Bush's Slide Deeper Than Any One Poll Shows
Let's face it, watching George W. Bush's approval rating tick incrementally down to the single digits he has so rightfully earned is in some ways the political equivalent of watching paint dry. We know he's going down and the relevant issue seems to be when that will happen. At this point, the only interesting thing in examining individual approval polls is wondering how uninformed or Kool-Aid drunk this thirty-something percent must be to still actually believe he is doing a good job.
What's more instructive, is to look at where he started and how far he has fallen in just 18 months since the 2004 presidential election. On November 2, 2004, Bush received a 50 percent or more vote of confidence in 31 of 50 states --30 states if you believe he did not legitimately win Ohio. How many states give him that same vote just a year and a half later, based on April 2006 approval polls? Four.
Let's go to the maps:
If you ignore the too-little-too-late sadness we are all inclined to feel, it's an amazing sight to see so many of our countrymen getting a clue after all this time. Think about it: Bush has gone from people in 31 states effectively giving him a positive approval rating in November 2004 to only these states giving him the same nod now (with April approval ratings):
- Idaho 53%
- Nebraska 51%
- Utah 55%
- Wyoming 54%
Keep in mind also, that these four states collectively make up barely two percent of the 296.5 million people in the United States based on a July 2005 Census Bureau estimate, so in sheer numbers, it's not quite the same as if people in New York, California or Texas still like him.
What's also interesting is to see which states are abandoning Bush to the greatest degree. When measured by what percentage vote they gave Bush in 2004 compared to the latest approval ratings, here are the states in which the president has lost the most support:
- Kentucky -21%
- Indiana -21%
- North Dakota -20%
- Montana -20%
And there are many other states not far behind, where the unpopular president has lost between 15 and 19 percent of his support.
And, while it’s just a matter of time before Bush goes below 30 percent nationally, here's the states already ahead of the curve in recognizing just what a lousy leader this guy really is (with current approval ratings):
- Connecticut 27%
- Delaware 27%
- Illinois 29%
- Massachusetts 26%
- New Jersey 28%
- New York 24%
- Rhode Island 24%
- Vermont 27%
Finally, in case you're wondering how he's doing back in the Lone Star State, Bush is clinging to a dismal 45 percent approval rating in his home state, with 17 percent loss of support since 2004.
At this rate, he may not even be able to go back home to Crawford after he's impeached.
You can reach Bob Geiger at geiger.bob@gmail.com
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approval
Hitler probably would have gotten 35% in 1945. Folks behave in curious ways.
if Crawford won't take him
I bet Iraq will! Why they'll greet him with candy and flowers!!
Fuel Speech
Any one see Bush's alternative fuel speech today to the Renewable Fuels Association? It was obsurd! I watched it on CNN and the anchors then were confused afterwards about what Bush had proposed.
Of course, after his opening statements (the typical 'thank you' to my adminstration), he went directly into HIS "War on Terror". Correct me if I am wrong, but that was a little off-topic don't you think? "Alternative Energy" - "His views of how a pitiful battle is going" ... Doesn't weigh up.
Throughout his speech, mostly spoken propaganda to suade people, he claimed that we needed to, one day, drive cars that did not rely on gas (and the oil that makes up gas). Severely different views than a year ago to say the least, but the point is that he continually told us that we need a long-term plan to move to alternative fuels. Yet, being the great "leader" (sarcasm) that his is, provided NO long-term plan.
He then went on to give us his short-term plan. To create more oil refineries, to drill for more... oh, and an investigation into gas price gouging and misuse of excessive profits by big oil companies (which will probably take years to find nothing anyway). These plans will not only prevent other alternative energies from emerging, but will fuel America's addiction to oil! Tell my how drilling for more oil, or increasing production of gas will help... even for a short term... please? What's worse is the statements made by CNN anchors afterwards stating that these plans were Bush's "long-term" plans (probably not far from the truth, but still...).
Personally, I would have accepted "This bill in my hand will require car companies to make 80-90% of cars produces run on alternative fuels by 2010" or getting a bill in thw works that will push oil companies and the government to invest a great deal more in alternative fuels and push to get alternative fuels into the gas stations and new cars. Did that happen? Well, lets just say "NO".
I'll provide the shovels...
Dante's Inferno stops at the Ninth Circle...which includes the Bolge which is the final resting place of those guilty of treachery or compound or complex fraud. In the Eighth Circle are tormented souls of those guilty of deceit or simple fraud, with Bolges for hypocrites, falsifiers, sowers of discord, and counselors of fraud, among others. In the Seventh Circle are Bolges for those who have committed violence against man or nature.
I think we could justly dividing Bush up among them, and still have a sufficient body of his misdeeds to justify a Tenth Circle.
I'll provide the shovels. Let's all just dig, dig, dig! In another blog, a commenter has suggested that the frequent use of the term "incompetent" in blogs eventually fixed in Americans' minds a connection between Bush and that quality -- it began to show up in polls asking what words described him. The blogger suggests we all begin to link "disgraced" to Bush and his Administration, in the hope that the word will become a permanent appendage to any mention of the cretinous charlatan in the White House.
Couldn't hurt to try...