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Subject: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Gallup Poll and CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll (9/19-21/03)
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?"
Approve: 50%
Disapprove: 47%
Don't Know: 3%
Bush's approval ratings are now back to their pre-9/11 levels. Comments?
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Maybe there's some Americans getting a glimpse of the way GWB has been dealing with the rest of the world... the constant "you're either with us or against us" bullshit that he even tried at the UN yesterday shows a remarkable inability to see the world as it actually is.
I really don't like going round saying "I told you so...", but...
Phil
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
Maybe there's some Americans getting a glimpse of the way GWB has been dealing with the rest of the world... the constant "you're either with us or against us" bullshit that he even tried at the UN yesterday shows a remarkable inability to see the world as it actually is.
I really don't like going round saying "I told you so...", but...
Phil
End Quote
and maybe people forget what sick willy has left behind: WALL STREET WOES
Stock inflation occurred on Clinton’s watch
This is in response to Andre Zupans’ letter, “Bush administration gives the rich a free ride,” Sept. 18, 2003
In regard to the mutual fund scandal and the Securities and Exchange Commission, where was Zupans when Bill Clinton was in office? There were plenty of greedy scoundrels creating false stock values at Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom and others, resulting in greatly reduced values of most stocks in our largest stock exchanges, and the retirement investments of many working people as well. These CEOs led, in large part, an artificial economic boom in the ’90s which Clinton gladly took credit for. I believe the SEC has since had something to do with taking down some of these individuals — conveniently, after Clinton left office. Many now blame President Bush for the current state of the economy.
My answer to Zupans’ question is that the SEC has had its hands full cleaning up after the great scam which took place on Clinton’s watch, a scam which has cost American business greatly in terms of trust from hard-working employees and other potential investors. The cost is apparent in the current state of our economy — just a small part of the Clinton "legacy."
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
and maybe people forget what sick willy has left behind: WALL STREET WOES
...
Stock inflation occurred on Clinton’s watch
End Quote
What has this got to do with George Bush's profile overseas? I talk about how GWB is regarded from across the Atlantic, you respond with what Clinton did domestically (so to speak ;-)) - Democrat-bashing doesn't make GWB any better from where I'm sitting.
Phil
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
How Dubya is perceived overseas in all likelihood has nothing at all to do with his drop in popularity. I imagine this is a hard pill to swallow, for a non-American, but the fact is, most Americans do not care about you.
What I think is causing the falling approval rating is that a lot of supporters believed in a quick, low-casualty war that would rid of a very bad man who had big weapons, and then the country would be rebuilt as a safer, democratic nation. And at first, it looked like they got that. But, as more and more people die, as more and more nothing the search for WMD is found, and as more and more military families watch their family members' returns get delayed again and again, more and more Americans are getting pissed off.
And as for the economic problems: Bush may not have caused them, but he sure hasn't been stopping them either.
Of course that's just my opinion, and I probably am wrong.
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
How Dubya is perceived overseas in all likelihood has nothing at all to do with his drop in popularity. I imagine this is a hard pill to swallow, for a non-American, but the fact is, most Americans do not care about you.
End Quote
Oh, I know: the incredible ignorance of vast swathes of the US population of anything further afield than their own state, let alone their nation, never ceases to amaze.. though it no longer surprises me. That's why I said "maybe"... ::)
Phil
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
I thought the boom of the 90's was fed by the vast fortunes to be made on the internet (Thanks Al!) When that bubble popped, that's what I thought got rid of the superficial progress of the market (which did not make up all of the progress).
Clinton managed to have massive business growth and still run a surplus. Bush's reign has been one of golden parachutes and massive, irresponsible deficit spending.
George W. stinks in my book.
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
At the start of Bush's tenure, the ecomony was doing good. His answer to that was tax cuts for the rich. Before his tax cuts were even voted on, the ecomony started taking a dive. His answer: Tax cuts for the rich. That went through in 2001. Now, two years later, the economy has only gotten worse and his answer is: More tax cuts for the rich. The surplus that we had in 2000 is now a record defficit-ONLY 3 YEARS!!!!! As for all those theives from Enron and Worldcom, they do not have to pay for their crimes. Why? Because they are buddy-buddy with Bush. (Ken Lay is a personal friend of Dubya).
We are engaged in two wars. People seem to forget that we are STILL at war with Afganistan. The war in Iraq is an illegal one. His buddies got government contracts without having to bit in the rebuilding of Iraq. Bush has managed to alienate many of our foreign allies.
For all of you people who think that Duyba is great, look at your paychecks (if you still have one). Are you bring home as much money as you did in 2000? Do you have to work more hours than you used to to make the same amount? Does the government take more for taxes than it did (so much for a tax cut-but I am assuming you are not a billionaire)? Look at your schools. Are programs such as music, PE, extracurrular activities being cut because of funding? Are classrooms overcrowed because there are not enough teachers? How is your air quality? Your water quality? Do you think that Dubya really cares about that? No, he is giving free reign to the pullutors and will allow them to pullute our air and water. What about your freedoms gauranteed under the Constitution? Dubya and his cronies want to come into your house without a warrent to look around. They want other people to spy on you. Any book you check out of the library or book you buy, the feds will know.
These are just some of things to think about. I really can't believe that 50% of the population is so blind to what this admistration is doing to this country.
Cat
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
Bush's approval ratings are now back to their pre-9/11 levels. Comments?
End Quote
I'm shocked his approval ratings aren't lower...
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
As for all those theives from Enron and Worldcom, they do not have to pay for their crimes. Why? Because they are buddy-buddy with Bush. (Ken Lay is a personal friend of Dubya).
For all of you people who think that Duyba is great, look at your paychecks These are just some of things to think about. I really can't believe that 50% of the population is so blind to what this admistration is doing to this country.
Cat
End Quote
In regard to the mutual fund scandal and the Securities and Exchange Commission, where were the liberals at when Bill Clinton was in office? There were plenty of greedy scoundrels creating false stock values at Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom and others, resulting in greatly reduced values of most stocks in our largest stock exchanges, and the retirement investments of many working people as well. These CEOs led, in large part, an artificial economic boom in the ’90s which Clinton gladly took credit for. I believe the SEC has since had something to do with taking down some of these individuals — conveniently, after Clinton left office. Many now blame President Bush for the current state of the economy.
I can't believe people are so BLIND to ignore what Clinton did in my above stated....enron, worldcom, ect. AND Willy released all those criminals in his last week of office, so to all you clinton fans out there, before you knock Bush you'd better realize what willy did. And I CAN believe the clinton defenders never blame him for ANYTHING!
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
And I CAN believe the clinton defenders never blame him for ANYTHING!
End Quote
Bill obviously wasn't perfect (very obviously), but I can't stand people who have blamed him for every f**ked up thing that has happened since he left office. Bill gets blamed for 9/11 when it was Bush that scrapped Clinton's terrorism plan which may have prevented such attacks.
I'm not saying Clinton doesn't deserve some criticism, I just think Dubya deserves a whole heck of a lot more.
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Quoting:
In regard to the mutual fund scandal and the Securities and Exchange Commission, where were the liberals at when Bill Clinton was in office? There were plenty of greedy scoundrels creating false stock values at Enron, Global Crossing, WorldCom and others, resulting in greatly reduced values of most stocks in our largest stock exchanges, and the retirement investments of many working people as well. These CEOs led, in large part, an artificial economic boom in the ’90s which Clinton gladly took credit for. I believe the SEC has since had something to do with taking down some of these individuals — conveniently, after Clinton left office. Many now blame President Bush for the current state of the economy.
I can't believe people are so BLIND to ignore what Clinton did in my above stated....enron, worldcom, ect. AND Willy released all those criminals in his last week of office, so to all you clinton fans out there, before you knock Bush you'd better realize what willy did. And I CAN believe the clinton defenders never blame him for ANYTHING!
End Quote
I am NOT blaiming Bush for the economy. I am blaiming Bush for the way he is handling the down-turned ecomony. As for those greedy CEO. Their crimes came to light under Bush's watch. He is the one who should be punishing them for what they did. As for Clinton's misdeeds, he was investigated more than any other president in the history of this country and the only thing they could nail him on was getting a b.j. If they investated Bush even 1% of what they did Clinton, I think they would find many skeltons in that closet of his.
Cat
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
You Furiners - you make me feel sooo good. You give me confidance that there are still some intelligent, thoughtful people in this world (some gringos do too).
Before this war started we had a long, and at times contentious (to say the least) thread. In it I predicted EXACTLY what we are facing today in Iraq, the guerrilla war, the growth of terrorism, Al Quida's invasion (even Doonsbury is picking up on that with it's "Rummy World" thread) etc. So once again, as in Iran in the 50's, we reap what we sow.
And, as Kofi Aman said, the notion of preemptive strikes is a very slippery slope. And alienating our allies was the hight of both stupidity and arrogance.
On the economy, Cat is right. The bush came into office facing the first surplus in decades and has given it to the very rich, instead of to the working stiffs and middle class who created it. 9/11 certainly had something to do with the down turn, but there are lots of other factors that derive from the bush's policies. His attack on overtime pay for workers, for example.
As to the corporate scandals, why has our Attorny General not vigorously press the investigation? Why is (symbolically)Ken Lay still a free man? It is these CEOs who defrauded investors, not Bill Clinton. Should the SEC been more diligent under his watch? Maybe, but even if so, you can't blame that on Bubba.
And what about the environment? Proposed rules changes in the Clean Water Act would exclude ever body of water in Vermont from regulation except Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River. The "Clear Skies Iniciative" for us in the Northeast is really the "More Smog Initiative". The proposed rules on logging and mining on federal (read OUR) land will result in massive profits for the bush's corporate buddies and the rape of our national patrimony. Most, if not all of this was done below the radar, without public hearings or Congressional oversight.
And lets also talk about more important things, like the Bill of Rights. You think you have the right to privacy? Think again. They (the Feds) now have the right to find out what you read, to monitor your e-mail and to search your home without a warrent issues by a judge or grand jury. Trial by a jury of your peers? if you murder or rob, yes, but if the Ashcroft & crew say you might be as terrorist, no way.
And why is this administration so secretive? Government is the public's business so shouldn't the public know what is being done in its name?
If the bush isn't a fascist, he is the closest thing to it that I can think of. Good God, what are people thinking? With all this the bush still has 50% approval? What is surprising is that 90% of us haven't formed a lynch mob!
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
Well, I'm sure Newt was surprised that Clinton maintained a high approval ratings despite innumerable investigations and character assassination attempts. I'm sure he wondered why nobody formed a lynch mob.
I might give some insight into why people liked Clinton. Clinton reminded me of that guy at school who was cool as everything. He smoked pot and sexed a lot, but he got amazingly good grades despite the teacher's best efforts to exercise control over him and get him expelled.
Perhaps I'm not making any sense. I'm tired and I might be rambling. I might delete this in the morning.
Subject: Re: Bush approval rating drops to 50%
FOX NewsOpinion Dynamics Poll. (Sept. 23-24, 2003.) N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the job George W. Bush is doing as president?"
Approve: 50%
Disapprove: 40%
Don't Know: 10%
If FOX News, the biggest Bush supporters in the News media, concede that he has fallen to the 50% mark, Georgie really must be at least back to his pre- 9/11 approval rating.
Where are the Republicans? I want to hear their thoughts!