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DON'T GET TOO HAPPY OVER BUSH'S LOW APPROVAL NUMBERS

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Yavin4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:24 PM
Original message
DON'T GET TOO HAPPY OVER BUSH'S LOW APPROVAL NUMBERS
If you think that Bush and the Republicans' low approval numbers reflect some sort of sea change politically, think again. The country is NOT waking up. All that's happening is that the country is being crushed on higher gas prices and the on-going war in Iraq. By fall 2006, the Republicans will have a spin in place to cover their asses.

All Bush has to do is lower the troop numbers next summer, if only temporarily, and then have his oil buddies lower gas prices, if only temporarily. These two things happen, and VOILA!, Bush is portrayed as a genius, and the Republicans sweep back into power.

What many DUers fail to understand time and time again is that Bush is willing to go to great lengths to manipulate events in order to swing things for himself politically, even if such manipulation would be bad policy. For this administration, political expediency rules the day.

Thus, if he convinces his oil buddies to keep gas prices low throughout 2006 so that the Republicans control congress even if it means much, much higher gas prices in 2007 and beyond, then so be it. If he cuts the troops in Iraq so that the Republicans control congress even if it means later sending in twice as many, then so be it.

Everything is about winning the next election. Everything is about manipulating the public on this issue and that issue, and even when the manipulation fails, there's always Diebold to smooth over the results.

Don't get your hopes up for 2006.

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mattclearing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
1. I don't disagree with you, but try not to be so fatalistic.
Democrats need to give a reason to switch. Assuming that Bush tanking will ensure victory is idiotic...after all, the Democrats have done nothing for anyone in the the past six years.
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magnetism Donating Member (159 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:56 PM
Response to Reply #1
23. One of the Homer Simpson's best quotes
Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
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magnetism Donating Member (159 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. sorry, should have added this
:sarcasm:
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Javaman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 04:56 PM
Response to Reply #23
33. Or the other Simpsons quote...
"Pfft, you can prove anything with facts."
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Teaser Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
2. That's the spirit
nt
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maxpower Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
3. Unfortunately
I think you are correct.
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pointblank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
4. You may be corrct unfortunately
As long as the right wing talk machine (Hannity, Coulter) keeps spinning its wheels and NEVER acknowledging for ONE second that **'s policies are failing will they lose their grip.

I swear, and some of you may not believe it, but these talking heads are THE ace in the hole for the repukes...People LOVE them!!

i know, I live in a very red state/area and they are adored. people simply listen to whatever is presented to them on the most easily accepted form of media available and adopt it as their own opinion....it is very eerie.
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Gloria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:31 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. It doesn't help that Democrats can't seem to get it together...
they should be executing a knock out punch, not only to Bush, but to the GOP. They should have a permanent campaign in place to discredit the GOP on MANY, MANY fronts.....corruption, poor fiscal performance, war, privacy. We have a strong DNC leader, but nearly all the rest of them seem to undercut him with wimpy, Republican-lite talk....

I'm totally fed up with them.
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Horse with no Name Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:38 PM
Response to Reply #6
12. Can't...or won't?
:shrug:
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 01:02 PM
Response to Reply #6
28. Dems? Not Even DU'ers Can. DU'ers Almost Totally Ignore Corruption In Iraq
which is damaging to GOP Congress as well as Bush.

DU'ers ignored the Sibel Edmonds piece in Vanity Fair... hell, it mentioned Hastert. Instead, DU'ers continue to OBSESS on Cindy goes to Crawford.

Then there are the many posts and threads here trashing Democrats for some bullshit crap mediawhores purposely orchestrate.

It isn't just elected Democrats who can't get it together.
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DougieZero Donating Member (372 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:31 PM
Response to Original message
5. I agree
Listen... I mean... At one time 70% of the American public thought we had found WMD.

And a ton of people still think we are fighting for OUR freedom... pssst... we are already free.
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Horse with no Name Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:33 PM
Response to Original message
7. Reading 1984 now
..everything faded into the mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth...

Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.


Whodathunk it?:shrug:
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Norquist Nemesis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:36 PM
Response to Original message
8. Rummy's putting in 2 more battallions momentarily
so when he brings home the same number in late spring early summer of next year (timing is everything!), it will appear troop levels will be reducing. Technically, it would be true. I doubt, however, that there will be mention of the increase that is about to take place.
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Generic Other Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:36 PM
Response to Original message
9. Too GREEDY to lower oil prices
Wait until their quarterly earnings reports show astronomical profits. Then some Dem like Scoop Jackson will take them on. That's what happened in the 70's anyway.
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TheFarseer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 01:09 PM
Response to Reply #9
29. I certainly hope so
I wonder who would do it? I think our 'leaders' are getting campaign contributions to keep quiet. I could see Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan and a few others you never think of much speaking up. Maybe Hagel will say something!
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Neocondriac Donating Member (732 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:36 PM
Response to Original message
10. AMEN !!!
The point being is that the rules of the game are different now if there are any at all. To beat a Neocon you have to steal his playbook.Democrats in congress have played to many complict games with these snakes to now separate themselves so easily.
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yodermon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:37 PM
Response to Original message
11. How do they spin indictments? n/t
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goclark Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
13. I disagree! May not be happy

but we are absolutely in a better place than we were a month ago.

It reminds me of the Civil Rights Movement. No matter what, Dr. King kept marching.

That is the answer to most of life's battles.

KEEP MARCHING!

Never, never, never believe that this cause is not worth marching for - Never!
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SammyWinstonJack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
14. I don't fail to understand anything.
My hopes were dashed in 2000, 2002, and again in 2004. I have no doubt that what you say about the troop reductions and lower gas prices just in time for 2006 is just what they'll pull and the sheeple and those who are now pissed because of gas prices:eyes: will fall back in line. But maybe this time there will be millions more who won't fall for their transparent bushit and will vote them out! One can hope.
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Amonester Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
15. Never be too high or too low on expectations.
You may be right, but you may be wrong also. Nobody really knows what the future will be.

How about: "Just work for what you believe is the correct thing to work for. If you never work for what you believe is the correct thing to work for, then don't try to discourage those who decide to work for what you - and they - believe is the correct thing to work for."

Does that can make any sense? :shrug:
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
16. Martial law would be easier...
:shrug:
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Imagevision Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:46 PM
Response to Original message
17. Only problem in 06 will be receiptless Diebolds - Repukes will
need them more then Bush did in Ohio - 2006 will be the mother of incredibly "close elections" gone to Repukes because of no paper trail and again Dem Senators are mum on this!

It only makes people more skepical about government in geeral.
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txaslftist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:48 PM
Response to Original message
18. You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people...
...some of the time...

The question is, can you fool half the people every two years?

So far the answer seems to be yes.
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iconoclastic cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:49 PM
Response to Original message
19. Yep. The facts and conditions will be fixed around the policy. n/t
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longship Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
20. I mostly disagree with this
Although the premise behind the post is on basis true, I think that CuckooBananas' ability to control the situation is fairly well broken and always has been. With popularity up, one didn't notice. But now we have a situation where people have turned the corner on Bandar Boosh. It's going to be very difficult for the neocons to bring things back. The chain of lies, the gas prices, and the desperate conditions in Iraq are not going to change, no matter what the Repugs do.

Furthermore, if approval dips to near 30%, as it looks like it will do in the coming weeks, some of the Congressional Repugs will morph back into Republicans, just like Walter Jones and Chuck Hagel. With approval that low, they know that they will have to answer to the voters. They'll jump off the ship to save themselves.

Note that there is little Bandar Boosh can do to stop this once it things are in motion. There will be no going back. It's not as simple as gas prices and Iraq.
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helderheid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:52 PM
Response to Original message
21. they hoped for 100 people at the Rally in SLC - 3000 + showed
people are waking up but we need to get rid of the evote machines to win.
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walldude Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
22. What you say may be true
But at the rate things are coming into the public eye we still have a chance. The hardcore will never stray from Bush. But if we can get the rest of the Abu Grhaib photos released, and the ignorant see for themselves what's been covered up there will be hell to pay. Even the Massassi Temples can't protect this kind of evil ;)
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zalinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:58 PM
Response to Original message
25. I just got back from Arkansas
My sister lives there and works in a convenience store in a small rural town. She says that a lot of people don't like Bush, and some didn't like him when they voted for him. But, he was against abortions and gay marriage, so they held their noses and voted him in. Now, they just really think he's an ass, so time will tell on what is going to happen.

zalinda
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:58 PM
Response to Original message
26. Don't Get Your Hopes Up-Just Curl Up In The Fetal Position And Do Nothing
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A-Schwarzenegger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 12:58 PM
Response to Original message
27. Yes, the Wizard of Oz is invincible.
Toto, get away from that curtain!
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stevietheman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 01:21 PM
Response to Original message
30. Understand your point, but...
it's also becoming clear that more and more people are catching on to this administration's schemes. 2006 is going to be a tough fight, no matter what, though. Everyone will have to go to their battlestations for this one.
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TheCowsCameHome Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 02:04 PM
Response to Original message
31. They can only spin so much, and they're facing too many failures
Gas prices, Cindy, Iraq, RoveGate, slow down in the economy, you name it.

Sorry pal, they're cooked.
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DistressedAmerican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 04:32 PM
Response to Original message
32. Nice Try.
Edited on Wed Aug-24-05 04:33 PM by DistressedAmerican
Not buying the learned helplessness you are selling.

Others may go for this line of bull. Not me...
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brettdale Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
34. you right in away
If Bush is still in power befroe the 2006 elections, we are doomed for generations.

Our only hope is if his adminstration comes crashing down, hopefully this will happen.
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Pepperbelly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 05:16 PM
Response to Original message
35. bullshit ... you can't spin away the pain and THAT is real nt
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sepia_steel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 05:19 PM
Response to Original message
36. Bah Humbug.
I am QUITE happy about his low numbers, athankyaverrahmuch
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tsuki Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 05:21 PM
Response to Original message
37. Yes, and no. Now is the time that the election is being decided. Not
two months before the vote. Everything is seen a politics then. The unease will follow. People will be looking for leaders, like Hackett and Murphy. We have a chance with candidates radically unlike those that have been running for the past twenty years.
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Enraged_Ape Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 05:26 PM
Response to Original message
38. If Bush was such a master of PR, he'd have me with Cindy...
Sheehan on day one, even for one hour of his time. That would have nipped the whole thing in the bud and kept his image pristine as "the President you want to have a beer with". But he's such a gigantic, clueless coward that he let the Sheehan thing swell to enormous proportions, and it's beating him up every day.

Bush CAN'T cut troops, and if he could do anything about gas prices, he would have already. Heck, the desperate idiot practically deep-throated the grody representative of Saudi Arabia right on his ranch in front of the world media, to no avail. He's flailing in the wind. His only hope is to continue to lie through his teeth with the help of the bought-and-paid-for media until the clock runs out on his administration.
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Yavin4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-24-05 06:21 PM
Response to Original message
39. I Posted This Not To Be Negative
But to caution everyone from being over-confident and complacent. Just because Bush has low poll numbers 14 months before the next election that does not mean that the Republicans will be thrown out in November 2006.

A low poll reading in August 2005 means absolutely nothing to me. Bush, and the Republicans, are still in power, and until they're out of power, they're very much a danger to all of us. Low poll numbers are meaningless.
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