Who are the 26%?
Given the events of the last 6 and a half years, it fascinates me that any single individual could be asked this question:
"Do you approve of the job George W. Bush is doing as President?
and answer in the affirmative.
According to the latest Newsweek poll, 26% - astonishingly - replied with a "yes" to that question. I want to know exactly who would be so disposed.
So let me pose the question in the immortal words of a Mr. J. Seinfeld: Who are these people?
Now 26% is an abysmal number. But it's still a lot of people. 26% of the total vote for President in 2004 is still about 31.5 million people - almost as much as the entire population of California.
And we need to know who these people are. Due to the vagaries of major events, the numerical influence of third-party candidates and the potentially bizarre effect of the Electoral College itself, the Democratic nominee will need to know the complete lay of the land.
This includes being able to identify those who are likely never to be persuaded to vote against a Republican, never even to vote against anyone seen to be carrying on the current disastrous policies of Bush.
So here's an analysis. It's not exhaustive and certainly not scientific - it may not even be right - but it's mine!
The 26% includes:
1) Religious Fundamentalists
Those who like that the President is one of them. He went through the process of being saved, so everything he does is OK.
2) "Librul" Haters
Those who are virulently inclined to be against all Dems as a group of pointy-headed liberals. The opposite of "D" is "R", so they're always in that camp.
3) Misplaced Patriots
"My country right or wrong" folks. And they've never heard the rest of that famous quote.
4) Authority Worshipers
Closely related to the above. "He's the President, the Commander-in-Chief, THAT'S why I support him."
5) Military Groupies
Those who think that America is defined by its ability to blow stuff up all the time. They like Bush's pathological aversion to diplomacy.
6) Single Issue Fanatics
Like, say, guns. Bush is pro-gun; nothing else matters.
7) Honest-to-God Neocons
I guess theoretically there could be people out there who actually subscribe to that bizarre philosophy.
8) Reflexive Republicans
People who have habitually voted Republican for years or generations.
9) Captains of Industry and other assorted Filthy Rich
What Bush once famously referred to as his "base." Why wouldn't they support him?
There has been a good deal of GOP abandonment from genuine conservatives - those who believe in fiscal restraint, avoiding foreign entanglements and deep governmental respect for civil liberties. Bush has crapped all over those principles.
And of course some military families who are tired of bearing the brunt of the war have turned on the Administration. So there is at least precedent for former supporters to make the turn.
But the real question is: are any of the 26 per cent as described above redeemable? Is there any chance that the Democratic nominee could leverage an issue like health care or economic insecurity to get their votes? Or are they bound to pull the "R" lever come hell or high water?