Lets be fair

[jack sommerset]

Bush's last speech to the USA was at 10 o clock central time. Ridiculous. A plane that has no casualties is the headline. Think about it Obama freaks. Media fooled you all to the point that after this nation choose a President 2 terms is saying "goodbye" the media chooses a feel good story in front of him. 52 percent voted for "change" 48 percent voted "for more of the same" Media decide the feel good story was more important. Sad. Just sad. Remember freaks don't believe everything u read.

[ChumpDumper]

I shouldn't believe that the plane accident and safe water landing in the Hudson was amazing and bigger news than Bush's farewell speech?

This is a very stupid thread, even for you.

[jack sommerset]

Our President, the majority of our citizens wanted to lead us not just 4 years but 8 years addresses the country for the last time and you say this is "even stupid for me" to point out. Wow, just WOW.

[ChumpDumper]

Yes, it's stupid. Bush is the lamest of lame ducks, nobody in the country except one person on this board gives a shit what he said and the plane crash was simply extraordinary.

[jack sommerset]

Yes, it's stupid. Bush is the lamest of lame ducks, nobody in the country except one person on this board gives a shit what he said and the plane crash was simply extraordinary.

Thats stupid. Speak for the other 299,999,999 other people in this country and the few hundreds on this board. You are a genius. Run for office, you will win.

[baseline bum]

Ah, how cute to blame the same media that continually beat the drums to war for W.

[jack sommerset]

Ah, how cute to blame the same media that continually beat the drums to war for W.

I wish. Unless you lived in a fucking cave ,the media beat the Republicans out of office and elected a man that has no expierence what so ever to be our next leader.

Fuck, give me a Clinton. Fact is the President was saying farewell and the media could careless. PATHETIC. Fuck those millions and milllions and millions and millions of USA citizens that owed him and wanted to hear our President say good bye

[ChumpDumper]

Thats stupid. Speak for the other 299,999,999 other people in this country and the few hundreds on this board. You are a genius. Run for office, you will win.Why is Bush's last address bigger news than the plane crash?

Let's see your reasoning.

[ChumpDumper]

Fact is the President was saying farewell and the media could careless. PATHETIC. Fuck those millions and milllions and millions and millions of USA citizens that owed him and wanted to hear our President say good byeThe speech was carried in its entirety on all the usual outlets.

Why are you whining?

[baseline bum]

What do those millions and millions of citizens owe Bush? A swift kick to the nuts?

[jack sommerset]

The speech was carried in its entirety on all the usual outlets.

Why are you whining?

Are you kidding me? Ask ur local channel what Prime time is. Its not 11 pm in Vermont. And yes the Presidents last speech is more important then people talking about a plane landing in water. No deaths. They figured that shit out way before his speech. Its a insult to our country.

[jack sommerset]

What do those millions and millions of citizens owe Bush? A swift kick to the nuts?

You are a fucking idiot

[ChumpDumper]

Are you kidding me? Ask ur local channel what Prime time is. Its not 11 pm in Vermont. And yes the Presidents last speech is more important then people talking about a plane landing in water. No deaths. They figure that shit out way before his speech. Its a insult to our country.Uh, you got the time wrong. It was shown live in prime time. If one of your local stations preempted it for something else, bitch to them about it. Quit whining about it here.

[jack sommerset]

Uh, you got the time wrong. It was shown live in prime time. If one of your local stations preempted it for something else, bitch to them about it. Quit whining about it here.


I will. I will also bitch to CNN,FOX,MSNBC and all the other national stations that ran the regular programs. When I wake up in the morning and see all the front pages of the newspapers,internet sites, listen to the morning shows on TV and radio I will bitch to them as well about having to hear about a plane landing on water instead of listening to our President give his farewell speech after 8 years. And the whole time I will think what a bunch of zombies our nation is not concentrating on real issues.

[ChumpDumper]

I will. I will also bitch to CNN,FOX,MSNBC and all the other national stations that ran the regular programs.They ran the speech live during those programs, you complete idiot. It was only a 13 minute speech.

It's amazing how stupid you are.

[jack sommerset]

Walk before you run ass fuck. What time is prime time to you. Its not 10 pm at night

[baseline bum]

So seriously, what the fuck do we owe that shithead?

[ChumpDumper]

Walk before you run ass fuck. What time is prime time to you. Its not 10 pm at nightIt was 7PM central when I saw it in its entirety on MSNBC. It's not my fault you can't work your remote.

[ChumpDumper]

Care to amend your previous whining?

[George Gervin's Afro]

Bush was on TV last night?

[ratm1221]

I watched it at 7pm CST as well. It was on all the major stations. Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC... live... at 7. For someone so pumped up about this meaningless speech, you'd think you would have known when it came on.

And the speech sucked. He stared at the teleprompter the entire time and still didn't even get the words right. He said nothing that he hasn't said a dozen times before. For the one touching moment he tried to have when talking about the people that died in 911, he screwed up reading the teleprompter and ruined it. Same F up of a president as always. I don't know exactly what you were expecting.

[Das Texan]

Bush's last speech to the USA was at 10 o clock central time. Ridiculous. A plane that has no casualties is the headline. Think about it Obama freaks. Media fooled you all to the point that after this nation choose a President 2 terms is saying "goodbye" the media chooses a feel good story in front of him. 52 percent voted for "change" 48 percent voted "for more of the same" Media decide the feel good story was more important. Sad. Just sad. Remember freaks don't believe everything u read.


I stopped reading at this point.

It was at 7 central you fucking moron. I figure if you cant even tell fucking time, then why pay anymore attention to your drivel in this thread.

[florige]

I stopped reading at this point.

It was at 7 central you fucking moron. I figure if you cant even tell fucking time, then why pay anymore attention to your drivel in this thread.



:lmao

[byrontx]

If the media had not been such pasties for Bush he would not of have a second term or likely even a first. They let the Rove Marketing Machine invent terms like "Compassionate Conservative" and "Surge." The media allowed themselves to act like there was a link between al queda and Hussain when, in fact, Hussain was on their hit list (he may have been an asshole but he was a Baathist, secular asshole that even allowed liquor to be openly sold). The media acted as a bullhorn for the Rove spinmaster.

[clambake]

the speech would have been interesting.....if it were given at the end of a rope.

[IronMexican]

It started at 5, ass fuck. PST, that is.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Bush's last speech to the USA was at 10 o clock central time. Ridiculous.

lolz, he was watching the rerun 3 hours later. what a douche. :lol

[SpursFanFirst]

I shouldn't believe that the plane accident and safe water landing in the Hudson was amazing and bigger news than Bush's farewell speech?

This is a very stupid thread, even for you.

I have to agree with Jack here.
The water landing story happened, what, 6 hours earlier?
At any rate, the story was old by the time Bush gave his farewell speech.

edit: I should add that the only time I turned my tv on last night was for ER. I missed the speech.
I general though, by the time Bush spoke, the plane story was "old" news.

[SpursFanFirst]

So seriously, what the fuck do we owe that shithead?

If nothing else, there hasn't been an attack on US soil since 9-11. That's worth giving thanks for.

[balli]

I have to agree with Jack here.
The water landing story happened, what, 6 hours earlier?
At any rate, the story was old by the time Bush gave his farewell speech.

edit: I should add that the only time I turned my tv on last night was for ER. I missed the speech.
I general though, by the time Bush spoke, the plane story was "old" news.

You really should have read the post above yours. This dumbass was just watching a later re-run. The speech did run in prime-time.

To Jack directly: Fuck George Bush. Fuck him. Fuck his bitch wife. Fuck his kids. Fuck everybody he's ever known and loved. Fuck everything he's ever done. Fuck everyone who's ever supported him. George Bush is the biggest piece of shit in the history of shit. He's a fucking mass murderer who hopefully will be rotting in the hottest part of hell sooner, rather than later. He deserves nothing other than contempt and hatred from the world he destroyed. Fuck you man.

[SpursFanFirst]

You really should have read the post above yours. This dumbass was just watching a later re-run. The speech did run in prime-time.

I read it after I posted...but I was speaking from a news standpoint.
In general, the plane crash story was old news by the time Bush spoke.

But, like I said, I didn't watch the Bush speech, so I don't know when it aired and where. I didn't turn the tv on until it was time for ER at 10.

[RandomGuy]

Bush's last speech to the USA was at 10 o clock central time. Ridiculous. A plane that has no casualties is the headline. Think about it Obama freaks. Media fooled you all to the point that after this nation choose a President 2 terms is saying "goodbye" the media chooses a feel good story in front of him. 52 percent voted for "change" 48 percent voted "for more of the same" Media decide the feel good story was more important. Sad. Just sad. Remember freaks don't believe everything u read.

When was the last time anybody really cared what Bush said?

News is about ratings and a miraculous plane crash is waaay more interesting than anything an unpopular president says in the last 5 days in office.

Honestly, I hope that conservatives in this country keep whining about "the media" myth, instead of, say, actually doing something to make the country better, because the more you asshats do that, the easier you make it for us liberals.

[RandomGuy]

lolz, he was watching the rerun 3 hours later. what a douche. :lol


:lmao

[clambake]

why do conservatives think their stupidity is attractive?

[ChumpDumper]

By thinking that Bush's speech started at 10 PM, jack sommerset is now qualified to be a mideast war correspondent.

[SpursFanFirst]

News is about ratings and a miraculous plane crash is waaay more interesting than anything an unpopular president says in the last 5 days in office.

While I agree that news is about ratings, the plane crash DID happen several hours earlier and had been discussed at great length by the time Bush gave his speech.

At this point, the only thing "interesting" about the plane crash would be if there was something new to add...say, an interview with the pilot or information from the black box or something like that.

[balli]

While I agree that news is about ratings, the plane crash DID happen several hours earlier and had been discussed at great length by the time Bush gave his speech.

Which is why, during primetime, they stopped talking about it and let the President speak. So I don't get it? What's the problem?

[ChumpDumper]

Seriously, the Bush supporters bitching about the speech coverage didn't watch the speech coverage.

I guess they can't be expected to understand how hilarious that is. After all, they obviously hate America since they didn't give Bush the respect of watching his farewell speech live.

[ratm1221]

Which is why, during primetime, they stopped talking about it and let the President speak. So I don't get it? What's the problem?

Because the media love liberals and hates all republicans! It's horse crap... blah... blah... blah... blah :blah

[SpursFanFirst]

Which is why, during primetime, they stopped talking about it and let the President speak. So I don't get it? What's the problem?

I don't have a problem...just responding to his comment.

[SpursFanFirst]

Seriously, the Bush supporters bitching about the speech coverage didn't watch the speech coverage.

I guess they can't be expected to understand how hilarious that is. After all, they obviously hate America since they didn't give Bush the respect of watching his farewell speech live.

If you are, in any way, referring to me, you're wrong.
I'm not "bitching" about anything.
I didn't watch the speech. I didn't watch anything all day really until I read about the plane crash.
I then turned CNN on for about an hour, turned the tv off, and then turned the tv back on in time to watch ER.

I couldn't care less what time his speech started or which channel it was on.
I'm simply arguing that, as far as "newsworthy" goes, by the time his speech came on, THAT was the "news" at the moment. The crash was long over and had been discussed at great lengths.

There are a couple people here saying that the crash was a more important story than what an unpopular President was saying.

[ChumpDumper]

If you are, in any way, referring to me, you're wrong.
I'm not "bitching" about anything.
I didn't watch the speech. I didn't watch anything all day really until I read about the plane crash.
I then turned CNN on for about an hour, turned the tv off, and then turned the tv back on in time to watch ER.

I couldn't care less what time his speech started or which channel it was on.
I'm simply arguing that, as far as "newsworthy" goes, by the time his speech came on, THAT was the "news" at the moment. The crash was long over and had been discussed at great lengths.

There are a couple people here saying that the crash was a more important story than what an unpopular President was saying.Overall yesterday, yeah it was.

Bush got his time. As you and the OP attest, no one cared -- so how could it possibly be a bigger story than the plane crash?

[Shastafarian]

Where did jack go?

[SpursFanFirst]

Overall yesterday, yeah it was.

Bush got his time. As you and the OP attest, no one cared -- so how could it possibly be a bigger story than the plane crash?

Overall, it wasn't the biggest story of the day, but at the moment, yes, it was "bigger" than the plane crash.
As I said, the crash was over hours before his speech, and nothing new was being presented. Now, had there been an interview with the pilot or additional information being provided...hmmm...

Yeah, I'd still have to say the President take precedence in this case.
Popular or not, he IS still the President.
Chances are, his speech didn't take up a large amount of air time. There's no reason to think he wasn't the story of the moment and should be treated otherwise.

Looking at it a different way - what if the plane crashed moments before Bush was to speak?

In this instance, the plane story would definitely be more important, and I have to think the White House would agree and move his speech.

[ChumpDumper]

Overall, it wasn't the biggest story of the day, but at the moment, yes, it was "bigger" than the plane crash.And at the moment, his speech was covered by everyone. Remember, I watched -- you didn't.


Chances are, his speech didn't take up a large amount of air time. How do you know? There's no reason to think he wasn't the story of the moment and should be treated otherwise.It was indeed the story of the moment. You'd know that had you watched.

I don't know why Republicans think there is some advantage in arguing from a position of complete ignorance.

[RandomGuy]

Seriously, the Bush supporters bitching about the speech coverage didn't watch the speech coverage.

I guess they can't be expected to understand how hilarious that is. After all, they obviously hate America since they didn't give Bush the respect of watching his farewell speech live.

Exactly. "boo hoo, I didn't get exactly what I wanted spoon fed to me in exactly the way I wanted it at exactly the time I wanted it."

Spoiled AND lazy.

[RandomGuy]

I don't know why Republicans think there is some advantage in arguing from a position of complete ignorance.

You're talking about a group that had a sizeable percentage of people who thought Palin would make a good VP.

I don't understand it either.

[balli]

Three days ago, Huffington Post's main headline was "Bush asks networks for Prime-time". Yesterday, I woke up and read a WP article about the forthcoming speech. Then later, I flicked on NPR and listened as Bush gave the same speech, in preliminary fashion at the VOFA or somewhere. Then I read a CNN article that talked about what Bush had just talked about. And then it talked about how Bush was going to talk about those same things, later on, in the prime-time version of his speech. Then yet again, I turn on NPR and I hear the speech a second time. Live, for now the second time. Had I been watching TV, I could have seen the speech on one of 9 different channels. Had I missed it all, I could have tuned in to one of the re-run's of the speech that was on at least 5 different channels. My entire day yesterday was spent in slavish devotion to George Bush's speech. And I fucking hate George Bush. I'd assume not hear anything about him at all. But the media force, was so strongly talking about him yesterday, that on several seperate occasions I had little or no choice but to listen.

Anybody who would dare be bent that there wasn't even more Bush coverage, or that the networks would have the gall to mention a major plane crash earlier in the day, can go fuck themselves in the ear hole.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

:lmao @ this thread! Bitching about something he obviously didn't care enough to find out when it originally aired...

seriously, does anyone need any more proof that republicans LOVE to feign indignation??

[balli]

seriously, does anyone need any more proof that republicans LOVE to feign indignation??
What's sadly amazing is that many of them are so deluded, that they're not even feigning indignation at this point. They're seriously indignant. It's really an incredible exercise in self-delusion. That, and one hell of an inferiority/paranoia complex.

[jack sommerset]

I screwed up. I got home close to 7. My kid had Smallville on the CW. No speech was there. I made dinner,flipped through some stations and nothing. On this website where the club is people where saying "When is the President going to come on" That was close to 8 pm. You can check yourselves. Again I flipped through the stations and not a peep of this farewell address not even a ticker line.. By this time I am good and buzzed from the beer. At 10 o'clock on FOX they show his speech as if it were live. After the speech I flipped through the stations to see what other news groups thought of it and nothing but the [plane landing in the water. I was wrong to say his speech was not at prime time. I missed it. Honest mistake.

[SpursFanFirst]

And at the moment, his speech was covered by everyone. Remember, I watched -- you didn't.

I KNOW you watched...and yay for you! :rolleyes
As I have stated many times, I did NOT watch it, and guess what? I'm not even denying it was being covered.

I COULD NOT CARE LESS!!!!!!

I'm arguing this from a news standpoint. There are people here who think the plane crash was more important that the President's speech, so I pointed out where it was or was not more important.



It was indeed the story of the moment. You'd know that had you watched.

I don't know why Republicans think there is some advantage in arguing from a position of complete ignorance.

:bang Do you just like being an ass for no reason at all?
On second thought, don't bother answering. I've seen your posts too many times before, and the answer is clear.

[jack sommerset]

lolz, he was watching the rerun 3 hours later. what a douche. :lol

Yup I deserve that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IronMexican]

Bump. Can this thing get stickied?

[boutons_]

Jack Sommerset is one of the Jack Asses among the 22%



http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/v2/logo_cbsnews_small.gif (http://www.cbsnews.com/)
Bush's Final Approval Rating: 22 Percent
Jan. 16, 2009(CBS) President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll showing Mr. Bush's final approval rating at 22 percent.

Seventy-three percent say they disapprove of the way Mr. Bush has handled his job as president over the last eight years.

Mr. Bush's final approval rating is the lowest final rating for an outgoing president since Gallup began asking about presidential approval more than 70 years ago.

The rating is far below the final ratings of recent two-term presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, who both ended their terms with a 68 percent approval rating, according to CBS News polling.

Recent one term presidents also had higher ratings than Mr. Bush. His father George H.W. Bush had an end-of-term rating of 54 percent, while Jimmy Carter's rating was 44 percent.

Harry Truman had previously had the lowest end-of-term approval at 32 percent, as measured by Gallup.

Views of Mr. Bush's popularity are highly partisan. Only 6 percent of Democrats approve of the job he has done as president, while 57 percent of Republicans approve. Eighteen percent of independents approve.

Interestingly, Mr. Bush also has the distinction of having the highest approval rating for a president, as well as the lowest.

In November 2008, just before the presidential election, only 20 percent approved of the job he was doing as president - the lowest of any president since Gallup began asking the question in 1938.

But Mr. Bush enjoyed a high approval rating of 90 percent -- the highest of any president -- following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Mr. Bush edged out his father for that highest rating. George H.W. Bush received an 88 percent approval rating in 1991 amid the success of the first Gulf War.

Truman comes closest to Mr. Bush's record low approval rating of 20 percent. In February 1952, just 22 percent of Americans approved of the job Truman was doing as president.

Evaluations Of The President

Half of all Americans, when they look back on Mr. Bush's eight years in office, believe he has been a poor president. Thirty-three percent think he has been an average president. Twelve percent say he has been a good president, and only 5 percent say he has been a very good president.

This evaluation is more negative than the ones Americans gave both the current president’s predecessor, Mr. Clinton, and the president’s father.

The president has also fallen short of expectations: As Mr. Bush was preparing to enter the White House in January 2001, 43 percent thought he would be a very good or good president. Only 12 percent thought he would be a poor one.

As for the incoming president, the CBS News poll also asked about expectations of President-elect Barack Obama. Sixty-eight percent think Mr. Obama will be a good or very good president - 25 points higher than expectations for Mr. Bush.

Nine in 10 Democrats expect Mr. Obama to be a good president, including 48 percent who think he will be a "very good" one. Republicans are less hopeful, but 38 percent still say Mr. Obama will be a good president.
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_pdf.gif The Complete Final Bush Poll (.pdf) (http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Bush_poll_011609.pdf)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_pdf.gif Complete Poll: Expectations Of Obama (.pdf) (http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Obama_Poll_011609.pdf)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_popup.gif Interactive Graphic: Bush's Approval Rating Through The Years (http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2006/03/23/in_depth_politics/frameset1433259.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Kathy Frankovic: Bush's Popularity Reaches Historic Lows (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/15/opinion/pollpositions/main4724068.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Search Recent CBS News Polling (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/politics/main3362530.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Complete Coverage Of The Bush Legacy (http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/politics/bush_legacy/main503743.shtml)
Opinions of Mr. Bush personally have also taken a hit since his term began, and he receives his lowest favorability rating of his presidency in this poll. Just 26 percent of Americans view the president favorably, while 60 percent view him negatively. In February 2001, a month into his presidency, 42 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Mr. Bush.

Vice President Dick Cheney

Vice President Dick Cheney also leaves office amid negative perceptions, as his approval rating stands at just 13 percent. That matches his lowest approval since he assumed office.

Forty-four percent of Americans now view Cheney unfavorably, while 42 percent are undecided or haven't heard enough.

This is a reversal from March 2001, when CBS News took its first measure of Cheney’s favorability as vice president. Back then, 34 percent held a favorable opinion of the vice president and only 11 percent viewed him unfavorably.

On The Issues

Assessments of Mr. Bush's handling of two critical issues - the war in Iraq and the economy - are poor. He does better on the issue of terrorism - his strongest area during his years as president - but, even here, less than half approve of his handling of the issue.

In light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the U.S. military action in Iraq two years later, terrorism and the Iraq war have come to define Mr. Bush's presidency. The nation's struggling economy has recently had an impact as well.

Mr. Bush never received stellar ratings on the economy, but as the nation's economic concerns have become more severe, his rating on the issue has plummeted. Currently, 17 percent approve and 77 percent disapprove of his handling of the economy.

In September 2008, amid the collapse and subsequent bailout of some of the nation's financial institutions, just 16 percent approved of the president’s handling of the economy - a record low for him. His highest rating on the economy came in October 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

On Iraq, the public was behind Mr. Bush when the U.S. began military action nearly six years ago. In April 2003, a majority approved of the president’s action and 79 percent of Americans approved of the way Mr. Bush was handling the situation in Iraq - his highest rating ever on this question.

As the war continued and the U.S. casualties increased, public support began to wane. A year after the war began, 49 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of the war. In December 2006, only 21 percent approved of Mr. Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq - his lowest rating ever on this issue.

The last time a majority of Americans approved of the president’s handling of the Iraq war was immediately after the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003.

Currently, 25 percent approve and 71 percent disapprove.

Terrorism has been the president’s strongest area throughout his presidency. In December 2001, 90 percent of Americans approved of his handling of the campaign against terrorism - his highest rating ever. The president continued to receive positive marks on the issue throughout his first term. But an unpopular war began to taint even these evaluations of him.

In October 2005, for the first time, fewer than half of Americans approved of Mr. Bush's handling of terrorism. Now, 47 percent approve and 48 percent disapprove.

A Look Back

In February 2001, the CBS News Poll took its first measure of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president: 53 percent of Americans approved and only 21 percent disapproved. That rating soared to 90 percent a few weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

The 43rd president's overall ratings tapered off somewhat but remained high throughout the remainder of 2001 and 2002. And in March 2003, after the initial days of the U.S. war in Iraq, 68 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president.

By the fall of 2003, as the fighting in Iraq continued, Mr. Bush's approval rating began to decline. In November of that year, 49 percent approved of the job he was doing. It was the first time his approval rating was below 50 percent.

The president's approval rating improved after the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003, but it fell as the prison abuse at Abu Ghraib came to light in the spring of 2004. In May 2004, just 41 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president - his lowest rating to date at that point in time.

Heading into the 2004 presidential election, 49 percent of Americans approved of the president's performance. Just after he was re-elected, 51 percent approved - the last time a majority approved of the job Bush was doing.

But at no time during his second term in office would his approval rating reach 50 percent.

For the most part, the president's job rating continued to decline throughout his second term. In October 2005, with images of Hurricane Katrina still in the minds of many, his approval rating dipped below 40 percent for the first time, and in January 2007, fewer than 30 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing.

In a poll conducted just before the 2008 presidential election, only 20 percent of Americans said they approved of the job President Bush was doing as president - the lowest rating for any president. Seventy-two percent disapproved.


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,112 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 11-15, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

[boutons_]

http://hits.gureport.co.uk/HG?hc=we89&cd=1&hv=6&ce=u&hb=DM56062893FS;DM54102495BW&n=%7Barticle%7D%7BThe+worst+of+times:+Bushs+enviro nmental+legacy+examined%7D%7Bp1153494%7D&vcon=/GU/Environment/Green+politics&seg=&cmp=&gp=&fnl=&pec=&dcmp=&ra=&gn=&cv=&ld=&la=&customerid=%28none%29&c1=usa&c2=%28none%29&c3=guardian.co.uk&c4=Environment,Green+politics,George+Bush+%28News% 29,World+news,US+news,Climate+change+%28Environmen t%29,Climate+change+%28Science%29,Fossil+fuels+%28 Environment%29,Carbon+emissions+%28Environment%29, Pollution+%28Environment%29,Wildlife+%28Environmen t%29&c5=&c6=Suzanne+Goldenberg&c7=2009_01_16
http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-environment,guardiangu-network/1/H.15.1/93225?ns=guardian&pageName=Environment%3A+The+worst+of+times%3A+Bush %27s+environmental+legacy+examined&ch=Environment&c3=guardian.co.uk&c4=Environment%2CGreen+politics%2CGeorge+Bush+%28N ews%29%2CWorld+news%2CUS+news%2CClimate+change+%28 Environment%29%2CClimate+change+%28Science%29%2CFo ssil+fuels+%28Environment%29%2CCarbon+emissions+%2 8Environment%29%2CPollution+%28Environment%29%2CWi ldlife+%28Environment%29&c5=Environment+Conservation%2CClimate+Change%2CNot +commercially+useful%2CEnergy%2CEthical+Living&c6=Suzanne+Goldenberg&c7=2009_01_16&c8=1153494&c9=article&c10=GU&c11=Environment&c12=Green+politics&c13=&c14=&h2=GU%2FEnvironment%2FGreen+politics&c1=usa&c2=%28none%29
http://static.guim.co.uk/static/68546/original/zones/environment/images/logo.gif (http://www.guardian.co.uk/)

The worst of times: Bush's environmental legacy examined

With four days to go until president-elect Barack Obama takes is inaugurated, history is documenting George Bush's environmental record at home and abroad. Read more on the Bush legacy in The Bush Years supplement in Saturday's paper



Suzanne Goldenberg (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/suzannegoldenberg)
guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/), Friday 16 January 2009 15.45 GMTThe document released by the White House to commemorate George Bush (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/georgebush)'s exit from the most powerful job on the planet describes a president who spent much of the last eight years as a careful steward of the planet. "Throughout his administration, President Bush made protecting the environment for future generations a top priority," says the booklet, Highlights of Accomplishments and Results.


"If only" – went the near-universal response from green organisations. They see the Bush years as a concerted assault, from the administration's undermining of the science on climate change (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/climatechange) to its dismantling of environmental safeguards to its support for mining and oil interests.


"He has undone decades if not a century of progress on the environment," said Josh Dorner, a spokesman for the Sierra Club (http://www.sierraclub.org/), one of America's largest environmental groups.


"The Bush administration has introduced this pervasive rot into the federal government which has undermined the rule of law, undermined science, undermined basic competence and rendered government agencies unable to do their most basic function even if they wanted to. We're excited just to push the reset button."

The tone was set in the first 100 days when Bush reneged on a campaign promise to regulate carbon dioxide from coal-burning power plants, the biggest contributors to global warming. Days later, the White House announced that America would not implement the Kyoto global climate change treaty.

The two moves at the time were seen as a sign of surrender from Bush, a former oil man, to America's coal and oil industries.
Christine Todd Whitman, who was the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/) at the time, later described the exit of Kyoto as "the equivalent to 'flipping the bird,' frankly, to the rest of the world".
But it was the manner of Bush's exit from Kyoto that provided the most sustained damage, say environmentalists, with the administration injecting doubt on the science that demonstrated an urgent need to deal with climate change.


"The idea of a head of state putting the science question on the table in the way that he did was horrifying to most of the rest of the world," said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change.


The disinformation campaign became a defining element of the Bush era – and was perhaps the most damaging.


"Certainly the most destructive part of the Bush environmental legacy is not only his failure to act on global climate change, but his administration's covert attempt to silence the science alerting us to the urgency of the problem," said Jonathan Dorn of the Earth Policy Institute (EPA) (http://www.earth-policy.org/) in Washington.


The campaign to keep the public unaware of the evidence on climate change came to light in October 2004 when the Nasa scientist, James Hansen (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/hansen), accused the Bush administration of trying to block data showing an acceleration in global warming.


The full extent of the White House efforts to downplay, distort and outright censor the science on climate change remains unclear – but such efforts continued even after Hansen accused the Bush administration of censorship.


In July 2008, Jason Burnett, a former official at the EPA, wrote a letter to the Senate describing efforts by the office of the vice-president, Dick Cheney, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/) to censor discussion of the consequences of climate change.


Burnett said the White House tried to circumvent a 2007 Supreme Court decision compelling the EPA to regulate car emissions by doctoring scientific findings on the costs of fuel-efficiency standards. The White House objected to a study showing the benefits of raising fuel standards outweighed the costs.


In 2008, officials from Cheney's office sought to doctor testimony prepared for a Senate hearing on California's efforts to impose stricter fuel efficiency requirements than the national standard.
Meanwhile, Bush officials began a concerted effort to strip away a regulatory regime that had been decades in the making.


"Every effort has been made to weaken existing law and there has been no effort to advance regulatory solutions to the most important issue we face, which is climate change," said Frances Beinecke, president of the National Resources Defence Council (http://www.nrdc.org/).


A particular target of the Bush administration's project of deregulation was the Endangered Species Act (http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/ESACT.html). The campaign was driven in part by the administration's concern that the act – with its protections for polar bears – could be used to force limits on greenhouse gas emissions.


As with the science on climate change, the Bush Administration has been accused of interfering with scientific findings on wildlife (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/wildlife) protection for political reasons.


An official report last month found widespread political interference in the management of endangered species. The inspector general's report said that the deputy secretary of the interior, Julie MacDonald, intervened repeatedly to prevent new additions to the endangered species list.


The report said MacDonald, who headed the endangered species protection programme at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, intervened improperly in 13 of the 20 cases under investigation, overruling the recommendations of field biologists that species be protected.
It described MacDonald's dealings with the field biologists as "abrupt and abrasive if not abusive".


MacDonald resigned in 2007. Dale Hall, a biologist who headed the service, called MacDonald's conduct "a blemish on the scientific integrity of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior".


Other controversial actions included:


• Gutting key sections of the Clean Water and Clean Air acts
• Dismantling the protections of the Endangered Species Act
• Opening millions of acres of wilderness to mining, oil and gas drilling, and logging
• Defunding programmes charged with the clean-up of toxic industrial wastes such as arsenic, lead and mercury
• Reducing the enforcement effort in the Environmental Protection Agency
• Removing grizzly bears and wolves from the endangered species list
• Endorsing commercial whaling
• Approving mountain-top removal for coal mining


Bush pursued the grand plan of deregulation to his last days in the White House, with a series of last-minute rule changes. Under the new rules, oil companies will be able to drill within sight of the Arches national park in Utah (http://www.nps.gov/arch/). Federal agencies will no longer be compelled to consult with government wildlife experts when they open up new areas for logging or road construction, and he also barred the EPA from looking at the effects of global warming on protected species.


Some positive changes in the past eight years were inadvertent. The Bush administration's refusal to cap carbon dioxide emissions (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/carbonemissions) acted as a catalyst, with 24 states acting on their own to put in place regional cap and trade networks. Some 27 states enacted renewable portfolios, mandating local power companies to produce more of their electricity from sun, wind and solar power. "A lot of things happened because the Bush Administration was so negative about a lot of things," said Claussen.


Bush expanded on a programme launched by Bill Clinton to reduce diesel exhaust, extending the rules to tractors, trains and small ships.
The administration did have one last-minute surprise in store for the green lobby though, by demonstrating a late commitment to ocean conservation (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/conservation). Just two weeks before leaving office, Bush designated nearly 200,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean as national monuments.


"We and others in the environmental community have been at odds with this administration on lots of things, but if one looks at this one event it is a significant conservation event," said Joshua Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group (http://www.pewtrusts.org/our%7Esep%7Ework%7Esep%7Ecategory.aspx?id=110).



guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009http://pix01.revsci.net/E05516/a3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/noscript.gif

[boutons_]

Olbermann | Bush Years: 8 in 8 Minutes (http://www.truthout.org/011809Z)



http://www.truthout.org/011809Z?print

[Wild Cobra]

So much bad spoken about president Bush, the people believe it. Sure, I have my gripes with him, but count me as one who overall approves.

Monkey See, Monkey Do...

Oooops...

I mean Media Say, People believe.

Nuff said!

[Wild Cobra]

I see Boutons just can't stop finding bad articles about our outgoing president. Must be the only way he can get a hard-on...

[George Gervin's Afro]

Jack Sommerset is one of the Jack Asses among the 22%



http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/v2/logo_cbsnews_small.gif (http://www.cbsnews.com/)
Bush's Final Approval Rating: 22 Percent
Jan. 16, 2009(CBS) President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll showing Mr. Bush's final approval rating at 22 percent.

Seventy-three percent say they disapprove of the way Mr. Bush has handled his job as president over the last eight years.

Mr. Bush's final approval rating is the lowest final rating for an outgoing president since Gallup began asking about presidential approval more than 70 years ago.

The rating is far below the final ratings of recent two-term presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, who both ended their terms with a 68 percent approval rating, according to CBS News polling.

Recent one term presidents also had higher ratings than Mr. Bush. His father George H.W. Bush had an end-of-term rating of 54 percent, while Jimmy Carter's rating was 44 percent.

Harry Truman had previously had the lowest end-of-term approval at 32 percent, as measured by Gallup.

Views of Mr. Bush's popularity are highly partisan. Only 6 percent of Democrats approve of the job he has done as president, while 57 percent of Republicans approve. Eighteen percent of independents approve.

Interestingly, Mr. Bush also has the distinction of having the highest approval rating for a president, as well as the lowest.

In November 2008, just before the presidential election, only 20 percent approved of the job he was doing as president - the lowest of any president since Gallup began asking the question in 1938.

But Mr. Bush enjoyed a high approval rating of 90 percent -- the highest of any president -- following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

Mr. Bush edged out his father for that highest rating. George H.W. Bush received an 88 percent approval rating in 1991 amid the success of the first Gulf War.

Truman comes closest to Mr. Bush's record low approval rating of 20 percent. In February 1952, just 22 percent of Americans approved of the job Truman was doing as president.

Evaluations Of The President

Half of all Americans, when they look back on Mr. Bush's eight years in office, believe he has been a poor president. Thirty-three percent think he has been an average president. Twelve percent say he has been a good president, and only 5 percent say he has been a very good president.

This evaluation is more negative than the ones Americans gave both the current president’s predecessor, Mr. Clinton, and the president’s father.

The president has also fallen short of expectations: As Mr. Bush was preparing to enter the White House in January 2001, 43 percent thought he would be a very good or good president. Only 12 percent thought he would be a poor one.

As for the incoming president, the CBS News poll also asked about expectations of President-elect Barack Obama. Sixty-eight percent think Mr. Obama will be a good or very good president - 25 points higher than expectations for Mr. Bush.

Nine in 10 Democrats expect Mr. Obama to be a good president, including 48 percent who think he will be a "very good" one. Republicans are less hopeful, but 38 percent still say Mr. Obama will be a good president.
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_pdf.gif The Complete Final Bush Poll (.pdf) (http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Bush_poll_011609.pdf)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_pdf.gif Complete Poll: Expectations Of Obama (.pdf) (http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Obama_Poll_011609.pdf)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_popup.gif Interactive Graphic: Bush's Approval Rating Through The Years (http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2006/03/23/in_depth_politics/frameset1433259.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Kathy Frankovic: Bush's Popularity Reaches Historic Lows (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/15/opinion/pollpositions/main4724068.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Search Recent CBS News Polling (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/politics/main3362530.shtml)
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/common/images/bug_story.gif Complete Coverage Of The Bush Legacy (http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/politics/bush_legacy/main503743.shtml)
Opinions of Mr. Bush personally have also taken a hit since his term began, and he receives his lowest favorability rating of his presidency in this poll. Just 26 percent of Americans view the president favorably, while 60 percent view him negatively. In February 2001, a month into his presidency, 42 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Mr. Bush.

Vice President Dick Cheney

Vice President Dick Cheney also leaves office amid negative perceptions, as his approval rating stands at just 13 percent. That matches his lowest approval since he assumed office.

Forty-four percent of Americans now view Cheney unfavorably, while 42 percent are undecided or haven't heard enough.

This is a reversal from March 2001, when CBS News took its first measure of Cheney’s favorability as vice president. Back then, 34 percent held a favorable opinion of the vice president and only 11 percent viewed him unfavorably.

On The Issues

Assessments of Mr. Bush's handling of two critical issues - the war in Iraq and the economy - are poor. He does better on the issue of terrorism - his strongest area during his years as president - but, even here, less than half approve of his handling of the issue.

In light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the U.S. military action in Iraq two years later, terrorism and the Iraq war have come to define Mr. Bush's presidency. The nation's struggling economy has recently had an impact as well.

Mr. Bush never received stellar ratings on the economy, but as the nation's economic concerns have become more severe, his rating on the issue has plummeted. Currently, 17 percent approve and 77 percent disapprove of his handling of the economy.

In September 2008, amid the collapse and subsequent bailout of some of the nation's financial institutions, just 16 percent approved of the president’s handling of the economy - a record low for him. His highest rating on the economy came in October 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

On Iraq, the public was behind Mr. Bush when the U.S. began military action nearly six years ago. In April 2003, a majority approved of the president’s action and 79 percent of Americans approved of the way Mr. Bush was handling the situation in Iraq - his highest rating ever on this question.

As the war continued and the U.S. casualties increased, public support began to wane. A year after the war began, 49 percent of Americans approved of the president’s handling of the war. In December 2006, only 21 percent approved of Mr. Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq - his lowest rating ever on this issue.

The last time a majority of Americans approved of the president’s handling of the Iraq war was immediately after the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003.

Currently, 25 percent approve and 71 percent disapprove.

Terrorism has been the president’s strongest area throughout his presidency. In December 2001, 90 percent of Americans approved of his handling of the campaign against terrorism - his highest rating ever. The president continued to receive positive marks on the issue throughout his first term. But an unpopular war began to taint even these evaluations of him.

In October 2005, for the first time, fewer than half of Americans approved of Mr. Bush's handling of terrorism. Now, 47 percent approve and 48 percent disapprove.

A Look Back

In February 2001, the CBS News Poll took its first measure of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president: 53 percent of Americans approved and only 21 percent disapproved. That rating soared to 90 percent a few weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

The 43rd president's overall ratings tapered off somewhat but remained high throughout the remainder of 2001 and 2002. And in March 2003, after the initial days of the U.S. war in Iraq, 68 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president.

By the fall of 2003, as the fighting in Iraq continued, Mr. Bush's approval rating began to decline. In November of that year, 49 percent approved of the job he was doing. It was the first time his approval rating was below 50 percent.

The president's approval rating improved after the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003, but it fell as the prison abuse at Abu Ghraib came to light in the spring of 2004. In May 2004, just 41 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing as president - his lowest rating to date at that point in time.

Heading into the 2004 presidential election, 49 percent of Americans approved of the president's performance. Just after he was re-elected, 51 percent approved - the last time a majority approved of the job Bush was doing.

But at no time during his second term in office would his approval rating reach 50 percent.

For the most part, the president's job rating continued to decline throughout his second term. In October 2005, with images of Hurricane Katrina still in the minds of many, his approval rating dipped below 40 percent for the first time, and in January 2007, fewer than 30 percent of Americans approved of the job Mr. Bush was doing.

In a poll conducted just before the 2008 presidential election, only 20 percent of Americans said they approved of the job President Bush was doing as president - the lowest rating for any president. Seventy-two percent disapproved.


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,112 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 11-15, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.



Sean Hannity / Limbaugh crowd... =22%

[George Gervin's Afro]

So much bad spoken about president Bush, the people believe it. Sure, I have my gripes with him, but count me as one who overall approves.

Monkey See, Monkey Do...

Oooops...

I mean Media Say, People believe.

Nuff said!

Yeah stupid libs need the press to tell them what to think. Consevatives are free thinkers!.


Sincerely,

A faithful ditto head

[balli]

Isn't it funny that the 22% are the ones screaming about the media destroying Bush, when in fact, these republican hacks themselves, are the ones most willing to listen to and believe in incredibly biased media sources. If you even want consider Limbaugh and Hannity as media. It's just laughable that an idiot who subscribes to Limbaugh would even dare criticize any other person's independence or choice in media, ever.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Isn't it funny that the 22% are the ones screaming about the media destroying Bush, when in fact, these republican hacks themselves, are the ones most willing to listen to and believe in incredibly biased media sources. If you even want consider Limbaugh and Hannity as media. It's just laughable that an idiot who subscribes to Limbaugh would even dare criticize any other persons choice in media, ever.

Ironic isn't it?

[Cry Havoc]

Olbermann | Bush Years: 8 in 8 Minutes (http://www.truthout.org/011809Z)



http://www.truthout.org/011809Z?print

That is sickening.

Bush should be strung up and put in isolation. I do not think I have ever loathed any political figure more in our country, either reading about or personally witnessed.

I sincerely hope there is a God and a judgment day, because Bush and his love of money will have to eventually answer to Him, and it won't be pretty. But it will be just. He certainly isn't going to get any punishment while here on Earth, sadly. I'd like to see him rot in isolation for about 20 years.

[boutons_]

WC, and other dubya suckers/bubbas/dumbfucks/right-wingers, feel free to list ALL the Shining dubya Accomplishments that offset his horrendous negatives.

1.
2.
3.
...

[clambake]

WC, and other dubya suckers/bubbas/dumbfucks/right-wingers, feel free to list ALL the Shining dubya Accomplishments that offset his horrendous negatives.

1.
2.
3.
...

well.........he makes nearly everyone seem brilliant by default.

[FromWayDowntown]

well.........he makes nearly everyone seem brilliant by default.

He's coined some really awesome new words when forced off the teleprompter.

[Cry Havoc]

He's coined some really awesome new words when forced off the teleprompter.

Don't make me get nukyoolur on ur ass.

[Warlord23]

I thought jack sommerset's basketball takes were bad, but he's outdone himself with this gem.

For those who don't know, this fuckstick is a butthurt fan who keeps switching teams - his calling card is to refer the Spurs as "spews" and try to diminish their accomplishments.

bitch, you should stick to displaying your stupidity on the basketball forums

[Wild Cobra]

Isn't it funny that the 22% are the ones screaming about the media destroying Bush, when in fact, these republican hacks themselves, are the ones most willing to listen to and believe in incredibly biased media sources. If you even want consider Limbaugh and Hannity as media. It's just laughable that an idiot who subscribes to Limbaugh would even dare criticize any other person's independence or choice in media, ever.

You don't get it. People like me don't believe every thing they say either. However, we get both sides. You only get one sideded propaganda!

[baseline bum]

You don't get it. People like me don't believe every thing they say either. However, we get both sides. You only get one sideded propaganda!

You gotta be fucking kidding me. You're second only to Yonivore in being a Republican apologist, Gen Lee.

[Wild Cobra]

You gotta be fucking kidding me. You're second only to Yonivore in being a Republican apologist, Gen Lee.

No, just shows how ignorant and biased you are.

[ChumpDumper]

WC has a subscription to Utne Reader.

[Winehole23]

WC has a subscription to Utne Reader.That he keeps in the bathroom for demonstrations of fairness to both sides.

[jack sommerset]

I thought jack sommerset's basketball takes were bad, but he's outdone himself with this gem.

For those who don't know, this fuckstick is a butthurt fan who keeps switching teams - his calling card is to refer the Spurs as "spews" and try to diminish their accomplishments.

bitch, you should stick to displaying your stupidity on the basketball forums



Asshole, I am not fan of any basketball team. Get over it. When I make a mistake I own up to it. I made a mistake. Unlike the Spews who cheated to get Tim Duncan, I admitted what I did wrong. Obviously you could not disagree with what I have said about the NBA so you choose to go to a forum where I openly fucked up. Congrats. Now Fuck off!

[Cry Havoc]

Asshole, I am not fan of any basketball team.

Position: Rugged Forward
Team: Houston Rockets
vBookie Cash: $583
Post Count: 1,554


Asshole, I am not fan of any basketball team.

www.spurstalk.com


Asshole, I am not fan of any basketball team.

Total Posts: 1,554 (5.65 posts per day)


----


Ahhh.... now I see. I thought you weren't making any sense. Now it's much clearer. :toast

[ClingingMars]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Derangement_Syndrome

-Mars

[jack sommerset]

Cry Havoc

So whats the point of this. I said I donot have a favorite team.

[DarkReign]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Derangement_Syndrome

-Mars

Is there one called Bush Infatuation Syndrome?

[Winehole23]

Is there one called Bush Infatuation Syndrome?No, but there's there's an ordinary English word for the afflicted: toadies.

[DarkReign]

No, but there's there's an ordinary English word for the afflicted: toadies.

:lol Minions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minion).