Recent poll showed Bush with higher favorable rating than Limbaugh Ron Brynaert Published: Tuesday March 3, 2009 Republicans appear to be bowing down left and right to conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh, even though most Americans view the radio talk show host unfavorably. In fact, polls by Gallup in February show that Limbaugh has less favorable ratings from the mainstream public than former President George W. Bush. But while members of Congress and presidential aspirants spent most of the last two years trying to run away from Bush, Limbaugh's power seems to be expanding. "In a February Gallup poll, 45 percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable view of Limbaugh, to 28 percent with a favorable opinion. The partisan divide was steep, with Republicans favoring Rush 60-23, while Democrats disapproved 63-6," Howard Kurtz writes in Tuesday's Washington Post. ABC's Jake Tapper also noted Limbaugh's low numbers with the general public hours after Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele apologized for calling Limbaugh an "entertainer" after the radio host excoriated him in return during his Monday program. Tapper wrote, "Our polling director, Gary Langer, points out that according to a Gallup poll completed Feb. 1, 28% percent of Americans view El Rushbo favorably, 45 percent unfavorably. The rest, 27 percent, express no opinion." "That's a 28/45 favorable/unfavorable rating, which is not great," Tapper adds, before noting that his "fave-unfave is 60-23 among Republicans." DNC chair Tim Kaine quickly took advantage of Steele's apology: "I was briefly encouraged by the courageous comments made by my counterpart in the Republican Party over the weekend, challenging Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party and referring to his show as âincendiaryâ and âugly.â However, Chairman Steeleâs reversal this evening and his apology to Limbaugh proves the unfortunate point that Limbaugh is the leading force behind the Republican Party, its politics and its obstruction of President Obamaâs agenda in Washington." The most recent Gallup poll of Bush's approval ratings, conducted in early January, showed that his favorably rating had risen to 40. While Bush's unfavorable rating at 59 crushed Limbaugh's 45, previous Gallup polls show that despite a highly unpopular war, myriad political scandals and a recession, the former president's favorable rating never fell as low as Limbaugh's 28. Media figures keep asking why President Obama and other Democrats keep mentioning Limbaugh. Based on polling numbers alone, they would be insane to ever stop. 'I'm proud to be an entertainer,' Rush said in 2003 While Limbaugh devoted a substantial amount of airtime on Monday's show repeatedly bashing Steele for calling him an "entertainer," he hasn't always held the label in such contempt. In fact, as a reader pointed out in an email to Raw Story, Limbaugh once said that he was "proud" to be called an entertainer. On Monday's show, Limbaugh complained at various times: "Okay, so I am an entertainer, and I have 20 million listeners, 22 million listeners because of my great song-and-dance routines here... Now I'm just an entertainer and now I am ugly and my program is incendiary... I'm just an entertainer, ugly, incendiary, they say...And finally, Mr. Steele, we do like to entertain people here. The audience is very smart, sir. They know the difference between entertainment, and they know the difference between deadly serious issues that affect their country." But in 2003, Limbaugh was a little less livid about the label when he told Mediaweek's Katy Bachman, "I combine two elements: irreverent humor and serious discussion of issues. People tune in for both. But the key is having credibility. This has led to critics saying I am just an entertainer. I'm proud to be an entertainer. This is showbiz. At the same time, I believe everything I say."
I think there is a clear choice here. If pols of either party think Rush is so toxic, they can take him on. Personally, if I was obama or Pelosi, I would prefer to deal with incompetent mumblers like Bush and McCain, but that's just me. As for Steele, I think Rush's problem with him was that he had gone out of his way repeatedly to assist Steele, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Then, the minute some black libs challenged him, he quickly threw Rush under the bus. The short bus, in Steele's case. He used the word "ugly" to describe Rush's opposition to Obama. Rush had some good advice for Steele. Concentrate on rebuilding the party, not on being a talk show guest. Rush made it clear that he is a conservative, not the leader fo the republican party, but he noted the irony of the party insiders desperately sucking up to him in private when they seem to be afraid afraid to be identified with him in public.
All together now dittoheads: Leave Rush Limbaugh Alone! <img src=http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/dethspud/album%20number%20two/Crocker1.jpg>
Poll: Obama Popularity Lags Bush After First Month Thursday, February 26, 2009 3:32 PM By: Dave Eberhart The media may be smitten with President Barack Obama, but recent Gallup poll results show Americans giving the new president lower marks after one month in the White House than former President George W. Bush earned at the same point in his administration. Heading into this weekâs address to Congress, the Gallup figures showed 59 percent of Americans approved of Obamaâs efforts so far, while 25 percent disapproved, and 16 percent had no opinion. According to PollingReport.com, President Bush had a 62 percent approval rating one month into his first term, with 21 percent disapproving, and 17 percent having no opinion. âFor the first time since Gallup began tracking Barack Obamaâs presidential job approval rating on Jan. 21, fewer than 60 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president,â the Gallup report reads. The drop below 60 percent approval was fueled largely by a drop in satisfaction among independents, Gallup pollsters added. Late last week, polls showed 62 percent of independents approved of Obama, compared with 54 percent in the last three days, according to NewsBusters. Obamaâs approval rating among Democrats has dipped slightly, while approval among Republicans has not changed significantly. While it may be difficult to tell from the glowing media accounts of his fledgling administration, even Obamaâs highest approval numbers were never all that special. Gary Langer, director of polling at ABC News reports that Obamaâs early ratings are in line with the one-month of George H. W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, and even Jimmy Carter.
Wow. You start a thread about polls and then try to imply they mean nothing when they don't favor your view.
Obama walked into an elevator shaft with no elevator. The ridiculous cult of personality that developed around him coupled with overwhelming problems will assure that the honeymoon will not last long. I don't want him to become another Carter but he is going toward that destiny full steam.
Ok I get it...you meant to say that polls don't matter, thus this thread about polls you started is absolutely meaningless.