In the aftermath of the narrow House passage of the Democrats’ package of bills to overhaul our nation’s health care system, their allies in the blogosphere thought had found nirvana. Soon, they were convinced the American people, as long they had predicted, would fall into line, agreeing how wonderful, life-changing and life-affirming was this legislation.
Barely twenty-four hours later, they found an oddly worded poll which confirmed their very presentiments: A Gallup/USA TODAY poll found that 49% of Americans deemed “Congress’ passage of a healthcare reform bill last weekend . . . ‘a good thing.’” Wonder how many of those thought passage of real reforms was a good thing. Or thought it a good thing that the president would stop bloviating on health care.
While even opponents of the legislation expected to see an uptick in the bill’s support after its passage, given how people like to rally around a winner, few expected such a dramatic turnaround. And to the consternation of one of my critics, I called the poll an outlier. Surely, he said, he just might be right and the polls would shift toward Obamacare now that it’s passed and, as Nancy Pelosi might put it, we can find out what’s in it.
Well, in the past 12 hours alone, I have seen three polls, one a survey which skews left, another which supposedly skews right and one that’s, well, just right (as Goldilocks might say). And guess what, fellas? They all show the same thing. No, not that people are pleased with the passage of this bill; they still don’t like it, not one little bit.
They do not like it now that it’s passed. They do not like it and pray it won’t last.
While Quinnipiac found that fewer Americans disapproved than before its passage, they found that only 40% approved of the bill (versus 49% who disapproved): “By a 33 – 27 percent margin, voters are more likely to vote for House members who voted against the health care bill“.
“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, conducted on the first two nights after the president signed the bill, shows that 55% favor repealing the legislation. Forty-two percent (42%) oppose repeal.” (Via Instapundit.) 42%? Now, where did I see that number before? Oh yes, that’s right–in the CBS poll, you know, the one that skews left: “While 37 percent approved of it before the vote, 42 percent approved afterward.” An improvement, but still not a majority, not even a plurality because 46% now disapprove.
Guess I was right to call the USA Today poll an outlier. Three polls, taken after the vote, show approval for Obamacare at about 40%, about the same percentage of the vote Walter Mondale took in his successful 1984 bid to prevent Ronald Reagan from winning all 50 states.
So, in other words, both the Q poll and CBS showed a 4-5 point movement toward approval, in just a day or two. ANd you think this is an argument in your favor????
Tano, can you read? Of course, it’s polling slightly better. I offered an explanation above.
Obamacare is still enjoying an approval rating of just 40% (with the bump coming from its passage) and you think this is an argument in your favor?
Statistically, numbers reported in polls that reflect on issues which Tano favors are understated by 3000% or more. Therefore an approval rating of 40% is actually an approval rating that can drop several 1000% points and still exceed 100% of the population.
The reason the approval numbers are reported as being only 40% is because they are crushed, manipulated, and misreported by the extensive, pervasive right wing media control machine.
Where is the Fairness Doctrine when Tano needs it most? This democracy stuff is beyond annoying.
I think the point Tano was making is that poll numbers rarely leap in huge amounts, 48 hours isn’t enough to determine where this trend is going, though the evidence suggests the popularity of the bill is going up. By April, I think we’ll have enough data to come to some preliminary conclusions. But final conclusions will have to wait until November of course.
So we just passed a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he didn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that exempts themselves from it, signed by a president who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese …………..and financed by a country that’s broke?
“Obamacare is still enjoying an approval rating of just 40% (with the bump coming from its passage) and you think this is an argument in your favor?”
And other polls have it near 50. So, mid fortys as an average. And given that (have you heard this before?) some of those opposed are progressives who yearn for a public option or single payer – and who will drift over to approval side for sure – well yes, I do think things are looking good for my side.
But you think the same for your side. Ins’t this great? Everyone is happy.
One poll, Tano, one poll, has it near 50.
So, it’s “progressives” who want Republicans to keep challenging the bill? Glad to know these left-wingers have such faith in the GOP.
” By April, I think we’ll have enough data to come to some preliminary conclusions. But final conclusions will have to wait until November of course.”— Serenity
“In the Spring we will have growth.” —- Chance/Chauncey Gardiner Being There
Shots were fired at the office of Eric Cantor R VA. My God leftists, have you no shame?
Today, 62% of Americans want Republicans to continue to fight Obamacare. 41% of Democrats want Republicans to fight Obamacare. Who is on the side of the people? Conservatives can’t wait to vote out the socialist liberal Democrats. 7 short months away. Let’s VOTE!
ROUT THE LIBERALS
IN 2010
A bill that only 40% want, forced on a majority of Americans that dont want it. Isnt that the very definition of Tyranny of the Minority?
From what I have seen, middle of the road Democrats (now former Democrats), Independents and Republicans are against the Abominable care.
The mood has not changed. If anything many are learning how to counter idiots like Tano.
Would you and dumbass say the same if the numbers were a Husseinian 99.99%?
Another thought on the new Health Care approval. Given the actions of businesses like AT&T, Verizon, etc… are we seeing the tip of a very large iceberg. These businesses are just the first to react to the coming expenses that all businesses will incur. But think about the direct consequences of what these memos and press releases will actually mean for the rest of us.
These businesses are going to take a charge against profits NOT because of some greedy scheme to circumvent taxes, NOT because some greedy speculators have met in a secret room to connive a new method of squeezing out profits. This is the DIRECT result of the caring, compassionate and kind folks in government that want you all to share in the wonderfulness or their beings.
These businesses will see a smaller net profit due to this new Act. This will mean that their will be a smaller dollar amount left to tax at the end of the day. The shareholders will see smaller dividends also resulting in smaller dollars left to tax. This will result in a heavier burden to PAY for this on the rest of us.
How’s that Hope and Change working out for you all???