DEMS BUSHWHACKED BY WHAT DID BUSH KNOW' ATTACK

New York Post ^ | 5/30/02 | DEBORAH ORIN

[kattracks]

May 30, 2002 -- A LOT of Democrats are suddenly sounding very sorry they attacked President Bush on what he knew about 9/11 before it happened - and the polls show why.

Less than two weeks after Democrats from Sen. Hillary Clinton to House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt went after Bush, it seems clear the president has won this round.

[kattracks]

In fact, Dem pollster Mark Mellman claims the proof that Democrats are acting on principle in asking "what did Bush know" is precisely that it's dumb politics for them for this fall's congressional election.

But Mark, the DemocRATS didn't realize this was dumb politics, until it backfired on them.

[The Raven]

We here at the Free Republic saw through this scam from day one.

I was surprised that O'Reilly ("no spin zone") fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Now he's on the FBI (the Dem's 'out')

I suppose we're now back on the other scam- Social Security.

[ppaul]

What did Bush know?

The same thing us FReepers know: the DemocRATS "trimmed" our military. They ramrodded homosexuality into our elementary schools. They allowed our top secret military information to be traded to our enemies. They allowed Osama bin-Laden to go free, and attack us a couple of years later on 9/11. Bush knows that. I wish he'd start saying so - bluntly.

[Lauratealeaf]

Bush knows that. I wish he'd start saying so - bluntly.

I think you have some good points. But, why does Bush need to say what we all know and he knows we know? We are saying it. Our neighbors are saying it. My sister-in-law, who up until 911 was a democrat, is saying it. It is important what we say as well as what the politicos are saying. The dems better start listening. But, alas, they are hearing (unless it is a hearing knocking Bush) impaired. And that is fine with me.

[Dales]

Bush's job-approval rating is still up in the stratosphere - 74 percent in a new Harris Poll

If I am not mistaken, the last Harris poll was a bit of an outlier, with it showing his approval rating in the 50s.

he he he he he

[Thebaddog]

You got a footnote on that claim?

[Dales]

Which claim?

That Harris' polls are generally unreliable, or that the last one was in the 50s?

The former is my opinion based on experience, so you can either take it or leave it. The latter point I read in an article last night (which I am sure to be unable to find now) but give me a few moments and I can probably find it in another location...

[Prodigal Son]

They like the job Bush is doing and don't want to change their view of him.

It's not just they like the job he's doing- I believe Americans just truly like Bush as a person. They started out being prepped by the media to not like him but lo and behold people saw that he wasn't a bad guy after all and indeed one they could respect. It'll be hard for the dems to mess that up.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

If I am not mistaken, the last Harris poll was a bit of an outlier, with it showing his approval rating in the 50s.

I believe that was in a Roll Call column by Mort Kondracke last week, because I saw it too. They must have limited that poll to the Bay area or to RATS. 8^)

[Dales]

Found it. Had a devil of a time though, because Roll Call moved it off of Mort Kondracke's page but have not yet added it to his archives. Google had a cached version though, here:

In six out of eight polls, Bush's overall job approval rating remained in the 70s - the average was 75 percent - with the populists at the Democracy Corps showing him at 69 percent and the ever-outlying Harris Poll at 51 percent.

[Dales]

It was- I just found a copy of it in Google's cache.

However, it appears that one of three things is true. Either Harris didn't believe their own poll and discarded it, or it was a Harris poll that was done for a particular group and not made available to the general public, or Mort was mistaken. According to PollingReport.com, Harris has not had Bush below 70 in 6 months.

[Miss Marple]

Dales, you might want to go to the original Harris information. Mort misread it, according to one freeper's account. The 51% figure was for his handling of the Middle East..overall was still up around 75%. Also, this person reported Daschle's approval was down around 39%, with his unfavorables at 37%. Ha!

[Miss Marple]

This story verifies much of what you have been saying.

[Dales]

Heh, so my memory was right (that I had seen it reported) but it was reported wrong by Mort.

If it had been a more consistent polling firm than Harris, that would have been easier to tell!

[mware]

Bush's job-approval rating is still up in the stratosphere - 74 percent in a new Harris Poll

I got the new Gallup numbers for this week yesterday. He is holding at 76%.

[McLynnan]

Watching the Democrats lemming like march to the sea is very satisfying. There's not an original thinker in the bunch. In their desperation to topple Bush they've developed permanent foot in mouth disease.

[liberalism=failure]

None of it means squat unless it translates into gains in November.

[eureka!]

"If I am not mistaken, the last Harris poll was a bit of an outlier, with it showing his approval rating in the 50s."

As I recall, there were four polls, three in the mid 70's and the "Harris" poll reported at 51%. Some Freeper went to it and the 51 number pertained to approval in handling the ME crisis, not overall job approval. Don't quote me on it though...

[alethia]

Agreed, in addition to the cuts in the military, the CIA, NSA and FBI were polluted by Clinton bureaucrats, while experienced and ethical agents left these agencies in droves. I suspected that Homeland Security would be a potential "mirror" of these agencies due to the weaknesses. I am gratified that the FBI is being overhauled. I suspect that this was in the works before 9/11 -- the unfortunate events in September just greased the wheels. Wonder what's going on the the DOJ?

[mewzilla]

And it could still backfire even more. Especially if little tidbits about the shenanigans of certain politicos start to come out.

Paybacks are heck.