Des Moines Register: Bush support in Iowa falters

[PhilipShore]

Des Moines Register
Bush support in Iowa falters
January 31, 2006

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4434181&nav=2HAB

President Bush, hoping to rally the nation's support for his policies tonight, has his work cut out for him in Iowa, where his popularity remains in a slump.

A 61 percent majority of Iowans think the nation has gotten off on the wrong track, according to The Des Moines Register's latest Iowa Poll. Nearly as large a segment of the state's adults — 59 percent — disapprove of the Republican president's job performance on the day of his State of the Union address.

The proportion of Iowans who applaud Bush’s overall job performance has plummeted from a peak of 84 percent in the fall of 2001, following the terrorist attacks on American soil, to 37 percent in the latest Iowa Poll. While that figure is down just a point from early December, it's the lowest approval mark of his presidency in the poll.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Well, Chimp seems to think that'll all change after his stirring SOTU

tonight. How about it, Iowa, are you going to be conned again?

[murielm99]

3. I don't think they were conned the first time.

I believe they stole Iowa. Remember how it took all night to get the votes counted in Iowa in 2004? And what is the population of Iowa, compared to other states?

My daughter was a caucus leader in Iowa, and she thinks it was fishy, too, even considering that conservative part of the state that was late with their figures.

I have other friends and family there. I don't think Iowa is all that red.

[MARALE]

4. I am from Iowa and agree with you on some of these things

Although the religious faction has a lot of influance and also the radio stations are all conservative around here. I think the disinformation that is spread here has a lot to do with the last election, although I also think there were some fishy results. Although the part of the state which brings you Steve King are wacko! I am embarrassed to have him from this state.

[Itchinjim]

6. Iowa is purple.

Urban areas blue, rural areas red. Dumb ass farmers.

[murielm99]

8. My husband and I are farmers.

We own farm property in Iowa too, in Grundy County.

I am a Democratic precinct committeeman, and treasurer of our county Democrats. I am working for the election of a congressman, and for a combined Democratic organization whose goal is to elect more Democrats in grassroots positions in the five northernmost Illinois counties.

Do you do as much as this dumbass farmer to get Democrats in power and keep them there?

[RogueTrooper]

9. What do you think your chances are?

:yourock: btw

[ypsiguy]

12. itchinjim

probably posted this remark just before leaving for lunch. It's hard to be cordial on an empty stomach. Damn those dumb ass farmers anyway.

[Itchinjim]

13. My grandfather was a farmer in Clinton county.

He was one of the few Democrat farmers in Clinton county. He was very active in the party and when Iowa would vote GOP in election after election, Grandpa, the farmer, would say of his neighbors, "Damn dumbass farmers" As a life long Iowan and one who has spent a lot of time in rural areas of this state, I've found that Democrats are few and far between outside the cities, and from your work I'm sure you know it too. I agree with my Grandfather's sentiment that any farmer who would vote Republican and against their own best interests is a dumbass. And by the way I vote, I volunteer, and I donate. Just like Grandpa did.

[hatrack]

11. Generalize much?

Or are you so smart you could make a go of it financially as a farmer?

[Itchinjim]

14. Well, my family has had the farm for over 140yrs now,

Kept it going through the Depression and the through the '80's. We must be doing something right.

[hatrack]

18. Congratulations - you're among the successful few!

nt

[saigon68]

20. Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag (Next Stop Vietnam)

Country Joe & the Fish

Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
he's got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Viet Nam so
put down your books and pick up a gun we're
gonna have a whole lotta fun

Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box

[br7598]

7. Iowa is old school democratic like FDR

My grandfather is a farmer in rural Iowa. He is also pissed and goes off about the state of the union whenever I bring it up. He is a wee bit bitter and hates the fact that Bush won Iowa.

Bush cut farm subsidies several times now. My grandfather has had a stroke and two heart attacks already (he is 81). I try not to bring things like this up to him because he gets really pissed and I am afraid he may have another one.

Dont pigeon hole the midwest. Its not as stereotypical as you are probably thinking. Many of them are more angry than we city liberals. They just express it in small town hall meetings and stuff, rather than large protests.

My entire family here in Texas is hardcore conservative and I always take a lot of fire from them. When my grandfather does pass on, I will always remember when he visited last year and tore into my family when they were having one of their "I love Bush" fests. The look on my dads face was priceless. My grandfather is still the ranking member in our family, and he definately made that clear. I was loving it. I hope he still has another decade left in the tank.

[truthisfreedom]

2. bush is doing a great job of rallying the opposition.

what a fantastic schmuck.

[wakeme2008]

5. With the cost of Natural Gas and gasoline going up

maybe he should do his SOTU speech in May and hope ppl forgot their high winter heating bills :rofl:

[Benhurst]

10. Who cares what they think

in BushAmerica?

[Oceansaway]

15. Iowa DUers need

to get that idiot Grassley out of office....JMO

(i was born and raised in Dubuque,Iowa and in alot of the smaller farm towns around there, them farmers swoooned over that idiot...and some still do)

[Hardrada]

16. I hate how we Iowans

seem to have senators-for-life. (Harkin is OK though).

[Oceansaway]

17. yes, Harkin seems OK...

btw...is Banowitz Antiques still up there in your neck of the woods?

[Hardrada]

19. It certainly is. Pop in and get something. Verl and Kathy

will be pleased.

[hippiechick]

21. Does it even matter?

He's had 5 years to do as much damage as can possibly be done to this country's future, what does it matter that people are deciding they don't like him NOW ???


:shrug: