# How can GWB be leading in the Polls??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055 "2004-04-20T17:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/1 "2004-04-20T17:32:57Z")
From [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/19/bush.kerry.poll/index.html) Who the hell are these people surveying?? Did they pull their list from the RNC!?? Do any of these idiots watch TV? Did you see his press conference?? I just dont get it!! I know John Kerry is not the answer, but holy shit, hes a better answer than GWB!!! GWB has not handled one freaking thing right in his term…not ONE! He has lied to us again and again. I mean for God’s sake, he walked out on his National Guard duty!! Someone, anyone, give me hope that if this shambling excuse for a President is re-elected our country wont be going to shit!!! GWB voters…what the hell do you see in this man? Does he really inspire you in some way? Give you hope? WHAT DAMIT, WHAT??? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/2 "2004-04-20T17:35:02Z")
I was waiting for this thread. I had muttered the same thing to myself this morning when I read it. What the fuck is going on? How could he be _rising_ in the polls? ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/3 "2004-04-20T17:39:51Z")
Apparently it’s the stupid, er, I mean _silent_ majority. Let’s just hope they remain silent on Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/4 "2004-04-20T17:40:09Z")
Uhhn? Bush President. President of America. America good. Government run America. Bush run Government. Bush is government. Bush is America. America good. Everything else bad. Huh? Bush bad? Bush incompetent? Bush not interested in well-being of American people? TREASON! UHH! UHH! NOT HEAR YOU! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!! ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/5 "2004-04-20T17:42:42Z")
Because, my dear head-in-the-hole liberals, not everyone agrees with your viewpoints. Just because you (meaning liberals on the SDMB and in general)entered Bush’s press conference with a set of preconcieved judgments (and here will come some claiming they didn’t, but the posts on the relevant thread clearly show the opposite) does not mean that the country viewed it through the same set of blinders. The economy appears to be recovering due to Bush’s tax cuts, Iraq, despite the media’s attempts to make it out to be another Vietnam, is generally pro-American even while anti-occupation (and really, who would want their country to be occupied?), and most, despite the anti-Bushies’ jeers, feel him to be a strong and reliable leader. I’m not saying that everyone is hailing Bush as the greatest president of all time; indeed, the polls are still generally even with less than 8% differences between the candidates. But there is still a significant section of the electorate, drasticaly underrepresented in the SDMB, which supports him over Kerry. If some of the liberals would go into mainstream America and not just their liberal spider-holes, they might get a better idea of how Americans are thinking, and they wouldn’t be surprised that not everyone thinks that Bush is Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/6 "2004-04-20T17:48:41Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > If some of the liberals would go into mainstream America and not just their liberal spider-holes, they might get a better idea of how Americans are thinking, and they wouldn’t be surprised that not everyone thinks that Bush is Hitler. We know how Americans are thinking, the question is _why_ are they thinking that way? ---
**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/7 "2004-04-20T17:51:49Z")
> [@Dob](#): > > From [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/19/bush.kerry.poll/index.html) > > Who the hell are these people surveying?? Did they pull their list from the RNC!?? Do any of these idiots watch TV? Did you see his press conference?? I just dont get it!! I know John Kerry is not the answer, but holy shit, hes a better answer than GWB!!! > > GWB has not handled one freaking thing right in his term…not ONE! He has lied to us again and again. I mean for God’s sake, he walked out on his National Guard duty!! Someone, anyone, give me hope that if this shambling excuse for a President is re-elected our country wont be going to shit!!! > > GWB voters…what the hell do you see in this man? Does he really inspire you in some way? Give you hope? WHAT DAMIT, WHAT??? In short, “Yes.” All of the typical ranting from the liberals on this board is simply Sound and Fury, signifying nothing. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/8 "2004-04-20T17:56:54Z")
> [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > In short, “Yes.” All of the typical ranting from the liberals on this board is simply Sound and Fury, signifying nothing. I think I almost just fainted. GWB _inspires_ you?!?!? Stop the fucking world at let me off. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/9 "2004-04-20T17:57:13Z")
On the topic of the “recovering economy”, can someone tell me just who it is recovering for? I haven’t gotten any raises, nor do I know anyone who has. Also, **athelas** can you explain the need to be so dismissive and divisive in your post? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/10 "2004-04-20T17:59:23Z")
Because some people, when looking at the same information that you have, will reach a different conclusion that you do. This is not because they are idiots, nor because they are evil, nor because they are deluded, nor because they don’t have all the facts. This is because they (pay attention, because this is important) **disagree with you**. It may shock you to discover that some people in this world disagree with you, but such is a part of growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/11 "2004-04-20T17:59:42Z")
> [@Chicago Faucet](#): > > In short, “Yes.” All of the typical ranting from the liberals on this board is simply Sound and Fury, signifying nothing. So 51 to 46, as far as I can tell, is quite close. Yet this is not significant? You do realize that you are being dismissive to close to half of your countrymen, right? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/12 "2004-04-20T18:00:27Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > On the topic of the “recovering economy”, can someone tell me just who it is recovering for? I haven’t gotten any raises, nor do I know anyone who has. Also, **athelas** can you explain the need to be so dismissive and divisive in your post? It’s recovering for the people that the Republican party cares about…CEOs, old-money inheritors, government contractors… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/13 "2004-04-20T18:03:11Z")
1.) GW’s press conference was a success. Yes, it was a lackluster performance. But most people didn’t watch it; instead, they read the headlines of “Bush says: ‘Stay the Course’” and generally agreed with the sentiment. Bush may be a horrible communicator, but his message does resonate. 2.) Iraq in the media’s focus has helped Bush more than it’s hurt him. The average American believes we have a duty to stay the course and tough it out even with casualties rising; Bush is stating exactly that, and the perceived attitude of the Democrats is “cut and run! illegal war! Vietnam again! Doomed! Doomed!” which doesn’t play well. 3.) Kerry has done jack-shit to define what he would _actually_ do as President; he has mostly murmured about how bad Bush is. While that’s great for rounding up people who would never vote for Bush anyways, it’s not good for trying to convince people in the middle that Kerry is actually any alternative. 4.) The economy, by drips and drabs, is getting better. More jobs are being created, and things look up for investors. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/14 "2004-04-20T18:05:50Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Also, **athelas** can you explain the need to be so dismissive and divisive in your post? Perhaps he/she was reacting to all the dismissive posts above his/hers? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/15 "2004-04-20T18:06:27Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > On the topic of the “recovering economy”, can someone tell me just who it is recovering for? I haven’t gotten any raises, nor do I know anyone who has. Also, **athelas** can you explain the need to be so dismissive and divisive in your post? I’ll just add that people getting jobs making half of what they were making before is not improvement. Looks nice for the statistics though. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/16 "2004-04-20T18:09:16Z")
And people wonder why the fight against ignorance takes longer than we thought. And I suppose Bob Woodward’s revelation on _60 Minutes_ that the Saudis are dicking with oil prices to help re-elect Bush is considered a good thing, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/17 "2004-04-20T18:15:01Z")
Listen, fellow Dems, do you really think you’re going to win any hearts and minds with phrases like > [@](#): > > Apparently it’s the stupid, er, I mean silent majority. Let’s just hope they remain silent on Election Day. and > [@](#): > > TREASON! UHH! UHH! NOT HEAR YOU! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!!! I mean, really! My folks are both Republicans and all three of us largely get our news from the same sources: NY Times, NPR, Lehrer Report, New Yorker magazine. We go to the same type of church (although mine is a bit more socially progressive than theirs) and live in the same neighborhood. We all have advanced educations and are pretty tolerant. I’m a Dem, they’re not, but in most of the country they’d probably be considered very liberal for Repubs. Now, Dad for one is very very unhappy about Gautanamo Bay; he has no use for those violent deluded guys but thinks they deserve a fair trail, right now. He’s seen my struggles with being underemployed in a post-9/11 economy and doesn’t think much of the tax policies. He was for the war in Iraq but worries about the administration of that country. He admires Kerry as a person although he also feels he represents the boilerplate liberal thinking he’s been having trouble with for forty years. So I would say he’s on the fence right now. He knows he has a lot more in common with Kerry, but still…hey, plenty of time for him to decide. He walks into a bar. He gets into a conversation with one of the flamers in this thread. He gets an earful of the stuff I quoted above. Now, choose one: A) He walks out of the bar converted, with the clear light of Truth and Goodness shining from every pore, and vows to go forth and vote Republican no more. B) He stomps out of the bar before he says something he regrets, decides he doesn’t want people who think like those assholes running his country, and mentions the encounter in all the other political discussions he has between now and November. And he has a LOT of friends and we have a big Irish family. IJS. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/18 "2004-04-20T18:15:15Z")
> [@John Corrado](#): > > 1.) GW’s press conference was a success. Yes, it was a lackluster performance. But most people didn’t watch it; instead, they read the headlines of “Bush says: ‘Stay the Course’” and generally agreed with the sentiment. Bush may be a horrible communicator, but his message does resonate. Well I saw it, he didn’t say anything. He just trotted out the same tired lines. > [@](#): > > 2.) Iraq in the media’s focus has helped Bush more than it’s hurt him. The average American believes we have a duty to stay the course and tough it out even with casualties rising; Bush is stating exactly that, and the perceived attitude of the Democrats is “cut and run! illegal war! Vietnam again! Doomed! Doomed!” which doesn’t play well. Some of us are still pissed of how we came to the situation we are in today. We were lied to, straight up. > [@](#): > > 3.) Kerry has done jack-shit to define what he would _actually_ do as President; he has mostly murmured about how bad Bush is. While that’s great for rounding up people who would never vote for Bush anyways, it’s not good for trying to convince people in the middle that Kerry is actually any alternative. Agreed. That lurch looking motherfucker needs to stop the Bush bashing and get his act together, but we already know he’s an idiot and won’t do that. > [@](#): > > 4.) The economy, by drips and drabs, is getting better. More jobs are being created, and things look up for investors. We’ll have to see, another terrorist attack will end that real fast. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/19 "2004-04-20T18:15:17Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > And people wonder why the fight against ignorance takes longer than we thought. > > And I suppose Bob Woodward’s revelation on _60 Minutes_ that the Saudis are dicking with oil prices to help re-elect Bush is considered a good thing, eh? But this was denied by the Saudi ambassador, so Woodward must be a filthy liar. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055/20 "2004-04-20T18:15:50Z")
> [@Dob](#): > > I mean for God’s sake, he walked out on his National Guard duty!! Yeah yeah yeah, and Clinton dodged the draft. Can’t we just say that the Republicans and Democrats are even on this issue now and move on to something more important? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-gwb-be-leading-in-the-polls/241055.md?page=2)