Posted on 03/21/2006 6:35:44 AM PST by pissant
PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans continue to resist giving the nation's economy positive ratings, regardless of what so-called "hard" economic indicators may show. Only about a third of Americans rate the current economy as excellent or good and 6 out of 10 say the economy is getting worse, not better. In general, these ratings are slightly worse than earlier this year, although still not as negative as they were early last fall after Hurricane Katrina and the rapid run-up in the price of gasoline. Views of the economy remain highly partisan, with Republicans the most positive, Democrats most negative, and independents somewhere in the middle. Independents in particular have become more negative in their views of the economy this year, and now are much closer to the negative attitudes of Democrats than to the more rosy views of Republicans.
Basic Indicators
Gallup routinely measures two basic indicators of consumer views of the national economy: ratings of current economic conditions, and views as to whether the economy is getting better or getting worse. The trends on both are presented in these graphs:
(Excerpt) Read more at poll.gallup.com ...
Who are they polling? We have the lowest rate of unemployment in years here in Florida. Help wanted signs all over the place. I guess there aren't enough 50k a year starting salaries ofr HS drop outs?
Could it be because most Independents are actually Democrats??
There are five reasons for this:
1. The Media lies.
2. Most people are whiners.
3. The Media lies.
4. The price of a gallon of gas
5. The Media lies.
The facts don't matter to the MSM - it's the same template they use in Iraq: If it's good news for Bush, don't report it. If it's bad news, then report it loud and long. Between now and the midterms they will expand the plan to include making bad news up (not that they don't do some of that already).
The MSM have served there masters well.
I am convinced beyond doubt that the pollsters (most, not all) are cooking their books. Or conversely, only publishing a poll when the news looks bad for GWB. The series of recent CBS polls have been total frauds. But I guess CBS/Fraud is redundant.
push polling.
Is the gallup organization that stupid?
It is really too bad there is no FreeRepulicTV.
Whoever gives them the "right" answer. Gallup lost all credibility years ago.
Or the ones that claim "independent" are anyway. I've been an independent my entire life, and have NEVER been polled.
Not according to Gallup's own poll numbers. That headline's a lie.
and advertisers continue to pay money to them.
and advertisers continue to pay money to them.
Typical scenario:
There's a group think lib that works at the company I do...she just bought a new car, is on the all employee stock option plan, the company is doing great...yada, yada, yada...but...to her "The economy is just terrible under Bush."
She wont listen to the facts, doesnt understand the country has had several quarters of about 3% growth, that the unemployment rate is at 4.8% (pretty much full employment in macro economic terms)...just doesnt care...cuz in her small mind...Bush is evil.
Sad.
ROFL! That makes the Smokey Back Room here look sane!
Yes. I'd add a sixth: The media lies.
Reason #6: The Media lies. :)
They are certainly trying. They are imploding nonetheless.
Which means people aren't basing their view of the economy on numbers, but on rhetoric. The media wing of the DNC, aka the MSM, is doing their part to help get their people elected.
Bingo. Best War since the Revolution. Best Economy in History. Most popular president ever.....
Yep. A Gallup specialty
I think the Prez will do that today.
Actually, I was thinking about adding "The Media Lies."
As always.
6) The administration's amazing communications ineptitude. Exhibit A is Scott McClellen, but he is just one of the problems.
President Bush: The vision of Reagan, the effectiveness of Carter.
I was told that many, many Americans who are currently incarnated had lives on Atlantis. (I've heard this other places as well.) What I hadn't heard was that both George Bush Sr. & George Bush Jr. were extremely powerful priests on Atlantis, and they were part of the problem that caused Atlantis to sink.
I have a term for women like her, but I'd be banned from using it. It's initials are SC.
if you think your economic condition is not up to snuff, work harder.
And most idiotic dems read the MSM, thinking they get the truth.
Yes they do
There are legit independents .. but more liberals today are signing up as independents

I'd been trying for several months to make it a Googlebomb (so that the next time a smug liberal feels lucky about the term "reality based community", they come face-to-face with the anti-reason, anti-science left) but Google and DU are apparently in cahoots, and now, you can't directly access DU's Astrology, Stupidity and Alternative Moonbattery through a simple Google search.
With the rejoinder: the media is dying.
You should put number 4 in all 5 spots, if the price of gas doesn't fall Republicans will pay for it this year.
The facts don't matter, as long as Joe and Suzy Voter see prices as high as they are it's going to hurt.
That sucks. Just put on a sweater.
(God forbid!)
People think the economy is bad because the cost of necessities is rising faster than the ability to pay for it.
The inflation numbers put out by the government very conveniently do not include the cost of home utilities, fuel or housing.
If not for the rise in petroleum prices, that too would show little inflation. It has a ripple effect. thank GOD we are finally going to build more nuke plants.
If the Iraq war was under the Clinton administration, it would be classed as the most noble effort yet by mankind.
Don't feel alone. Americans in general are pretty ignorant about economics and quite willing to believe the lies of Big Media. I recently read a column by some lib who wrote about the "sluggish" economy. If the unemployment rate was at one percent, the stock market at twenty thousand, everyone owned their own home, and the average annual income was one hundred thousand dollars Big Media would still be talking about a "sluggish" economy...and they will continue to do so while a Republican is president.
Once again the liberal/socialist mantra:
Tell a lie long enough and eventually it will be believed without question.
You have a point. This administration in particular has one of the most poorly run communications offices I've ever seen.
There is also virtually no coordination with Republicans in Congress when trying to get a message out or across.
Sad truth is your are right. Most of the people I know are worried about their personal economy and have ben so for years. It is a mixture of hype and reality. Prices have gone up (see gas), wages are going up slowly if at all for some, taxes are up (come to Houston and find out, the tax cut I got a few years ago has been swallowed up and then some by local taxes, debt is up for many, and many do not think they are secure in their jobs.
How much is truth and how much is hype depends on the person's situation. But most of the people I know are startign to worry and play their cards close to the vest.
Their (Bush Admin) too busy working rather than running a PR campaign that would fail (since Big Media would just step up the lieing to counter it).
As opposed to Billy Bob Clintoon, who never worked as POTUS just managed a PR campaign with the help of Big Media...
So, this administration...just decides to work, and let the chips fall as they may.
No. Here as well.
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