From the PEW Research report.
In a Word...Incompetent
President Bush's declining image also is reflected in the single-word descriptions people use to describe their impression of the president. Three years ago, positive one-word descriptions of Bush far outnumbered negative ones. Over the past two years, the positive-negative balance has been roughly equal. But the one-word characterizations have turned decidedly negative since last July.Currently, 48% use a negative word to describe Bush compared with just 28% who use a positive term, and 10% who use neutral language.
The changing impressions of the president can best be viewed by tracking over time how often words come up in these top-of-the-mind associations. Until now, the most frequently offered word to describe the president was "honest," but this comes up far less often today than in the past. Other positive traits such as "integrity" are also cited less, and virtually no respondent used superlatives such as "excellent" or "great" terms that came up fairly often in previous surveys.
The single word most frequently associated with George W. Bush today is "incompetent,"and close behind are two other increasingly mentioned descriptors: "idiot" and "liar." All three are mentioned far more often today than a year ago.
6 comments:
What would count as a neutral comment, and who on earth (granted, only 10%) is choosing a neutral word to describe the president when asked to do so by an *opinion* poll? Let's see... neutral words... male would count, right? Or maybe Texan (neutral to some! ;), or... I'm at a loss.
I guess I should find it encouraging that only 10% of those polled couldn't bring themselves to express an opinion. Fence sitters witnessing ruination.
(How's that for a rant?) Greetings from Tampa.
Maybe when asked to describe Bush in one word the neutral 10% answered "who"?
Your ranting is coming right along. Be careful, though, if you keep it up you may develop and anger problem.
Enjoy Tampa.
What word would you use to describe Cheney? I think he is more scary than Bush. Thinking he might develop a tiny bit of empathy after he shot a man, now seems silly. He is one cold hearted man. I would use Black-hearted, but that isn't one word. So I have decided on "deadeye".
Deadeye Dick.
NL
I guess I'd have to go with psychopath.
Was wondering what you would come back with. Good one!
NL
NL,
I agree that Cheney is much more dangerous than is Bush. It was Cheney, as Chief of Transition in 2000, who distributed the “neoconservative” true believers in powerful positions in the National Security Agency and Departments of Defense and State.
The neocons belief in the projection of USA military power throughout the world to secure the country’s status as the world’s only superpower and their desires to further Israeli foreign policy of eliminating any Middle Eastern military competition melded well with the desires of the oil barons to secure oil reserves sufficient with which to exercise significant effect world oil prices.
By the way, there is a review of Kevin Phillips latest book, "American Theocracy", in today’s NYT Books section that I think you would be interested to read. I don’t know how to make the link hot here in comments but here’s the link.
Cuidate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/books/review/19brink.html?ex=1300424400&en=b41804555786248d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
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