The Republican Base is Cracking...New Newsweek Poll

[Clarkie1]

Only 36 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president, and an astounding 68 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country—the highest in Bush’s presidency.

<snip>

42 percent of Americans believe he is honest and ethical. Only 29 percent believe that Vice President Dick Cheney is. And more than a quarter of Republicans, 26 percent, believe the vice president is not honest and ethical. The growing credibility gap could have ramifications across the president’s agenda: 56 percent of Americans say Bush “won’t be able to get much done;” only 36 percent say he “can be effective.”

<snip>

Democrats aren’t the only ones questioning the administration’s Iraq policies—almost 2 in 3 Americans (65 percent) disapprove of the president’s handling of Iraq.

<snip>

Most worrisome for the White House: the base seems to be cracking. When asked whether anyone in the administration “acted unethically” in the case involving the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame’s name, a 54-percent majority of Americans said they did—and 30 percent of Republicans said they did. And 45 percent of Americans believe someone in the “Bush administration broke the law and acted criminally”—including 22 percent of Republicans.

<snip>

When NEWSWEEK asked registered voters whether they planned to vote for a Democrat or a Republican in those elections, 53 percent said a Democrat and 36 percent said a Republican.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10013594/site/newsweek/site/newsweek/

[BrklynLiberal]

1. WHAT are these people smoking??!!! How are they NOT like cult members?

"42 percent of Americans believe he is honest and ethical."


Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

[Christa]

3. They must have different standards

To think him honest and ethical.

[ClassWarrior]

5. They do. Read "Don't Think of an Elephant" by George Lakoff.

NGU.

[smoogatz]

2. The popular revolt has begun.

Bush is dangerously close to Nixon numbers, only a year into his second term. He's going to go down in history as the most hated President of all time.

[cliss]

4. Notice the little padding here....

"42% believe he is honest and ethical"

I've actually read it's more like 35%.

"29% believe Cheney is honest.

I've read it's closer to 19%. Why do they do this? Do they want to have a higher approval rating, so they can string out the long, hard decline over 3 years. Are they rationing themselves?

Will Newsweek do this for me, in case I decide to act like an ass and screw over my entire family, my whole clan. Maybe the PTA or my workplace.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. In order to impeach Bush

we need to do a biochemical analysis of Harriet's blue dress- see WHO all of them little adenine (A), thymine (T), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) molecules belong to. That's the only grounds of impeachment that the "base" understands.


As the late Johnnie Cochran would say (or Kosmo Kramer)

If all them little adenine (A), thymine (T), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) molecules don't fit - you must acquit.

[JohnnyRingo]

7. I think 35% IS his base

The one in three people who view this presidency as a "second coming".

Those people who could witness Buxh killing puppies and view him as a "no nonsense Bob Barker".
People like my landlord, my cousin, the shopkeeper down the street.
We all have a similar list, and know who they are.

These people are the reason the GOP only had to cheat in Ohio to swing the vote in their favor.
I think these people will hold steadfastly in their support until presented with a candidate of similar traits.

[raysr]

8. When he loses the Corps

I think you're correct, 30+% are the TRUE believers of RW fanaticism. But even with that amount, how can they be beaten back under the rocks again now that they've been allowed to run rampant?

[grasswire]

9. they hate liberals more than they dislike Bush

That's the crux of the matter. They refuse to be honest, because that means liberals were right.

[ThoughtCriminal]

10. Republicans will always be out of touch

I don't care if ~70% of Republicans continue to support him as much as I want to see fewer and fewer people say they ARE Republicans. I want them not just to abandon Bush, but the party and it's anti-American policies.

[struggle4progress]

11. They've always been cracked. eom