Bush and Obama: A study in contrasts
By David Neiwert Monday Nov 10, 2008 2:45pm
I'm sure it was just a coincidence that on the day that Barack Obama met with George W. Bush at the White House to discuss the transition to power, polls came out showing that Bush was leaving office more unpopular than Richard Nixon:
On the day that President-elect Barack Obama is visiting the White House, a new national poll suggests that the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most unpopular president since approval ratings were first sought more than six decades ago.
Seventy-six percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday disapprove of how President Bush is handling his job.
That's an all-time high in CNN polling and in Gallup polling dating back to World War II.
In contrast, Barack Obama enters office with a 68 percent approval rating. (Bush, for those wondering, entered office in January 2001 with approval ratings around 55 percent.)
What's remarkable about these numbers, though, is that they tell us large numbers of Republicans -- indeed, McCain voters -- are voicing disapproval of Bush's performance.
These fresh-born critics have essentially two options to explain away Bush without indicting themselves:
-- He was incompetent.
-- He wasn't conservative enough.
Often the critics will combine the two, but usually emphasize one or the other. And the current rift within conservative ranks revolves around one or the other. But there's a big hole in their rationale.
As we've pointed out repeatedly, the Great Repudiation last Tuesday was the product of voters rejecting movement conservatism -- both its governance and its politics.
The reasons George W. Bush is so unpopular is not merely that he was incompetent, but that he enacted so many policies, and as a result presided over so many disasters, that were a direct product of movement-conservative dogma. Ironically, it wasn't until they had proven disastrous that many of these Republicans suddenly realized he wasn't competent or conservative enough.
I guess you can't blame movement conservatives for their utter state of denial about the reasons for their repudiation. Yet it is satisfying to know that this denial will handicap them for the foreseeable future.
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What's with the black folk in front of the white backround and the white folk in front of the black backround. To show contrast?
I didn't notice that, but I thought this was a less than ideal setting for a photo op.
but a observant cameraman.
so it's harder to get detailed renditions. A good photog can get good pix. They just need more practice on the Obamas.
What is the topic of this post?
I think it's how should Obama govern. But it might be about approval
ratings.
Obama should make this country as harmless as possible. Harmless to Americans, foreigners, the environment, et.al.
Anyone who thinks Bush is doing a good job is an enemy of America.
You get edited if you don't follow the topic.
Anti-intellectual versus intellectual.
Running the country by a "gut check" versus running the country by making informed decisions and seeking counsel.
Malapropisms versus articulate eloquence.
No joke:
Using "malapropisms" in a sentence makes you my hero for the day!
Here is your shiny No-Prize.
I'm always amazed that there are even 24% that approve of the job Bush is doing. It has got to be the tax cuts crowd. I can't imagine there is anything else that has the potential for approval.
It's the crowd that hates Democrats and liberals just because they are Democrats and liberals and will vote for and support any Republican. There are many of them here in the Western states.
Here's a better picture of the four.
Compare the smiles of the bushs vs the Obamas and also try to explain where the hell Laura was looking when everyone else was looking at the camera.
was looking to see if her bf had the car ready and their bags packed. Well, I for one sure hope so.
..and I can clearly see that Laura needs a little more support - as in a much better bra. She should call Oprah.....
in the fashion department. I agree, Amitola, she needs to get some decent support for the girls. It looks like her boobs are planning to escape to Mexico without her. And that dress is an absolute disaster both in colour and style. Sheesh!
Michelle Obama, on the other hand, looks smashing.
Barack and Michelle, two well educated people who know how to make wise decisions and know all about love and gentleness.
George and Laura, none of the above.
Who do you think actually looks presidential? (and first ladyish?)
Bush: we're gonna punt to these guys
Karl:
Hold up! Hold up! Lemme rub a booger on it first! Heehee!
Before I get into this, let me start out by saying that I am currently a member of the Democratic Party, but I will soon be switching to Independent because the Dems are not far enough left for me, and I'm sick of it.
I keep seeing this around, and while I do not think that America is a "center-right" country (or that the people who do think that even have an idea what "center-right" is), I do not think that this election was a repudiation of Republicans, or even of neocons. I think the economy finally reached a point at which it affected white, "middle-class" Americans and they voted for change.
The difference between "repudiation of the free-market malarkey" and "voting for change" is that the former requires an understanding of the market, of free-market capitalism beyond jingoistic slogans and bumper-sticker-ready chants. I don't think that the vast majority of Americans have such an understanding. I think that once we (ie. the Dems) repair the economy and get things back on track, the voters will start voting for the simplistic, moronic sound bites they've always fallen for--"Uhmurikuh first!", "Made in the U.S.A.!!!", "These colors don't run!" blah blah blah.
I don't think that the majority of Americans suddenly woke up a few months ago and decided that free-market capitalism will always be hamstrung by the basest of human nature, and that concentrating economic and governmental power in the hands of a few will quickly lead to corruption and looting, while the underclasses suffer. Rather, I put it more on the level of the reasoning of a planarian--"eek! its hot! must move away!" (everyone knows simple organisms don't use capital letters). This election was the same stimulus-response--"eek! no money! change it! change it!"
And, just like the little flatworm, once the stimulus is removed, they'll go back to grazing on American Idol, Fox News and various other bacterial fauna.
I was watching the video bytes on CNN of President Obama's arrival to the White House. What I found interesting was that President Obama lead the WarPig through the door first with a hand to his shoulder. Those who study body language might say that is sign Obama was taking control of the meeting. The alpha male taking charge of the subordinate.
Without his puppeteer sitting next to him telling him what to say shrubby is lost. He's probably glad Obama is there to take the lead.
dumbya was at best a helper drone thrown into the seat of the alpha male.
It's probably best if dumbya just sits down and takes notes. Maybe he'll learn something.
Yeah I doubt it too.
The reason Republicans are such failures at governing is that they just don't get government. It's like asking a life-long vegetarian to take charge of a sausage factory. Add to that a dose of ignorance and incompetence as we had with Bush, and it's a disaster waiting to happen, which it did.
I do like Laura just wish her spouse goes away and is never seen or heard from again.
As far as incompetence, I think this administration achieved their goals and got away with it scot free. The only casualties were Brownie and Scooter and they are probably making more money now that when the were in the civil service.
When I look at shrubby and pickles is "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?"
I like this song better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfptuJtl4Rw
voters rejected "conservatism", whatever that means.
They rejected a moronic, narcissist, corrupt president and his toadies and help-mates.
They voted for a different path for this nation.
They did not vote for everyone here's top-10 wish list. Certainly not for mine.
Like my country, there are only two major parties. Who the heck are these people supposed to vote for? Reject conservatism? Most people have no idea and don't care to know political ideology. They wanted an alternative to Bush. There only was one.
n/t
amato on rachel maddow NOW!!!!!!!!!
LINK TO LISTEN
with the "Great Repudiation" meme. Better than 4 in 10 voters chose McCain. This was a repudiation of President Bush, Vice-President Cheney and the current administration's policies. It's less clear that it was a repudiation of traditional Republican values (since the current administration never represented many of those anyway).
I expect a substantial number of "independent" voters just voted for a new party President because of short term economic fears. If the economy has rebounded in three years, then President Obama will be re-elected. If it hasn't then the GOP candidate, whoever it may be has a good chance of success.
the single issue voter is going the way of the saddled t-rex.
They will not even give the man a chance to clean up w's mess.
..of Jack Daniels or if he was rude enough to pour from the open bottle he keeps in his desk.
Has anyone else noticed a similarity between the movement conservatives and the communists? When their regimes devastate their countries, true believers rise up to say, "That wasn't real communism!" or "That wasn't real conservatism!"
There's always an academic argument to be made, as the regimes that put the philosophy into practice eventually strayed from its principles. But at some point, they have to pause to consider whether the philosophy itself is fundamentally flawed. Perhaps the principles simply cannot be put into practice. When every administration that tries it manages to bungle everything, I would say the time for pause has come.
Thankfully, the country woke up. Now, the movement conservatives screaming about how Bush wasn't conservative enough, and how Obama needs to govern this center-right country like a conservative need to shut up.
Could we stop using these flaccid and secondary terms to evaluate the simian warmonger?? George W. Bush gave the direct order to the US mitlitary to INVADE illegally the sovereign nation of Iraq and this war crime resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of CIVILIANS (151,000 according to the Iraqi Health Ministry). You know, women, children, the elderly . . Why not use the term "war criminal" in lieu of any other term? The rest pale in comparison by any sane standard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_conflict_in_Iraq_since_2003
I'm just wondering what was there for the men to talk about, because can anyone honestly imagine Booosh offering Obama any bit of meaningful advice? Bwahahahahahaaa!!! I think not!
If Bush's meeting with Tony Blair is an indicator, they talked about toothpaste
"He was incompetent."
"He wasn't conservative enough."
~~
He was an Inconserpetent?
An Inconcervatent?
He was a Conpervatent?
Or was he just an incompetent conservative? But there I go repeating myself...
1. Institute the Project for a New American Century gameplan for the Middle East (invade Iraq, control its oil and have a base from which to control the region);
2. Reduce the tax burden on the rich, keep down wages, try to privatize Social Security, and spend the country into a deep enough hole that government will have to be cut drastically;
3. Eliminate, selectively enforce, or pervert the enforcement of regulations controlling finance, manufacturing, energy, climate change, the environment, leases, scientific research, and medical ethics;
4. Enact a laissez-faire disaster response policy that favors the political aims of the Republican Party (razing the housing projects of New Orleans, doling our valuable oceanfront property to private developers, dispersing Democratic voters and not providing the means or the infrastructure for them to return.
5. Prepare the populace if more repressive measures of governance are needed (repealing habeus, eavesdropping, raising an internal private army and purposing elements of the regular army for internal law enforcement).
If you're a rich Republican, George W. Bush has been your Abraham Lincoln...
In other news, Dick Cheney has announced Laura Bush will be the designated driver for all future bird hunting trips.
Bush is still the president? I thought he and Cheney slunk out last summer and left things in the hands of the night watchman.
Don't let Conservatives get away with claiming Bush was incompetent or not Conservative enough. The Bush regime has been enormously competent and effective at pushing through a Conservative agenda which the Republican party marched in lockstep behind. They got just about everything they wanted from tax cuts, deregulation, slashing social services, and undermining public education to belligerent foreign policy.
The reality is Conservatism, as a governing philosophy, looks like incompetence when put into practice.
so that all new deal programs would have to be repealed, and we would be turned back to the 19th century....they may have very well done that
the middle class is close to extinct...the programs are on the verge of immolation
maybe the obama admin can fix things....maybe not
but all these crooks need to be in prison
jan 20
chain them both to the wh gates and allow the crowds to egg them both
"melencholly"?????????
fuck that....i cant wait to dance a motherfucking jig
George W Bush has 3 arrests Dick Cheney has two...Mostly DUI's, but still, the ONLY President/VP in history with that.
So I guess it's 5-0 Repiglicans.
that we can now start saying he was incompetent.
No, Bush was the most effective Conservative president ever. That's the problem.
is that he was as in his days are finally just about over.
{Deleted, I'm asked you repeatedly not to spam the site. This is the last time I'm going to ask you. SiteMonitor}
RealClearPolitics has the approval/disapproval rating of Congress. Seems someone should tell them that they are thought of in a far worse light than Bush. 17% approval rating? Ouch.
What's funny about those polls is they never ask why Congress' approval rating is so low. I suspect it's because they rolled over for Bush and didn't impeach his @$$ like we elected them to do. RealClearPolitics doesn't want to know the why, so they don't ask. That way they can give the impression that the public is as angry with Democrats as they are with Republicans. The only poll that really matters is the elections, and which party lost big time? Hint: It wasn't the Democrats.
Bush and Obama: A study in contrasts
Like black and white?
revised pic of george and obama
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9599/slid2...
pic 2 of george and obama
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7581/slikk...
check out that body language
who wants to bet that they sleep in seperate bedrooms?
The original plan was to put Michelle Obama next to George, and Laura next to Barack. But George instinctively thought Michelle was Condi Rice, and tried to grope her. So, Laura threw a fit and changed the photographic arrangement.
George and Barack?
I vote we start using the words CONSERVATIVE and DOGMA (or DOGMATISM) together as much as possible, to reinforce in the public mind that one of the main flaws with conservatism is that it is neither a pragmatic nor a reality-based philosophy. It's a pseudo-religion which insists on continuing to apply the same methods even when things get WORSE as a result of applying them!
Only conservatives would be so dogmatic as to drive the country into the ground with conservative policies, and then claim that the country is in the ground because those policies weren't conservative ENOUGH. The public needs to be reminded of this, constantly! It's the main reason why conservative idealogues need to be kept out of public office. Because they do NOT rely on their judgement to make good policy, or to change course when things are obviously not working. Instead, they'll just stick to a course of pre-established principles, whether they are working or not. Common sense and good judgement are irrelevant. Only the philosophical perscriptions are important. This is the only way that conservatives can justify voting obvious IDIOTS into office! It can only be justified on the grounds that good judgement doesn't matter. Just a loyal adherence to a set of principles.
So...put a conservative in office, and he/she will never change what they're doing, even if presented with EVIDENCE that what they're doing doesn't work. They'll just continue following conservative dogma.
well put pericles...the right is and has been since at least Reagan ideology driven. Every problem has the same solution : lower taxes.
No wonder so many GOP reps sign a pledge of allegiance NOT to you and I but to the ATR and Grover Norquist.
that despite wars in 2 countries, the low approval ratings, Katrina, the Plame affair and gutting the US Constitution, that Bush doesn't seem all that worse for wear. One would think that with all those worries, that it might show on his face a little. Most Presidents look horrid by the time they leave office.
Perhaps Bush doesn't and hasn't worried about the detritus that he leaves in wake? What else might explain it?
My wife and I saw "W' this past weekend. Stone did his usual job and the movie was not as excruciating to watch as i thought it might be. But I was left with the feeling that one could describe Bush as "down deep he's shallow."
Which has been exemplified over and over:
Going on holiday when he received the fateful bin Laden determined to strike memo.
Mocking reformed Karla Faye Tucker's plea for him not to kill her.
Telling the leaders of the world to focus their efforts on these terrorist evil-doers, then teeing off.
Continuing to read the My Pet Goat book after being notified that the Twin Towers were blown up.
He has never once shown that he cares about anything or anyone. Passionless, self-absorbed and soulless.
...that Obama, a man of intellect who can deal with issues in an adult manner, will help the MSM reporters reach puberty and beyond. It would be a wonderful accomplishment if Obama's ability to discuss things intelligently inspires reporters to ask intelligent questions and focus on substance. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be nice.
Was it because he was not conservative enough? Really?
I tend to think that it's because he wasn't GOOD enough.
I can't think of one single positive change he made during his 8 years in office. That is a seriously low hit ratio.
Clinton stopped genocide in Europe. Reagan got credit for the Wall falling. Even Nixon had a successful visit to China. I can't think of one thing that Bush deserves praise for.
He'll be remembered as the President who allowed 9/11 to happen on his watch, then used that horrible event to divide Americans and dismantle human rights and our Constitution.
Clinton: ordered bombings in Sudan and in Kenya.
Nixon: ordered the bombing of two neutral countries, Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam IINVASION.
Reagan: INVADED Grenada, a sovereign nation.
Each of thiese presidents committed war crimes. Each should have been tried in the Hague.
Bush: Gee, in addition to your list, maybe you could add the killing of 130,000 Iraqi civilians as a result of his orders to INVADE a sovereign nation, Iraq, that was no threat to the US.
What the fuck do they teach in history classes these days??
Write your own caption for this photograph.
My favorite:
Obama: "No, see, I'm a constitutional lawyer, just take my word for it. The vice president and the chief political advisor really DON'T have the authority to tell the president what to do and what to think. It's the other way around."
But mine was made today with bush and obama in the white house. groovy cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BQpOQIcFQA
They're taller. he he.
Michelle outred Laura's dress.
Did W whip out the hand sanitiser?
I hope Michelle found out where the Bush's sleep, so they can choose another bedroom. It'd be creepy sleeping in W's bedroom.
I wonder if Bush had the spy cameras on 'the meetin'.'
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