April 23, 2004

ABC STRUGGLES FOR ACCURACY

The ABC’s North American correspondent Lisa Millar mentioned in a news report yesterday (no link available) that George W. Bush was “struggling to maintain support” among the US electorate. Really, Lisa?

It is hard to imagine a worse month of news for President Bush's re- election efforts than the past four weeks: 100 Americans killed in Iraq, chaos in Fallujah and wrenching public questions about the administration's pre-Sept. 11, 2001, intelligence failures.

Yet during that same time frame, Bush's approval rating has remained steady with voters, and his standing against John Kerry has actually improved, leaving Democrats to wonder: If that was a bad month for Bush, what would a good month look like?

A good month? For Bush? The ABC won’t hear of it. Peggy Noonan and Richard Cohen further examine the inexplicable Bush popularity syndrome, while Hugh Hewitt studies Bush’s opponent, whose supporters believe has enjoyed a very good month indeed:

Over at JohnKerry.com's campaign blog, they're referring to Kerry's appearance on Meet the Press as a "home run." If that was a home run, I'd hate to see Kerry strike out. On question after question, Kerry managed to turn under-armed softballs into high and tight strikes, and the damage from his reflexive parsing and dodging are just beginning to be recognized.

Posted by Tim Blair at April 23, 2004 02:22 AM
Comments

Latest Gallup Poll in the US had Bush up by 51 to 46, which is up 13 points from March. The lead is mainly because Kerry's favourability has tanked by a net 17 points since then.

The last coupole of weeks have seen a surge in support for Bush, who was lagging a bit. If this is the beginning of a trend, it'll be a comfortable win in Novemeber.

Posted by: Fred at April 23, 2004 at 03:02 AM

Democratic Convention '04: Irrational Exuberance!

Posted by: Apologist at April 23, 2004 at 03:22 AM

Economy is doing better and Americans have always trusted W to protect us more than J F'n K.

Kerry is scrambling to find a solid position that is both important to the American people AND different enough from Bush. His "different" idea for Iraq is to turn it over to the UN, UN Food for Bribes scandal is getting press lately... oops.

Jobs are being created and Greenspan is optimistic. Oops.

Lately he's been talking about environmental issues, polls show that's way down the list of concerns. Oops.

He continues to take every issue under the sun and it's being more and more exposed. Ooops.

He's been bashing Bush on making a deal with Prince Bandar to lower oil prices (after complaining he didn't do enough to "jawbone" them into lowering oil prices)

The guy is a joke.

Posted by: Dash at April 23, 2004 at 05:05 AM

This is a home run?

(Videotape, MEET THE PRESS, April 18, 1971):

MR. KERRY (Vietnam Veterans Against the War): There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare. All of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free-fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT: You committed atrocities.

SEN. KERRY: Where did all that dark hair go, Tim? That's a big question for me. You know...


The moment he listened to that tape and the first thing he talked about was his hair was a defining moment for me. The man is an empty suit.

Posted by: cary at April 23, 2004 at 05:16 AM

Maybe he's claiming looking at the tape turned his hair white?

Posted by: JorgXMcKie at April 23, 2004 at 06:39 AM

Does anyone else consider the following combination a trifle hackneyed?:

If that was a [insert phrase], I'd hate to see a [insert opposite].

It's an insta-cliche, just add nouns.

Posted by: fidens at April 23, 2004 at 09:39 AM

No, can't say as I do.

Posted by: JeffS at April 23, 2004 at 02:19 PM

Yeah - I'm not too sure what the story is with the ABC.

I've been in Oz for a couple of months now, and am still a little amused by the left-wing slant. Especially on Lateline. This week they've had Grandmaster Fisk, and weird-o Peter Singer. But my fav was on Tuesday night, commenting on the solid Bush support..

From memory
"Despite damming testimony at the 911 commission..."

cue the money shot of a smirking Richard Clarke...

"And despite the worst month in Iraq"

cue a damaged, smoking tank...

"Bush is still ahead in the polls" but said in such a whiny, why-won't-people-listen voice to make me laugh.

Posted by: Dave at April 23, 2004 at 02:36 PM

Oh Dave, that's just the tip of the iceberg...it gets better. Trust me, you ain't seen nothing yet!
You should have seen the Pilger interview a couple of weeks ago.
"Every one's ABC" yeah like hell it is!

Posted by: Brian. at April 24, 2004 at 02:58 AM

Hey! Maybe Kerry really is a patriot! He's deliberately throwing the election because he wants the US to win the war!

Yeeeaaaahh, that's the ticket!

Posted by: Arnold at April 24, 2004 at 02:58 AM