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gratuitous

(82,849 posts)

13. Yeah

Mon Jan 16, 2012, 05:08 PM

Jan 2012

It does render the concept of "approval" rather . . . elastic, no? What makes a "liberal" Democrat? Would Rahm Emanuel qualify as such for the purposes of this poll? And what does it mean to "approve" of Obama? I "approve" of Obama as against other choices (not named)? Or I affirmatively "approve" of the administration and every decision, policy and pronouncement that have come out of it? Or I guess I "approve" of more things than I "disapprove", so overall I'm in the "approve" category? Or I "approve" a plurality of things the administration has done (but not a majority)? Or I have one and only one issue that matters to me, and since the Obama administration hasn't totally destroyed that issue, I "approve" of the administration?

The rubber band poll, it can stretch to whatever you want it to mean. And I have my own suspicions on what a lot of folks would like it to mean for any number of those nagging, rat bastard, Jiminy Cricket voices that just don't know when to stop.

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President Obama's Gallup approval rating amongst liberal Democrats from January 9th-15th is 86%. [View all] LoZoccolo Jan 2012 OP

It just keeps going up. lamp_shade Jan 2012 #1

I'm liking the trend. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #2

the re-nominate % was even more startling. 91% liberal Dems. 76% moderates. nt dmallind Jan 2012 #3

I'm surprised, I'd thought just the reverse. demosincebirth Jan 2012 #4

You'd think so around here sure - but Obama nationally dmallind Jan 2012 #9

It makes perfect sense Mojorabbit Jan 2012 #11

So why are Dems less likely to do the same the less liberal they are? dmallind Jan 2012 #12

It's a perception issue.... vi5 Jan 2012 #14

Yeah gratuitous Jan 2012 #13

Ah, yes, another attempt to define away the liberals who approve of Obama. TheWraith Jan 2012 #19

Sorry I failed your purity test gratuitous Jan 2012 #20

The only way to define someone in a poll is for them to self-identify. joshcryer Jan 2012 #23

Sounds like the old communist vote totals Vinnie From Indy Jan 2012 #5

He's kicking ass. Check out this Wired article. napoleon_in_rags Jan 2012 #6

If this poll is believed to be true, why are some trashing "purists" with such vigor? AnotherMcIntosh Jan 2012 #7

Because these liberals are largely not delivering a strict ultimatum like a purist would. LoZoccolo Jan 2012 #8

Exactly... vi5 Jan 2012 #10

But people who want to divide others need to create an enemy in the ranks. ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #15

There used to be many people who said that the base was leaving. LoZoccolo Jan 2012 #17

Many? ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #22

If you didn't see any, I guess there weren't that many. LoZoccolo Jan 2012 #24

Perhaps the distinction is between the "activists" and the rank-n-file. This site is littered with Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #26

The poll numbers are nonsense. The word "purists" was originated by others, the critics by those AnotherMcIntosh Jan 2012 #27

Last time I checked 86% was a whopping majority. Self appointed "activists" need to understand that Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #28

Then you have nothing to worry about. AnotherMcIntosh Jan 2012 #30

! Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #31

Self-appointed activists? What does that make you? ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #32

I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that you know a lot more about Koch than I do. Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #33

I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that I know a lot more than you do... ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #34

Agreed. But not for the reason you think. Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #36

So it has nothing to do with vague, incoherent posts like that? ClassWarrior Jan 2012 #37

The hell you say. Well, color me surprised! That's a good sign. Now, on to the moderates and Honeycombe8 Jan 2012 #16

No moral compass kick. Scurrilous Jan 2012 #18

Ha!! Number23 Jan 2012 #21

K & R Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #25

NO IT'S NOT!!! uponit7771 Jan 2012 #29

Fuck Ron Paul TransitJohn Jan 2012 #35