Gallup Refuses To Run Poll Asking Americans If Bush Should Be Impeached

[Nbadan]

Independent democrats say Gallup's response is dishonest and the company is using a double standard when considering the nationwide poll run during the Clinton presidency.
September 2, 2005

By Greg Szymanski

Behind the scenes, independent Democrats who are not “bought and paid off ” by the neo-cons have been pushing the Gallup Poll organization to conduct a nationwide inquiry, asking Americans if they support the impeachment of President George Bush.

But Gallup officials this week categorically refused to poll Americans, telling Bob Fertik, Democrats for Unity president until impeachment was discussed by congressional leaders or news commentators in the media, it was their official policy to refrain from asking hypothetical questions.

Frank Newport, Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, wrote in response to Fertik:

“The general procedure Gallup uses to determine what to ask about in our surveys is to measure the issues and concerns that are being discussed in the public domain. We will certainly ask Americans about their views on impeaching George W. Bush if, and when, there is some discussion of that possibility by congressional leaders, and/or if commentators begin discussing it in the news media. That has not happened to date.”

Fertik, head of an organization at www.democrats.com, disagreed with Gallup, saying the company’s justification was “completely dishonest” since Bush’s impeachment is a hot topic clearly in the public domain and on the minds of many Americans.

“Of course, your justification is completely dishonest. Is Bush's impeachment being discussed in the public domain? Unquestionably! Simply Google ‘impeach Bush’ and you'll get 723,000 links, said Fertik, reminding Gallup that a recent ZogbyPoll in June found 42 percent of Americans polled support impeachment if Bush lied about Iraq

“And this discussion is not limited to the Internet. Wherever Bush goes, he is greeted by "Impeach Bush" signs (e.g. August 29 in Camp Casey and August 30 in California.. And I hear it discussed on political talk radio frequently.But clearly you did not genuinely mean discussed in the public domain, because your next sentence limits the public domain" explicitly to congressional leaders and/or pundits.

“Thus your answer to the other 99.9 percent of Americans who are neither congressional leaders nor pundits can be summed up by paraphrasing a famous Daily News headline: "Gallup to Americans: Drop Dead!”

Fertik also called to Gallup’s attention that many discussions of impeachment have appeared in the media, including statements or references made in the made by Pat Buchanan, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Dan Froomkin, John Zogby, Keith Olberman. Mark Morford, Rush Limbaugh. Rep. Charlie Rangel, Alan Combes, Ralph Nader, Lyndon LaRouche and John Dean.

Further, Fertik reminded Gallup editors that a poll to impeach former President Clinton appeared in January1998, shortly after allegations about his affair with an intern surfaced, the poll being taken with much less public fanfare than Bush is receiving over a host of possible impeachable offenses.

In response to Fertik’s campaign for an impeachment poll, Gallup was hit with an email barrage, asking why Gallup is skirting the impeachment questions.

More:Artic Beacon

So there. Until Tom Delay, Hastart, and Jeff Gannon start talking about the I word, don't expect a poll from Gallup.

Gallup Polls have always favored the WH, so why am I not surprised?

[Hook Dem]

Why don't you start a poll Dan? Afraid of the results?

[cherylsteele]

I thought Bush's popularity in the polls was incredibly low. How are these polls showing favoritism.

Here is a link that shows his disapproval rating at around 50% or higher
link

Sure doesn't look biased towards Bush at all.

[Shelly]

Dan can dream, can't he?

[Vashner]

There is no legal ground. He signed disaster paperwork before the storm even hit. He raised 10billion in cash by getting a bypartisan bill passed in 24 hours. He sent in Gen Honorey when the Mayor asked for someone that could take control. He toured the area at the request of the governers. I am sure he tore Mike Brown a new one in private... Don't expect this POTUS to air all his dirty laundry in public.

[cherylsteele]

I don't like bush either but I don't spew smokescreens like Dan does to back my viewpoint when people on this forum can easily search the internet and find articles and info to show him how wrong he can, and usually is.

According to Dan Bush can do no right, no matter what, which gets us nowhere. People like him who look only at the party of an individual is a big part of what is wrong with the elected officials of government.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

independent Democrats who are not “bought and paid off ” by the neo-cons have been pushing the Gallup Poll organization to conduct a nationwide inquiry, asking Americans if they support the impeachment of President George Bush.

So that's how Bush does it... just buys everyone off

[Useruser666]

I wish Bush would buy Dan off.

[Bo Malette]

He should use physical force instead.

[hussker]

1) Pubilc Opinion does not drive impeachment
2) Leadership and the toughest decisions (WHICH WILL NOT BE TRULY EVALUATED UNTIL WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME PASS...KNOWN AS HISTORY) are hardly ever popular.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I think it's pretty obvious the only way Bush would have made Dan happy was if he would have stood on the banks of Pontchartrain trying to plug the holes in the levee with his fingers, and drowned in the process.

[hussker]

I think it's pretty obvious the only way Bush would have made Dan happy was if he would have stood on the banks of Pontchartrain trying to plug the holes in the levee with his fingers, and drowned in the process.

And let's face it...Bush has no "DIKES" in his administration to plug fingers in...(Did I say that? oh my...)

[Nbadan]

I thought Bush's popularity in the polls was incredibly low. How are these polls showing favoritism.

Here is a link that shows his disapproval rating at around 50% or higher
link

Sure doesn't look biased towards Bush at all.

Come on Cheryl, your smarter than this. If other similiar polls are saying W's approval rating is at 38% (which they are), Gallup is saying that thier number is 45% and they do this type of ty favortism consistently, but that's not fishy to you?

[Nbadan]

I don't like bush either but I don't spew smokescreens like Dan does to back my viewpoint when people on this forum can easily search the internet and find articles and info to show him how wrong he can, and usually is.

According to Dan Bush can do no right, no matter what, which gets us nowhere. People like him who look only at the party of an individual is a big part of what is wrong with the elected officials of government.

Name one thing that W has done right in 5 years in office. One thing that has gone just as the administration planned.

Where are the facts Cheryl? Anyone can say that this is propaganda, or that is propaganda, but look back at the last 5 years and ask your self who has been consistenly right, and who has been consistently wrong? Certainly not the WH.

I don't play party favortism, if you read this forum more you would know that I am just as critical at the micey, weazling Democrat as I am at the current administration.

[Nbadan]

Dan can dream, can't he?

I don't spend my time dreaming of W, but evidently you do.

[Nbadan]

There is no legal ground. He signed disaster paperwork before the storm even hit. He raised 10billion in cash by getting a bypartisan bill passed in 24 hours. He sent in Gen Honorey when the Mayor asked for someone that could take control. He toured the area at the request of the governers. I am sure he tore Mike Brown a new one in private... Don't expect this POTUS to air all his dirty laundry in public.

Bingo, and after he declared this a disaster it became the Feds responsibility.

It took W 4 days to sign a disaster relief bill for Hurricane Katrina, and it took Congress 5 days to sign it. If you don't know the facts don't act like you do.

[Nbadan]

I think it's pretty obvious the only way Bush would have made Dan happy was if he would have stood on the banks of Pontchartrain trying to plug the holes in the levee with his fingers, and drowned in the process.

Or how about if he had done his job correctly and appointed people to the HS and FEMA director positions who were uniquely qualified and not just cronies he was paying back for past favors. You gotta wonder, is Homeland Security, the second largest beauracracy in the U.S, nothing but a vehicle for Republican cronyism and mismanagement?

[cherylsteele]

Come on Cheryl, your smarter than this. If other similiar polls are saying W's approval rating is at 38% (which they are), Gallup is saying that thier number is 45% and they do this type of ty favortism consistently, but that's not fishy to you?

What other polls?
That link listed most of the major polls. Did you even read the polls? Show me a link to the polls that have him at 38%....I gave you a link to back my statement.

I personally put little to no stock in the polls.

I don't play party favortism

B.S. (I don't use profanity on this board but that deserves it)
You constantly play party favoritism.

Name one thing that W has done right in 5 years in office

He did attack the Taliban and overturn the Afgan government that was harboring them.

He did issue a state of emergency for Louisiana and Mississippi BEFORE Katrina hit the gulf coast.

Look, I said I don't like Bush but....I am big enough to give credit were it is due. You, however, find fault with everthing he does.

I vote for the person not the party....I criticize the person not the party. People like you do just opposite and is a big part of the problem with our government right now.

It took W 4 days to sign a disaster relief bill for Hurricane Katrina,

Correct me if I am wrong but....in order to sign a bill you have to wait for the Congress to pass it.....so blame congress too.....and that has Dems AND Reps. Why did it take the congress that long? Bush signed the law as soon as it hit his desk.

Have you even heard Gen. Honore explain why relief took longer? They had to move all their equipment away from the storm so they would not become victims as well. Roads were impassable...i-10 was destroyed along with all the other roads in and out of the area.

[jochhejaam]

Quote originally posted by Nbadan: “Of course, your justification is completely dishonest. Is Bush's impeachment being discussed in the public domain? Unquestionably! Simply Google ‘impeach Bush’ and you'll get 723,000 links, said Fertik, reminding Gallup that a recent ZogbyPoll in June found 42 percent of Americans polled support impeachment if Bush lied about Iraq

And if you google with parenthesis "Impeach President George Bush" you get a whopping 198 links!

Other google stats:
Impeach Kerry 181,000
Impeach Dan 180.000
Impeach Dean 182,000
Impeach Michael Moore 81,600

In other words, those stats don't mean squat!

[Useruser666]

"Dan is a peach" = 1,720,000 !!!

[Hook Dem]

Or how about if he had done his job correctly and appointed people to the HS and FEMA director positions who were uniquely qualified and not just cronies he was paying back for past favors. You gotta wonder, is Homeland Security, the second largest beauracracy in the U.S, nothing but a vehicle for Republican cronyism and mismanagement?

Do the world a favor Dan! Flush yourself!

[JohnnyMarzetti]

Way to go you conservative Americans.

Nothing like wanting to stifle the voices of America who speak out against Bush. Perhaps if you'd all take you lips off his ass you'd have the balls to face the facts.

[Hook Dem]

Way to go you conservative Americans.

Nothing like wanting to stifle the voices of America who speak out against Bush. Perhaps if you'd all take you lips off his ass you'd have the balls to face the facts.

Marzetti = Dan's illegitimate son!

[Clandestino]

[jochhejaam]

Way to go you conservative Americans.

Nothing like wanting to stifle the voices of America who speak out against Bush. Perhaps if you'd all take you lips off his ass you'd have the balls to face the facts.

What part of only 198 links for "Impeach President George Bush" didn't you understand?

And the "take you lips off his ass" comment is typical of the lack of intelligence exhibited by the NEW Democrats. Nice post Einstein.