Ok, now Joe Lieberman, help me meet Joe:
in his sixties, older person
small stature
energetic
fragile
looks like he's breakable (???)
curly hair
round face
hear him coming
concentrated stare

what makes Lieberman special:
honesty
longevity
compromiser
admire his environmental concerns
well-spoken

Shortcomings/concerns about Joe:
jewish
jewish
jewish
...jesh...
not strong
don't see him as a leader
he should be leader of a smaller country

<cont>

[w13rd0]

9. Ok, now they are doing Clark...

...
confident
towering
presidential looking
stage-presence
someone says they are waiting for negatives

best things/special:
strong
military
military
military
liberal and military is interesting mix
yes-man because he's in the military (think that was from a bushbot)

reservations:
rigid because of military
that he's a liberal in the military
don't know enough about him
military presence
baggage
military history
corner-cutter

OMG, someone, tell me this isn't really the face of America...

rank was being handed out, and he was there...


Asking questions:
What are views on situation in Iraq and how to move forward and resolve it?
War in iraq, economy and jobs.

No, ask a specific question of one of them.

Clark: what makes you tick? Where he's coming from. What's his position on issues, and why?

Ok, I missed something...

[diplomats]

10. Are these people Dems AND Repubs?

God, I hope they're not all Dems.

[w13rd0]

12. mix...

...and I say this: the Democrats and Independents are WORLDS better informed and more intelligent than the Republicans. The Republicans are all bleeding idiots.

And I don't know, even the Republicans are saying they were dissappointed that he didn't get more international support before going in.

OMG, and it's funny, the Bushbots are still spreading misinformation. Saying that the French, Germans, Russians were stonewalling for financial interests. "He lied to get us there, but he did the right thing." ????? WHA!!!!

Bush has a problem with multi-tasking. He seems single and small minded. Shoots from the hip, not a good way to do things.

[diplomats]

16. What are the Dems and Independents saying about Bush?

[KoKo]

11. Just reading your post and not watching C-Span this sounds like "Put Up

Job!"

What kind of questions are these? Who do you want to sit next to on an airplane? Who's the most pushy?

I thought your post was an interview with Peter Hart. What kind of stunt is this? He sounds like he's trying to be Frank Luntz!

I don't understand the questions or the premise. :shrug:

[w13rd0]

13. The Bushbots are hilarious...

...they KNOW this stuff, yeah, he got into Yale because of his dad, and he doesn't speak well, and I'd like to see more done about healthcare and the economy, but I'm gonna vote for him.

MORANS!

[jburton]

14. uninformed bunch

I know it's "early" so most people have no clue, but why would they pick people who haven't even heard of the candidates?

[w13rd0]

17. Sadly...

...because many (even the majority) of the US population will willfully continue to be as ill-informed...

[w13rd0]

15. Even the Bushbots say they wish they could graft...

...Clintons speaking ability and intelligence onto Bush.

Thank god he has good people around him (referring to Bush)...OMG...he's a shitty judge of character surrounded by crooks and creeps...

Now talking about the debt...

[nomaco-10]

18. I'm sitting here shaking my head at

some of the answers from these people. "I like bush*, I think he's a good family man, I don't think he'd cheat on his wife". Are you kidding me, people actually base their support on such factors?
The moron who keeps saying "bush* lied to get us to war, but it was the right thing to do" ASTOUNDING! "Clinton wasn't responsible for the good economy" IDIOT
You mean these morons actually vote? Truly scary.

[diplomats]

22. Yes, there are people who DO base their support on that

:eyes:

[w13rd0]

19. This may not be PC...

...but the left-leaning are far more intelligent. The bushbots seem to be complete idiots. Haha, now they are talking about what they've seen from Bush's "tax cuts". Good thing to stimulate the economy. All he did was throw billions to his friends. Car metaphors.

How many say tax cuts were a good idea. NO ONE!!!!!

SIX of TEN said it was a BAD idea.

Now on the 87 billion for Iraq.

Feelings on this...

Gail: opposed, loans because they should repay it.

Dianne: opposed, loans.

John: opposed, loans.

Ok, this is actually interesting. The Republicans have become expert at getting people to vote AGAINST their interests.

Joe: not opposed, but should be loans. Think of what 87 billion would do in this country.

Very interesting...

The people saying this that will still vote for Bush are complete idiots.

Bill & Sue: approve, grants.

some other woman: half and half loan and grant

lisa: still trying to figure out where we are getting this money from...if we have it, loan. where's it coming from?

what message are you trying to send?

Attempted to banish the bad guys, but now its time to get our troops home (bushbot)

Know when to say when, let's come up with an exit strategy

Finish the job, with the help of other countries (they don't want to help)

Know long term plan and not forget about the people in this country


--------
what's the most important thing you are looking at when deciding your vote?

Joanne: my main concern is jobs in the country and jobs going overseas, she's gonna listen and make her decision. She'd like to learn more about Dean. (interesting, she was voicing support for Bush)

Aneasa: she wants to see a well-thought out plan for addressing our concerns, she'll be taking her time to look at all the candidates, but will likely vote Dem.

Gail: don't forget about American people, take a look at each candidate. She'd like to learn more about all the candidates.

Betty: on prescriptions, 8 on 1-10 voting for Bush. She voted for him in 2000. But she wants prescription drugs. Dems are fighting each other, and she doesn't hear what she wants to hear. She wants to hear more from Clark and Edwards.

Doug: issues domestically, other foreign concerns. He wants a guy that'll do the job he wants him to do. Bush is good on foreign, bad on domestic. He wants to hear more from Dean and Kerry. Haha, mistakenly, he identifies Kerry as a Dem, but not Dean (?_/

Jeanine: no one is issuing plans, she wants a plan to feed our own people.

Bill: it's all about issues. Negative ads aren't going to turn us off or on. We needed to be treated like intelligent human beings.

Marco: policy, don't want to hear about what was done wrong. Want to hear step 5 rather than step 1. No bashing. He wants to hear more about Clark.

John: i want to know what they are going to do about the economy, things in this country. Wants to look more at Edwards and Dean. New blood. Past 4-5 decades have been lies. Let's hear step 5 and 6. I want someone to do something for us.

Joe: agree with Sue, what are you going to do in the future.

Moe: tell us your plans (why, you don't read them?). I want to know more about Kerry and Edwards.

[jburton]

20. TAX CUTS!!!

Wow, on tax cuts I expected these folks to be all rosy, but only one person said the tax cuts were a good idea, and even he was not very gung-ho.

Interesting....

[Gloria]

21. Running transcript........

God, are they dumb!! (my first comment was early on just as I tuned in)

How disheartening!!!

Help me to meet ...Howard Dean at the airport.. What are you looking for?

Quiet confidence
A little charisma
Conservative dresser
Distinguished

ONly one or two are even answering.....pitiful!

Anything special about him?
Progressive gov. in Vermont
Homosexuals
Physician?
Compassionate, part of his nature
quiet demeanor, listens before he speaks
First to successfully use the internet to raise$$
Seems intelligent
Straightforward when he speaks

Concerns, reservations?
What's in his past??
Like his views, but not electable, liberal stances
LIberaliness, homosexual issues, moral issues turns me right off
Not an insider




Meet Joe Lieberman

In his 60's older person
small stature
energetic
fragile..in demeanor and in his face,looks breakable
curly hair, round face
concentrated stare
older

Special? Admire?
Inegrity, honesty
Longevity
Compromiser
Environmental concerns
well spoken

Shortcomings?
Jewish
Same boat as Catholics when Kennedy elected
Strong enough in the situation we're in now...past bills, etc.
Not strong enough to be a leader
Not strong enough to be the leader of this country,...something smaller!


Meet Wesley Clark

Look for
Good posture
Straight as an arrow
Perserverence
Confidence
Gray hair
Smile
Presidential look

Why these images??
His stage presence

Best things about him?
Command authority
strong--military background
Both a liberal and military...and interesting mix, not a lot of people have
Will be a yes man, since he was in the military


Reservations?
Too rigid because ofthe military background
Carries baggage, didn't do things the right way in the military, cutting corners...lot of people in the military are saying that...He'll fail, won't get it done
But he wouldn't get promoted if he didn't get things done
Luck--when rank was being handed out, he was there...

Questions to ask each?
Situation in Iraq, how to resolve
Agenda on Iraq, economy and jobs?

Specifically?
Clark--what makes you tick? Where he's coming from, what is his position on all the issues and why does he have that position

Clark--what's right, what's wrong and what will you do to fix it?

All politicians..
Then we won't vote for any of them!!

BUSH
Admre

Guts to go to Iraq--lied to get us there, but it took guts, Clinton knew had 8years, father started, he finished
Good family man, true to his wife
Presidencey back to the level up here, look up to it
Guts to stand up to who he should have stood up to...Jimmy Carter/Iran
Good man, kind heart,needs more experience, education to get the job done
Good family man, have to look up to the President , he's truly concerned, not sure what he's going to do next...
Situation after 911, stood up for the country...but doesn't trust the Republicans. Didn't like how they operated on school board, stepping stone to get somewhere else

Disappoints?
Didn't get into war with more UN support..had to do what he did, but rather not be a lone cowboy out there
Oil fields in Iraq..promised to Germany, France, Russia..took guts to do it in the face...lied, but did the right thing (this is from a teacher!!) No shortcomings
Problem with multi-tasking...focus on terrorism, that's what he talks about, other issues going on
Wrong--get em dead or alive, shooting from the hip
Doesn't speak well when he's put on the job
Let's be real, he isn't very smart...not savvy with those he surrounded himself with

Needs to pay more attention to the health care system...doesn't want gov. in it much, keep it like it is now but
Afraid if he doesn't get in for another 4 years, I'm afraid what will happen (!) Very happy with Bush (a realtor)
Shortsightedness--no follow through on a lot of policy, no child left behind


A quality you'd like to see in him?
Clinton's speaking, oration
Clinton's intelligence
Speaking
actor like Reagan
Speaking ability
Intelligence
Bill CLinton's charisma
PUblic speaking of Clinton
Speaking ability of Clinton
Intelligence...thank god he's got some good people around him


Finally,,,,the budget deficit!!
Big thing, very concerned (the teacher)
Kids will wind up paying
COngress can't keep opening the checkbook, chekcs and balances
Republican policies brought us to this, tax cuts
Clinton barelky had anything to do with the economy and surplus (yound "investment adviser)...everyone knows this, cyclical, stock market
Disagree...it was under his reign that deficit went down, under Bush it went up
Problems in Middle East, can't blame one person
Not a time to do tax cuts...a tragecy, a real tragedy...Bush not responsible in any "grand way"
Right after 911, Bush says to go out and SPEND..tax cut tried to foster that, timing wasn't right....keep going, keep spending..
I saw nothing in my paycheck...we were duped pure simple
First $600..put rugs in..that was it...Shouldn't have had tAx cut in the first place

Tax cut good? nobody raised hand, 1 don't know,, 1 OK (rug)
Bad idea? 6 others in the middle

$87 billion to Iraq?
Loan, need money here ----most of them
1/2 loan, 1/2 gift
Where is it coming from??

[Gloria]

23. Vote in 2004....1 firm on Bush, the rest are more undecided...

Want more info on Dean, Edwards, Clark....
Jobs, economy.
No bashing, want to be treated intelligently
Teacher interested in learning about Kerry
Forget the bash, want to know what's going on in the future.

Idea of step 5, what do you plan to do instead of doing it on the fly..
More about Edwards...

[diplomats]

25. Only one person's solidly for Bush?

That's not too bad.

[w13rd0]

24. Now the study group is doing analysis and examination...

...talking about airport scenario.

Hillary Clinton, controversial but admiration.

Different way to look for what they are going to be looking for.

So much mention of Clinton. Is it that they know more, or are they dominating personalities?

When they talked about Bush, they saw likability in Bush, even if they didn't like his policies. (What bunk, that's marketing...)

911 shields him...his difficulty is that even those that said they'd vote for him didn't like his policies...

Lot of openings for the democrats. Lot of down sense of where the country is at. Mostly uncertain and negative.

Do we see anger? No.

Resignation, nervousness...

Kept coming back to Joanne, who said she wanted to hear more about Dean, gave a 7 for likelihood to vote for Bush, but she didn't like any of Bush's policies. Intrigue with Edwards, Clark and Dean.

Clark projects a whole demeanor. Only one that most had an impression of or opinion on.

Edwards appealed to several.

Don't know enough...don't know enough...

A lot of concern on Iraq.

Lot of let's figure other ways of dealing with these things.