Bush Support Weak as Americans Favor New Direction, Poll Finds

[CatWoman]

Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush will address a nation next week that has soured on the direction of the country and his leadership on issues ranging from health care to the economy to Iraq.

A Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll taken this week as Bush prepares to deliver his annual State of the Union speech shows that the president wins the approval of only 43 percent of the public, a 7-point drop from a year ago. Three out of five say America is seriously off course, and by 62 to 31 percent those surveyed want to move in a different direction than the one Bush has set forth.

The president has lost public support across a broad swath of issues, including most of the ones that especially concern Americans, as well as on matters of personal trust and leadership, according to the survey.

``Presidents who lose their credibility, who lose the ability to persuade people that they're leading the country in the right direction, have a tremendous political burden to overcome, and that's where he's at,'' said Robert Dallek, a retired Boston University professor who has written nine books on presidential and diplomatic history. He said the modest goals Bush is likely to set forth in his speech next week reflect the fact that ``he's not any longer at the top of his game. His political capital has been expended.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aLH_qReYSQGc

[fooj]

1. "political capital has been expended"...what capital?

The rat bastard robbed the American people of TWO General Elections!

Peace.

[KurtNYC]

4. His "Politcal Capital" One Card is maxed out n/t

[fooj]

8. It sure as hell has!

Peace.

[hatrack]

10. It only had about $300 on it, anyway

:evilgrin:

[mom cat]

15. So now is the time to push for a filibuster!

[kenny blankenship]

2. His political capital has been expended.''

I guess we got this here gynormous mountain of debt and dead bodies to show for it.
Square deal?

[Miss Chybil]

3. His political capital, like our treasury, has been expended.

Bushie, you're doin' a heck of a job.

[rodeodance]

5. i think many are just plain tired of hearing his name!

[sarcasmo]

51. Dictator 43 is a new phrase I have coined. I think Dictator 43 is more

appropriate than using his real name.

[blm]

6. Send this article to Senate Dems and Chaffee along with NO ALITO vote.

.

[CJCRANE]

7. Forget "political capital", more like "political deficit" nt

[Conker]

9. Do you guys think his approval ratings will go up after his...

State of the Union address?

[hatrack]

11. What's he going to say that he hasn't said before?

What's he going to promise that he hasn't failed to deliver already?

How's he going to "inspire" the American people when he can only use words of one or two syllables, and only about two dozen of those?

This will be his fifth year of bullshit, and there's no more fresh bullshit left to spread.

[Conker]

12. He will probably keep defining "Domestic" and "International" again, and..

like you said, he will most likely speak about what he has failed to promise before.He has done it other times, and it worked.I still think the average American is dumb enough to still follow Bush, which is really sad.

[electropop]

18. Normally, his ratings go down after each speech he gives.

It's the annoyance factor. Just as people are starting to forget what a prick he is, he goes on TV and reminds them.

[beltanefauve]

24. Annoyance factor, indeed!

Have you noticed how his voice has gotten increasingly whiny and grating in the last year or so?

[electropop]

56. Actually, I have noticed the whiny thing.

He sounds despareate and frightened. As well he should. He is headed for a premature ejection from the White House.

[0rganism]

13. Yeah? They'll get one hell of a new direction with Alito on the court

Looking forward, I see the corpse of America's once-great constitution and an eviscerated body of legal precedent rotting in a judicial wasteland populated by knee-jerk reactionaries and bush crime family cronies with lifetime appointments. If the people think they're "seriously off course", they just haven't looked at where we're headed. Oh we're on course all right, just where the neo-cons and theo-cons we allowed to take the helm want us headed. </mini-rant>

[gizmo1979]

14. They have their agenda and they

will stick to it.They don't care what people think,in their minds they are doing great work and laying the foundation for the republican future a future that doesn't include us.We must defeat the repugs soundly in Nov.and get rid of these s.o.bs!

[ECH1969]

16. Does this mean he isn't going to get Sclito through?

Does it mean that he isn't going to get his war with Iran?

If it doesn't mean either of those two we still have major problems.

[AnneD]

17. Well.....

that was a small wad. :evilgrin:

[buddysmellgood]

19. He borrowed his capital and the note is due. He's going to have to file

bankruptcy. HA!

[teryang]

20. Fraud only yields capital for so long

The essence of his rule is fraud. His policies favor only the corporate rich while they are always cloaked in the faux populist clothing: patriotism, the flag, the ten commandments, abortion, terra, terra, terra.

His elections have been fraudulently rigged and without legitimacy.

The war was based on calculated fraud.

His legislative agenda is the institution of dictatorial rule, not protection of liberty and freedom as fraudulently claimed.


I heard a very conservative news clone on CNBC say "hasn't he gone to that (national security fear thing) well once too often?" A day or two later the phony bin laden audio turned up.

[AX10]

21. His "capital" is a high interest loan and the note has been called in.

:)

[pinniped]

22. The sheep are a little Fn' late.

We are stuck with this asshole for another 3XX years.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

23. It would have been nice if they felt that way...

I don't know, a fucking year ago!

:banghead:

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT (poll): Bush's Ratings Sink, but Trust Remains (worst #s ever)

Bush's Ratings Sink, but Trust Remains
By Ronald Brownstein, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — As President Bush prepares for next week's State of the Union address, he faces widespread discontent over his job performance and the nation's direction that could threaten his party in the 2006 election, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

In the survey, 43% of Americans said they approved of Bush's performance as president — his weakest showing ever in a Times poll.

He received even lower marks for his handling of the economy, healthcare and Iraq — especially from women, who the poll found had turned against him on several fronts. And by a 2-1 ratio, those surveyed said the nation needed to change direction from the overall course Bush had set.

But most of those surveyed believed Bush's policies had made the nation more secure. And a plurality say they trusted him more than they did Democrats to protect the country against terrorism — advantages that could help Republicans defend their House and Senate majorities in November.

The poll found a majority still willing to take tough steps to reduce the risk of terrorism — including surrendering some of their civil liberties and supporting military action against Iran if it continues to advance toward developing nuclear weapons....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-poll27jan27,0,510814.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[zann725]

25. A "Bloomberg" poll? 43%! Shrub's been in the 30's, or lower

for months. Let's get REAL. I know it's tough, but...no more "40%" or higher, pleeeeese!

[DeepModem Mom]

27. And "trust remains."

:crazy:

[blm]

26. That's because corporate media covers up the FACTS on Bush's incompetence

in the war on terror.

If the people only knew the truth about what Bush's policies have created around the world they would be appalled.

If they knew how badly Bush screwed up and allowed 9-11 to happen despite specific warnings - If they only were told about PNAC.

Thanks alot, Brownstein - YOU and your cronies WILL NOT TELL THE PEOPLE.

Heckuva job, Brownie.

[DeepModem Mom]

28. And they do a pretty good job of burying domestic incompetence...

or at least not stopping the buck on Bush's desk.

[rodeodance]

29. Dems will not win elections as long as the 'trust' factor is high.

But most of those surveyed believed Bush's policies had made the nation more secure. And a plurality say they trusted him more than they did Democrats to protect the country against terrorism — advantages that could help Republicans defend their House and Senate majorities in November.

[Straight Shooter]

30. I am more worried of dying from a medical crisis than a terrorist strike.

Speaking of protection from terrorists, what would happen to most people? Would they get health care, or would they end up crippled or with lifelong problems because of injuries, unable to get a job and no compensation?

Let the Dems talk about that, too. People think if they get hit, they die. Ain't true. Many live on, with horrible disfigurement. Will bush protect them from that? Who will take care of their families?

They talk out of both sides of their mouth. First, Repubs say they are better at protecting us. Then they turn right around and say another attack is highly likely. So, if it's highly likely, than what good does it do us for Repubs to be in power?

[Punkingal]

31. It's a sad state of affairs if we have to rely on that buffoon

To protect us. He doesn't make me feel safe. And furthermore, I don't believe he would give a shit if half of us died. Witness New Orleans and Katrina. He wasn't worried about those people, now was he?

[UpInArms]

32. that "trust" thing

http://www.thirdreich.net/Thought_They_Were_Free.html

excerpt:

What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if he people could understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it.

"This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter.

...more...

[kurth]

34. Excellent quote. Thanks!

Fascism happens gradually, and by design.

[yorkiemommie1]

42. thanks for the post

and the link!

[stanwyck]

33. I can't get my head around people saying

that Bush's policies are working "because we haven't been attacked."
This is sheer lunacy.
Our borders, ports, chemical plants, airlines, water supply are just as vulnerable as before. Possibly more so due to the illusion that security is higher.
We haven't been attacked because it's not our turn.
Terrorism is at it's highest levels ever worldwide.
And the Mideast is becoming more dangerous to our country every day. Bush has united the fundamentalist Islamic fervor throughout the region. Hamas won in a democratic election. Iran is rapidly becoming what Bush told us, erroneously, Iraq was. Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt are also moving toward more fundamentalist politics.
And Afghanistan, remember them?, is a stronghold, again, for the Taliban.

[Xenotime]

35. There should be a rule..

that if your #s get too low for too long, impeachment proceedings should automatically begin.

[madmark]

36. The comment that he is trusted for national security is baffling;

We got one of the worst sucker punches in our history, 911, under this idiot's watch and three and half years later he still has not caught the perp (obl) or his main accomplice (mullah omar). Where do you get trust from that? Who the fuck is giving these answers?

[Kierkegaard]

48. Short answer?

Karl Rove...

[ima_sinnic]

37. so the dumbasses haven't figured out that * is spending all of his

time strategizing about the next round of lies and obfuscation, "politicking" and deal-making, and none of his time on important matters like national security. The only reason we have not had a major attack again is that it hasn't been necessary to go to quite that length to save the repukes. When it is needed by * and his mafioso, it will happen.

[Beetwasher]

38. Trust Remains??? BULLSHTI PROPOGANDA!!! It's a PLURALITY!!!

"And a plurality say they trusted him more than they did Democrats to protect the country against terrorism — "

How can they claim "trust remains" when he doesn't even have a majority on the issue??? Total fucking bullshit.

[CatWoman]

53. calm down, sugar

I trust "you" :D

:hi:

[AX10]

39. People still trust him?

:wtf:?

[nookiemonster]

44. I believe if the basis was made just on his actions,

a majority would be truly pissed and seriously distrust him. However, the large amount of surrogates that praise everything he does, on a daily basis, keep the sheep in line.

The lack of critical thought and rationalization grates the crap outta me.

:grr:

[yorkiemommie1]

40. this and the fact that many back an attack on Iran....

:banghead:

[henslee]

41. Yes. Trust remains. I trust he will cotinue to destroy all he touches.

[PassingFair]

43. WTF?

Do these people ACTUALLY think that Democrats, or a Democratic Administration, would be "soft" on terrorism. WHERE does this come from?
MOST of the veterans in DC are DEMS.
Dem presidents have seen us through World Wars.

Why do they think we WANT our country to be attacked?

Why do they think that 'pukes are "stronger"?

John Wayne?....Ronny Rayguns?...

Both Bushies are FAMOUSLY wimpy.

The "tough steps to reduce the risk of terrorism" would have been statesmanship and the ability to conduct a world-wide police action to "get" the terrorist cells.

We NEED media spokespeople.

[leesa]

45. Right...43%, but we trust him...whatever.

[Spazito]

46. Hmmm, why is it Brownstein's articles are always sucking up to

to the bush cabal....wait....I know because he is a bloodsucking bottomfeeder himself. His articles aren't fit to put on the bottom of a birdcage, imo.

[WhiteTara]

47. You're doing a heck of a job Georgie

you lousy piece of fetid slime. May you rot in hell, after a lengthy jail term and then execution for treason.
Of course, the msm would call that attitude, not sure.

[Cha]

49. Yeah, didn't the Germans Trust

hitler until it was too damn late?

[TheWatcher]

50. Breaking News: Water Is Wet

Winter Is Cold
Hell Is Hot

::Yul Brenner Voice:: Et-ctetera, Et-cetera, Et-cetera

Let the Jouney Out Of Hell Begin.....

NOW.

[MellowOne]

52. Maybe people are sick of being lied to

And then watch him blame others or cover up his lies with more lies.

[Zomby Woof]

54. I have yesterday's LA Times right here

And the SAME poll has a MAJORITY of dumbass Amerikkkans saying they favor a war with Iran even as the same majority says things are going poorly in Iraq.

And the same majority - some 57% - say that they would vote Republican this fall if it means "keeping Amerikkka safe". :nuke:

So they don't mind living with no healthcare, little job security, and fading safe retirement prospects, as long as the fascists give them artificial hope against terra-ists. :crazy: :argh:

We're packing up and heading to Portugal before this regime is through.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

55. they really are setting Iran on simmer right now

I've taken a long break from TV "news" the past month or two, turn on the TV yesterday and everywhere they're talking about it.

and with the polls you just stated, it seems that the sheep are once again bleating for blood.

[yorkiemommie1]

57. oh, yeah, they're all for it

i only saw maury/connie for a few minutes but seemed like they were getting ready to cheerlead a charge into Iran.

the sheeple have learned nothing, absolutely NOTHing.

are they now willing to commit their children to *'s wars???

[pinniped]

58. The direction * set forth in the first four stolen years was crystal...

clear. The stupid sheep didn't bother noticing because they were enjoying their big tax cut bonus bribe.

This poll should have taken place before the hijack, but then a * victory would have been more suspicious than is already is.

[mcscajun]

59. Hey, George! "What's In YOUR Wallet?"

Your Capital Is Gone...It's Time That You LEFT OUR CAPITAL CITY for your new digs in TX.