New Q-Poll - Bush Pushback Failing

According to a new Quinnipiac Poll, the public is not buying into Bush's latest Iraq pushback strategy on either front. Support for immediate withdrawal from Iraq is as high as 40 percent now, with 4 percent asking for a withdrawal deadline of 6 months, and 10 percent supporting a withdrawal deadline of 1 year. Only 34 percent believe there should be "no deadline". In other words, Bush has convinced nobody that setting a withdrawal timetable is a bad thing.

On the honesty front, 49 percent believe the Bush Administration "intentional misled" the US public on pre-war intelligence, while 46 believe the Administration told what it believed to be the truth. Again, the honesty pushback scheme did nothing to sway the public.

Bush's approval rating is 40, with disapproval at 54. Cheney and Congress are much worse. All are historic lows for the Q-Poll.

It seems that public opinion has hardened on these questions. Quinnipiac hadn't polled these Iraq-related questions in a very long time. It's pretty clear that a PR effort on a "Plan for Victory" won't do much for Bush.

•  Once the public

  ...loses trust in a national figure it virtually impossible to win back.

  One of the disadvantages of the American system is that there is no real way to recall a distrusted national politican, most notably the President.

  Short of impeachment (a weapon which, theoretically shouldn't be political) there is no way to remove a vastly unpopular President.

  40% approval is higher than he has been, but pretty weak for a sitting re-elected President.

  by danheskett on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:15:36 AM PDT

  •  40% is low for Q-Poll

    The Quinnipiac Poll has never put Bush as low as 40%. I'm not suprised that his rating is above the mid-30s because gas prices have dropped so much.

    by Elrod on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:28:14 AM PDT

    •  mmm

      I wonder why the never got him in the 30's?  Timing?

      There was a raft of polls that put him in the 30's.

      Makes me wonder, because, generally, I respect their techniques and haven't found major flaw with their work.

      by danheskett on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 06:03:53 PM PDT

•  I still want to know

  who all the stupid people are.  Who is the 51% that STILL believe he didn't mislead us?  Who are the 40% who STILL believe he's doing a good job?  I can't believe he's got ANY credibility left.  

  by bluestateonian on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:16:18 AM PDT

  •  People Who Get their Information from Fox News

    If you only watched Fox News, what would you believe?
    

    by Mr X on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:59:55 AM PDT

  •  good question

    Fox has about 3-4 million max. Rush maybe 15 million on a good day, hannity less than that. Where are these true believers? My guess would be something to  do with the megachurches and the fundie right but even that doesn't account for all of them.

    by dougymi on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 08:15:11 AM PDT

    •  ahh

      The answer is:

      Most Americans look at politics like sports.

      Really, that's it.  I havent a clue the number, but it's gotta be in the 60-75% range.  

      "MY team rocks!"  

      "No way, your team SUCKS.  MY TEAM rocks!  Loser!"

      "You are dreamin' mister!  Team Bush is the bomb!"

      It's the same thing when a team gets close to the playoffs - "I've been rooting for them all along".
      

      by danheskett on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 06:05:30 PM PDT

•  Instead, ask opinion about "STARTING"

  an immediate withdrawal.

  This is my preference. "Immediate withdrawal" sounds as if you want them to all leave Iraq right now, and that is seen by many as irresponsible. It needs to be gradual so as not to endanger people there.

  Lots more people would agree to "start the withdrawal immediately."

  by Gorette on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:27:12 AM PDT

  •  Still

    I agree. In fact, I don't support any timetable whatsoever, though I don't believe anything good will come out of us staying. I just think that US troops are the only thing standing in the way of an Iraqi genocide. Still, the fact that many people interpeted "immediate withdrawal" to mean "immediate", and that 40% support it shows how desperate America is to be rid of this war. Other previous polls on Iraq withdrawal at had immediate withdrawal coming in at about 19%.

    by Elrod on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:32:21 AM PDT

•  In light of this,

  does it make sense that a poll taken in this past week indicated that 47% of Americans would vote for Bush again?  I know it was a carefully worded poll putting him against Kerry again, but 47%???

  by nupstateny on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:28:34 AM PDT

  •  Kerry

    It shows how bad Kerry was as a candidate - or at least how bad he was made to look thanks to RNC propaganda.

    by Elrod on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:29:37 AM PDT

•  According

  to the president, he didn't mislead us, we (democrats) mis-followed him.
  So says Tom Toles

  49 percent believe the Bush Administration "intentional misled" the US public on pre-war intelligence,...

  Does that mean that the alternative 46% are lying about what they believe, or are they simply not paying attention? I guess it's a mix.

  Either way, more people believe we were intentionally misled into war than believe the president is so ghastly incompetent he believed in the mole hill of intelligence that supported WMD's and ignored the mountain of intelligence that went against his agenda. Er..I mean...he believed only what he was given....er, wait, he thought the intelligence was good, but only some of it...er wait - "kARL--WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO SAY?"

  So it comes down to this:

  Q.   Was the president misleading, or is he incompetent?
  A.   Both, either, doesn't matter. Impeach 2007.

  by Patriot4peace on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:50:20 AM PDT

•  Ive been trying to find the words now

  for a while to sum up how much I dislike Bushco, I have yet to find language in the English dictionary that adequately expresses how much of a complete and total failure this man is.

  I'm sure there's a word in German for him but its probably two sentences long and comprised of every word for
  "totalidioicandabsolutefailurethatshouldneverbeplacedinanyshortofleadershippositioneveragain"

  Reading the Rolling Stone article on Cheney I have even more deep angry and hatred towards him.  Cheney is like Midas in reverse, everything he touches, including Bush, turns to shit or if already shit, into total diarrhea.

  Dick Cheney isn't qualified to manage a toll booth let alone the office of VICE PRESIDENT.  Likewise for Bush.

  Not only should they both be impeached, but sold into indentured servitude to the city of NOLA.

  by Drezden on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 07:55:34 AM PDT

•  Bush just handed Congress to the Dems ...

  ...with his 40 page "stay the course" plan.  That mofo won't be able to appear at any campaign appearances in 40 American states without howls of protests.  

  by LakeThomas on Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 08:14:45 AM PDT