Bush's Approval Rating Increase On Homeland Security. Why?

[JABBS]

To read the whole story, click here.

The poll was taken on Thursday and Friday, after British authorities foiled a plot to use chemical bombs to bring down as many as 10 airliners flying from Britain to the United States.

Are Americans confused about the U.S. roll in thwarting the plot? We had no role in monitoring or capturing the 23 plotters -- other than to push Britain to make the arrests now, vs. a week or so later, as Britain had wanted.

Maybe 55% of Americans said they were pleased with the Bush Administration because they were relieved that the country had escaped another Sept. 11-like tragedy. But if the average American knew that for seven months, the Department of Homeland Security had sat on technology that could detect liquid explosives, would they be as pleased?

[saltpoint]

1. Bush's approval ratings in the overall have not changed much since

June.

They're pretty much in the toilet.

The GOP knows that all the polls point toward significant Dem gains in November, possibly loss of one or both chambers.

There's not much Bush can do to reverse the frustration many voters feel in the 80 or so days left before the election.

[JABBS]

2. true ...

but a newsweek poll found that his approval rating on homeland security rose 11% after the terrorist plot was foiled by the british.

[saltpoint]

4. I saw that. But it isn't congealing for Bush when these terror crises

produce momentary spikes in his numbers only to slip back to pre-crisis positions.

There's no trajectory of gain. Voters' frustration with their safety and their cost-of-living and their health care keep pulling Dubya down like the pull of gravity.

And every single one of those issues is an opportunity he and his administration have arrogantly ignored or botched. If the man can't produce positive results in 6 years, his party is going to pay the price for it this November.

Order lots of booze and blue balloons.

[JABBS]

7. true again

if only one "crisis" occurs every few months. But if Bush's rating stays high for a few weeks, and then there's another "crisis" before the election, then the GOP can push the homeland security (and what a great job they're doing) as a credible reason to vote Republican.

I'm being cynical, of course. But after Ken Mehlman's defense of all things Republican on Meet the Press Sunday, I don't think the GOP strategists are upset with the timing of events.

[saltpoint]

8. Agree. They're a desperate bunch and desperate people do

desperate things.

Mehlman is an insane monster, isn't he? Good god I can barely stand to listen to the man.

[patricia92243]

3. Bush and Company have very cafefully worded their statements to give the

impression that he had something to do with stopping terrorist plots in the US - not out and out said that - just gave the impression. People who do not listen closely - which is most people - have gotten the idea that Bush has done it again - protected the American people from terrorist. Our hero (sarcasm)

[man4allcats]

5. Bush's Approval Rating Increase On Homeland Security. Why?

There is credible evidence indicating that a significant portion of Americans are rather stupid.

[primative1]

6. Duct Tape Syndrome ...

No one knows who those people were but there was no denying that they all crawled out from under some rock to clog the stores for duct tape and plastic bags that fine day.
My guess is these same people show up in these polls when "asked" to.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

9. They still have their water from supply from the Y2K scare