# Rubbing Diogenes' Nose in Reality **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698 "2010-01-20T15:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/261 "2010-01-22T05:16:20Z")
It’s 50. [Here](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html), once again, is the RCP average of all polls. One poll has him at 56%, if you want to play a game of cherry-picking polls. Even Fox News has him at 50%, for fuck’s sake. By the way, we don’t say “u” around here, and we use proper capitalization. The Hannah Montanna forum is down the hall (watch out for Chris Hansen). ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/262 "2010-01-22T05:20:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s 50. [Here](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html), once again, is the RCP average of all polls. One poll has him at 56%, if you want to play a game of cherry-picking polls. Even Fox News has him at 50%, for fuck’s sake. > > By the way, we don’t say “u” around here, and we use proper capitalization. The Hannah Montanna forum is down the hall (watch out for Chris Hansen). His approval rating is -15. Bite it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/263 "2010-01-22T05:20:48Z")
Maybe the 46 percent itself is rock solid. Betcha didn’t think of _that_. 😛 Otherwise it’s a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/264 "2010-01-22T05:21:55Z")
It’s not 46%. ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/265 "2010-01-22T05:23:19Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not 46%. You’ve already been given cites that it IS 46%. Why are you trolling? And why are the mods like Marley23 allowing it? Because they agree with you? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/266 "2010-01-22T05:26:05Z")
> [@Venetian](#): > > His approval rating is -15. Bite it. What the fuck does that mean? His average approval/disapproval spread is actually +5 (+15 in one poll). He’s as solid as Pam Anderson’s knockers. ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/267 "2010-01-22T05:28:28Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What the fuck does that mean? His average approval/disapproval spread is actually +5 (+15 in one poll). > **[Daily Presidential Tracking Poll](https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration_second_term/prez_track_jan09)** > > The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows... ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/268 "2010-01-22T05:31:44Z")
I dinna thin’ that poll means what you thin’ it means… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/269 "2010-01-22T05:32:10Z")
> [@Venetian](#): > > [Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - Rasmussen Reports®](http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll) That’s borderline cherrypicking. I don’t now how credible all the different polls in that Rasmussen tracker are - and thinking back to the election I don’t think they were all that GOOD - but that’s a better cite than yours. None of which answers why we should care if it’s 46 or 50, but we’re too far down the road to go back and figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/270 "2010-01-22T05:33:14Z")
> [@Venetian](#): > > [Daily Presidential Tracking Poll - Rasmussen Reports®](http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll) That link gives numbers of (for January 21, 2010) 47% approve, 52% disapprove. You’re quoting some completely different metric involving opinions prefixed with “strongly”, which is not what anyone is discussing in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/271 "2010-01-22T05:34:17Z")
Wow, what an ingeniously tendentious formula. Rasmussen is only counting the difference between “stronglys,” not the difference between “approve/disapprove.” You are certainly welcome to comfort yourself with this meaningless figure if you want. Obama’s aggregate approval ratings still remain quite safe, though, even exceptionally so given the economic and military catastrophes he inherited from Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/272 "2010-01-22T05:34:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’s borderline cherrypicking. I don’t now how credible all the different polls in that Rasmussen tracker are - and thinking back to the election I don’t think they were all that GOOD - but that’s a better cite than yours. > None of which answers why we should care if it’s 46 or 50, but we’re too far down the road to go back and figure that one out. Do you honestly think that 46% is rock solid support? Honestly? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/273 "2010-01-22T05:36:06Z")
> [@Venetian](#): > > Do you honestly think that 46% is rock solid support? I already said it wasn’t. I also don’t think 46 percent in one poll is as good a measurement as 50 from a bunch of polls - and I’m not sure why anybody cares in the first place. Even Obama knew his poll numbers were going to dive after he’d been in office a few months. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/274 "2010-01-22T05:36:27Z")
Remember that classic _Twilight Zone_, “To Serve Man”? Ends wth the guy running up, screaming “Its a cooked book!”… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/275 "2010-01-22T05:37:34Z")
Rassmussen’s 46 isn’t even current anymore, his poll has Barack at 47 today. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/276 "2010-01-22T05:38:47Z")
> [@Venetian](#): > > You’ve already been given cites that it IS 46%. Why are you trolling? And why are the mods like Marley23 allowing it? Because they agree with you? Come on, **Marley**. How obvious can somebody be? ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/277 "2010-01-22T05:39:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I already said it wasn’t. I also don’t think 46 percent in one poll is as good a measurement as 50 from a bunch of polls - and I’m not sure why anybody cares in the first place. Even Obama knew his poll numbers were going to dive after he’d been in office a few months. Ok, then why is Diogenes insisting on 50%? I thought this board was about fighting ignorance. Why allow him to post his lies? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/278 "2010-01-22T05:44:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Come on, **Marley**. How obvious can somebody be? I don’t like to jump to conclusions. 😉 So what _did_ draw you to this conversation, **Venetian**? Doing very thorough research on Diogenes of Sinope? Typed “46%” into Google and pressed “I’m feeling lucky?” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/279 "2010-01-22T05:46:25Z")
Because DtC isn’t lying…his claim is within the margin of error for the poll. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Venetian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/aeb1de/32.png) [@Venetian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venetian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698/280 "2010-01-22T05:46:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t like to jump to conclusions. 😉 > > So what _did_ draw you to this conversation, **Venetian**? Doing very thorough research on Diogenes of Sinope? Typed “46%” into Google and pressed “I’m feeling lucky?” never fucking mind [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rubbing-diogenes-nose-in-reality/525698.md?page=15)