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Here's Why *'s Poll Numbers Remain High

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bobd Donating Member (473 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:10 AM
Original message
Here's Why *'s Poll Numbers Remain High
Read this article from Counter Punch. A snippet:

This has been a hard piece to write. It may be a hard one to read.

There are a number of questions that need to be asked these days, and I'll try to tackle them in the coming series of articles. Today's question: Why, in the face of the obvious, does Bush enjoy such broad popular support?

We've read a lot in the semi-mainstream press about how Bush has been fooling us -- about the war, about a lot of things. John Kerry now claims he was led down the garden path regarding the invasion of Iraq, and other voices are starting to be heard, sounding a similar note. We're even seeing the leaky start of what could be an interesting stream of evidence.

But if the public was fooled, how come? This one blames the government, that one the media, another the intelligence community, still others what's preached in the churches. Some just credit (if "credit" is the word) the ebb and flow of received ideas, the ever-changing song of the collective popular mind.

Many are kind enough to fault the presumed good nature of the American people, who in the face of just-don't-know, always give the boss a break, take the Prez at his word. What could be more generous than that, more good-natured?

But no matter what song these commentators sing, it's a variation on the same sad theme -- it's not the people's fault, but someone else's. The devil made them do it.

Hmmm -- does this sound familiar, suspicious?

It's enough to start you thinking. So let's consider for a moment whether the current state of things -- the lies, the belief in lies, the deeds, our support -- is not someone else's fault after all, but falls to the people themselves and not to their "leaders."

It's an article of faith on the Left that the people (that is, the People) will always "wake up" whenever they learn the truth; that the people (er, People) are reasonable and need only be well informed to act wisely.

But what if we've been awake all along, all of us, and are already as "well informed" as we wish to be?



More ...

Bob D.
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vi5 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:18 AM
Response to Original message
1. The more obvious and simple reason is....
A majority of Americans want to and will give the president the benefit of the doubt. Whether they voted at all or voted for him in particular they don't want to believe that their leader is doing anything bad and if they do believe it they are very forgiving. This effect is what kept Clinton's numbers high and it's what keeps Bush's numbers high. It stinks but it's not exactly some sort of insiduous conspiracy either. It doesn't mean they will or won't vote for the guy but as long as he is the president, the fact is that the majority of americans will say they support him.
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:34 AM
Response to Reply #1
4. It is not the man they support
as some sin meisters explain it, but the office....
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CWebster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:21 AM
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2. Suffer fools gladly
Never could understand that. ;-)
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:27 AM
Response to Original message
3. Good question but another comes to mind....
"But what if we've been awake all along, all of us, and are already as "well informed" as we wish to be?"
=================================

What if people are only as informed as is necessary for them to be? They may wish to be better informed. But they don't have the time. They still have their jobs. They are still able to pay their bills. They have a satelite dish with the all-sports program for the football season. Most people's survival needs have been met. They don't have time for political stuff.


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Midwest_Doc Donating Member (548 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jul-18-03 07:39 AM
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5. Keep the People Frightened
The strategy of the Bush administration seems to be "keep the people frightened" The fear of terrorism promotes the desire for protection above all else. The willingness to use military solutions abroad, and paramilitary solutions at home communicate the message: if my safety weren't at risk, all of these "homeland security" measures wouldn't be necessary. This strategy is paternalistic and a distraction from other issues such as the economy, the environment, and the erosion of personal liberty.
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