Well, remember that in the same poll, 15% of Republicans thought Bush knew about 9-11 in advance, as well.

My belief is that per normal for Rasumssen, the question was vastly oversimplified – the way the question was put, it is likely that many remembered the whole “Bin Laden Determined to Strike” memo stuff, and conflated the fact that Bush was aware Al Qaeda wanted to attack America, and the accusation that Bush knew something was coming down on 9/11 and did nothing to stop it.

We see that same sloppiness from Rasumssen on their healthcare polling – they seem determined not to ask about specific portions of the healthcare bill, instead just asking things like “Do You Support Obama’s Healthcare Bill”. Which explains that while 65% of the American Public respond favorably to the question of a Public Option, about the same percentage tell Rasmussen that they oppose Obama’s plan. Which makes one wonder if they want a Public Option without the other stuff … or if they’re just generally misinformed.

Whichever the case – Rasmussen doesn’t seem interested in finding out.

True, Clinton acted moderate.

And you’ll notice, Clinton went on to serve two terms, and retired with a much higher approval rating that Bush did.

Don’t you get it? When the public wants change, it’s the public officials who are perceived as out of step in their own districts that get the shaft. Clinton was smart enough to change with the times.

Bubba Clinton and the DLC

In the 2008 GOP primary debates, the only two candidates who had anything negative to say about the economy were Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. All the others said the economy was doing well, and Bush should get credit for it. In National Review, Larry Kudlow said that the U.S. economy was “the greatest story never told”; and in column after column, that magazine kept touting how well the economy was doing.

Finally, Alan Greenspan actually said that the complexity of the derivatives markets and the credit markets helped reduce risk.

BTW, I had been subscribing to an investment newsletter, Growth Fund Guide, which for years had been warning its subscribers about just this problem. Another investment newsletter, Dow Theory Letters, did likewise.

So it’s not like no one could have forseen this. Some savvy investors did. But in the political arena, conservatives, for the most part, did not.

While the Dems were always posied to run away from the war, no matter which one, and for any reason. Conservatives saw the only redeeming quality of Bush was to stick and finish. And here we are after an election of a Dem proclaiming the necessity of the “necessary war” and the Dems are again poised to run as fast as they can.

The “GOP” / Frumms are always ready to throw Bush under the bus, and Obama is continuing many of the Bush policies and we still have the likes of Sinz54 proclaiming another apology is required.