Manipulation Through "Terror," A Graphical Representation

[Syrinx]

I was curious. So I downloaded the scripts for Bush's recent
Saturday morning radio addresses. Then I counted the number
of times that the words "terror," "terrorist," "terrorists,"
and "terrorism" were mentioned in each address.

Then I got the recent Bush approval ratings from the Gallup
poll, and compared the two sets of numbers. I was struck
by the pattern that emerged.

Here is a graph demonstrating Bush's approval ratings for
the period from January 2004 until mid-March 2006.



Here is a similar graph showing the number of times the
"terror"-related words were used in each month's
Saturday morning addresses.



And here are the two graphs together.



I think it's pretty interesting.

EDIT to include sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/radio/text/index.html

http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob1.htm

[Dhalgren]

1. No shit! Great presentation! K&R!

[Suich]

2. Good catch!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry! Thanks for posting...you should update it every month or so between now and November!

[xiamiam]

3. americans got tired of being terrorized...finally....nt

[Emit]

4. Seems like the more he cries wolf now

the less effect it is having. Despite an increase in his use of the word terror, his approval rating numbers keep dropping. Interesting.

What concerns me is that they are probably keeping track of the same info, and more accurately. Are they pondering now something more powerful than just saying the word terror?

[doublethink]

5. Hmmm good summarization. K&R. Peace.

[hvn_nbr_2]

7. Used to work. People are either wising up or just not listening. nt

[ArbustoBuster]

15. It's like a drug.

The junkie has to use more and more of it every time to get the same high.

And Bush has pushed the "terror!" drug too often. The public is growing accustomed to it.

Heck, even "war!" isn't working much any more, and that's one of the hardest drugs in the propagandist's medicine bag.

[phusion]

6. well done!

:toast:

[gordontron]

8. nice work

what data points did you use?

[Syrinx]

16. I hope this is what you mean

Approval ratings:

03/06 37
02/06 41
01/06 43
12/05 42
11/05 38
10/05 41
09/05 44
08/05 44
07/05 47
06/05 46
05/05 48
04/05 49
03/05 50
02/05 52
01/05 52
12/04 51
11/04 54
10/04 49
09/04 53
08/04 49
07/04 48
06/04 49
05/04 47
04/04 52
03/04 51
02/04 51
01/04 57

Word counts:

3/06 30
2/06 5
1/06 0
12/05 38
11/05 1
10/05 49
9/05 4
8/05 36
7/05 18
6/05 19
5/05 10
4/05 6
3/05 9
2/05 7
1/05 10
12/04 11
11/04 21
10/04 19
9/04 16
8/04 23
7/04 11
6/04 11
5/04 14
4/04 15
3/04 16
2/04 22
1/04 10

[gordontron]

17. I was actually wondering

what trigger words you used. but thanks anyways :hi:

[Syrinx]

18. oh!

Basically words that start with "terror." Terror, terrorist, terrorists, terrorism.

Totally unscientific, but interesting anyway. ;)

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Looks like they flooded the engine somewhere around July '05.

Then kept furiously cranking the ingintion, trying to turn that bastard over.

[Syrinx]

19. great analogy!

I noticed that point of no-return (hopefully), but you analogize it perfectly! :thumbsup:

[Neil Lisst]

10. That's Exhibit A in Village v. Little Boy who cried wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf

[Solomon]

11. I was wondering what happened to our daily "color". I was getting

disoriented not knowing what color we were supposed to be. They did the graph before you did. The colorcode alerts went away quietly.

[Usrename]

12. You are very crafty.

Nice work. It looks like he needs to use a new word. That one is worn out. I remember there was an effort a few months back to rename the enemy, re-frame the war. I guess that exercise didn't work out to well for them.

Is there a more terrifying word that they could use, I wonder? Or possibly just use some sound effects when he says it. You know, the Jason sound, or Jaws, or something. Maybe people screaming in fear in the background.

[NMMNG]

13. Oh dear, "Terror" isn't working any more

I wonder if a new Bin Laden tape will surface in the near future. :eyes:

[SeattleGirl]

14. Wow. That's really interesting.

Thanks.

[Syrinx]

20. Rove ain't so smart after all

When a dumbass like me can see through his transparent bullshit.

I think Rove is off his game, because he's got personal issues to deal with. Ha Ha.