Rasmussen Again Tries To Prove That Dems’ Rush Strategy Is Failing
Rasmussen Reports is out with another poll today that purports to show that the Dems’ strategy of tying Rush Limbaugh to the GOP is failing.
It isn’t the first time. A few days ago, Rasmussen — which seems to consistently game its polling to appeal to the conservative media — published a different survey seemingly designed to prove this. That poll asked whether respondents agreed with this statement: “Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party — he says jump and they say how high”?
Only 11% of Republicans said they agreed, a figure Rasmussen cited to raise doubts about the efficacy of the Dem strategy. But as David Kurtz noted about Rasmussen’s framing at the time: “Isn’t that about the equivalent of, Are you Rush’s b***h — yes or no?” Other critics panned the poll, too.
Today Rasmussen is out with new numbers that the outlet claims shows that their initial conclusion that the Dem strategy is failing was right:
In the current survey, we simply asked if Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party. The different wording had virtually no impact on the GOP responses: Only 10% said yes.
But again, this whole way of asking the question simply doesn’t tell us whether the Dem strategy is working or not. The Dem strategy isn’t about getting people to agree that Rush is literally the leader of the party. Rather, it’s about associating the GOP overall with Rush’s harsh, partisan, angry obstructionism and negativity.
I’m not sure whether the Dem strategy is working or not. But polls showing that big majorities hold the GOP, and not Dems, responsible for the partisan breakdown in D.C. seem like a far better indicator than this Rasmussen line of questioning is.
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Rasmussen is so disengenuous here that its laughable. The correct question would be does Rush Limbauh have undue influence over the Republican Party. But they will never ask that. The Democrats don’t care if Rush is seen as the “leader” of the party. What they really want is for people to see the GOP as being ideologically tied to Limbaugh. When you see any Republican Leader they want you think they believe just like Rush does and the approval ratings bear out that its working. For that matter the Republicans themselves have said they agree with Rush that they hopes President Obama fails. And I know they try to insert the word “policies” but I mean what else could they possibly be praying for him to fail out? Brushing his teeth? Singing karoke? And yet still members of the media love to point out the distinction as if it makes any more sense. The GOP helped to create Limbaugh and now they have to live with him.
Oh, it’s working all right. You can tell by the sight of thousands of pundit’s heads exploding and the legions of Republican spokespeople dispatched to gain face time to defend/disavow. The Republican-leaning Washington Post and Politico publishing piece after piece explaining/defending, the polls seeking to debunk the idea, the crowing of Rushbo and the furrowed brows of Davids Frum and Brooks. It’s working all right, and working well. Heh.
I just looked at the poll and it turns out that Republicans think they don’t have a leader BUT Rush Limbaugh gets 2% while Sarah Palin only gets 1% of the vote for who is the leader. If anything that tells me that Rush is at least ONE of the leaders. Hell he is beating the woman who would have been Vice President had Americans totally lost their mind last year. If anything you would have thought Rasmussen would have tossed the results seeing as how the overwhelming majority of those interviewed didn’t make a choice.
Who cares if Rasmussen is misleading Republicans. Does polling shape public though as much as they would like us to believe or is it the actual events on the ground that do. Events being what was said and peoples reactions to how it is being shaped by the media. If Republicans begin to believe Rush truly isn’t their leader then they’ll continue to make asses of themselves and keep digging that hole deeper right?
Rush Limbaugh has been an extremely powerful Republican leader, if not “the” Republican Leader for the last 15+ years.
REPUBLICAN “LEADERS” ARE SCARED OF RUSH LIMBAUGH. But it’s a fear/love relationship because they know he’s been the consistent King-Maker of the Republican Party, who, even when he fails to enforce his will can have a devastating impact on any Republican “leaders” chances (just ask McCain).
The right wing cherish him so much they’ve put him on the cover of right wing magazines declaring him the leader of the Republican Party, the Republican Gingrich congress during the 90’s gave him a special designation as a member.
Just this month the premiere right wing organization CPAC made him the keynote speaker, a speech that FOX gave more promotion to than any other speaker and then carried live, in it’s entirety (for 90 minutes?), as I understand it CNN and CSPAN aired CPAC’s KEYNOTE SPEAKER RUSH LIMBAUGH without interruption.
Both Republican President Bush I and Bush II feted Limbaugh like he was in charge. Nearly every purported Republican “leader” who criticized Limbaugh felt compelled (or was bullied) into apologizing with a disturbing, cowardly kind of sycophancy.
Even the usually independent Republican Ron Paul watches what he says about Rush Limbaugh. Ron Paul carefully avoids saying anything that might be perceived as critical of Limbaugh. He knows who the real power is.
Republican Bush I sucked up to Rush Limbaugh ON AIR and then referred positively to fellow Republican Propagandist Roger Ailes of FOX TV.
Limbaugh controls much of the right wing’s agenda. Limbaugh can demand Republican “leaders” do just about anything he wants.
Those are the things that make Rush Limbaugh the de facto “leader” of the Republican Party.
This isn’t to say that ALL the Republican voters necessarily understand that Limbaugh is the Republican Party’s principal leader.
IT’S THAT THE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY KOWTOW TO RUSH LIMBAUGH: THAT’S WHAT MAKES HIM THE DE FACTO REPUBLICAN LEADER. He’s the leader OF the leaders.
Moreover, the fact that Republicans are now defending Rush Limbaugh’s malignant, hateful extremism says everything you need to know about what the Republican Party has become: malignant, hateful extremism that is now actively working to see America fail.
Rush Limbaugh has been an extremely powerful Republican leader, if not “the” Republican Leader for the last 15+ years.
REPUBLICAN “LEADERS” ARE SCARED OF RUSH LIMBAUGH. But it’s a fear/love relationship because they know he’s been the consistent King-Maker of the Republican Party, who, even when he fails to enforce his will can have a devastating impact on any Republican “leaders” chances (just ask McCain).
The right wing cherish him so much they’ve put him on the cover of right wing magazines declaring him the leader of the Republican Party, the Republican Gingrich congress during the 90’s gave him a special designation as a member.
Just this month the premiere right wing organization CPAC made him the keynote speaker, a speech that FOX gave more promotion to than any other speaker and then carried live, in it’s entirety (for 90 minutes?), as I understand it CNN and CSPAN aired CPAC’s KEYNOTE SPEAKER RUSH LIMBAUGH without interruption.
Both Republican President Bush I and Bush II feted Limbaugh like he was in charge. Nearly every purported Republican “leader” who criticized Limbaugh felt compelled (or was bullied) into apologizing with a disturbing, cowardly kind of sycophancy.
Even the usually independent Republican Ron Paul watches what he says about Rush Limbaugh. Ron Paul carefully avoids saying anything that might be perceived as critical of Limbaugh. He knows who the real power is.
Republican Bush I sucked up to Rush Limbaugh ON AIR and then referred positively to fellow Republican Propagandist Roger Ailes of FOX TV.
Limbaugh controls much of the right wing’s agenda. Limbaugh can demand Republican “leaders” do just about anything he wants.
Those are the things that make Rush Limbaugh the de facto “leader” of the Republican Party.
This isn’t to say that ALL the Republican voters necessarily understand that Limbaugh is the Republican Party’s principal leader.
IT’S THAT THE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY KOWTOW TO RUSH LIMBAUGH: THAT’S WHAT MAKES HIM THE DE FACTO REPUBLICAN LEADER. He’s the leader OF the leaders.
Moreover, the fact that Republicans are now defending Rush Limbaugh’s malignant, hateful extremism says everything you need to know about what the Republican Party has become: malignant, hateful extremism that is now actively working to see America fail.
(my apologies for the duplicate entries, the line breaks were deleted)
.
Rush Limbaugh has been an extremely powerful Republican leader, if not “the” Republican Leader for the last 15+ years.
.
REPUBLICAN “LEADERS” ARE SCARED OF RUSH LIMBAUGH. But it’s a fear/love relationship because they know he’s been the consistent King-Maker of the Republican Party, who, even when he fails to enforce his will can have a devastating impact on any Republican “leaders” chances (just ask McCain).
.
The right wing cherish him so much they’ve put him on the cover of right wing magazines declaring him the leader of the Republican Party, the Republican Gingrich congress during the 90’s gave him a special designation as a member.
.
Just this month the premiere right wing organization CPAC made him the keynote speaker, a speech that FOX gave more promotion to than any other speaker and then carried live, in it’s entirety (for 90 minutes?), as I understand it CNN and CSPAN aired CPAC’s KEYNOTE SPEAKER RUSH LIMBAUGH without interruption.
.
Both Republican President Bush I and Bush II feted Limbaugh like he was in charge. Nearly every purported Republican “leader” who criticized Limbaugh felt compelled (or was bullied) into apologizing with a disturbing, cowardly kind of sycophancy.
.
Even the usually independent Republican Ron Paul watches what he says about Rush Limbaugh. Ron Paul carefully avoids saying anything that might be perceived as critical of Limbaugh. He knows who the real power is.
.
Republican Bush I sucked up to Rush Limbaugh ON AIR and then referred positively to fellow Republican Propagandist Roger Ailes of FOX TV.
.
Limbaugh controls much of the right wing’s agenda. Limbaugh can demand Republican “leaders” do just about anything he wants.
.
Those are the things that make Rush Limbaugh the de facto “leader” of the Republican Party.
.
This isn’t to say that ALL the Republican voters necessarily understand that Limbaugh is the Republican Party’s principal leader.
.
IT’S THAT THE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY KOWTOW TO RUSH LIMBAUGH: THAT’S WHAT MAKES HIM THE DE FACTO REPUBLICAN LEADER. He’s the leader OF the leaders.
.
Moreover, the fact that Republicans are now defending Rush Limbaugh’s malignant, hateful extremism says everything you need to know about what the Republican Party has become: malignant, hateful extremism that is now actively working to see America fail.
With the exception of posts such as these, now whenever I see the name Rasmussen, my eyes glaze over and I move on to the next story/poll. Much like my reaction to the majority of pieces containing the words “Fox News” and “Karl Rove.”
That said (and completely OT), I *will* joyously consume *any* piece containing the words “Margaret Brennan.” : )
Bipartisanship in the liberal view is conservatives giving up their position. During Bush 43 the Dems were anything but bipartisan. I recall Daschle saying in de facto it was his job to obstruct whatever programs President Bush and the Republicans put forth. Why is it that rather than debating the content of arguments and positions, personal attack takes place? Case in point is “Joe the Plumber” who asked a simple question. Rather than debate the question, he was subjected to a vicious attack. Conservatives and liberals alike do fall into the trap of personal attacks. It will be a far better day for us as a nation when ideas can be debated and folks are not subjected to what are sometime items about them that are obtained illegally.
Warren, given the deafening silence and “see no evil, hear no evil speak no evil” cowardice of the right over the last eight miserable, contemptible, ecomony-destroying years, your sudden “concern” over partisanship is touching, but also laughable and insulting. And citing Wurtzelbacher the intellectually unburdened, tax-cheating non-plumber/major opportunist as anything other than a fine example of someone unaware that their unwarranted fifteen minutes of “fame” are up, is a non-starter.
Warren Fish is correct. The true face of today’s Publican party is indeed “Joe the Plumber”: a man whose real name is Sam, is not a licensed plumber, is actually directly benefiting from the President’s tax cuts for those making less than $250k (although but is so woefully ignorant and brainwashed that he doesn’t understand, and generally prefers to insult and threaten rather than research and analyze).
In sum, “Sam the non-plumber” is indeed the ideal face of today’s Publican party. Thanks to Warren Fish for his suggestion. My only hope is that other Publicans agree with him so that they continue to be in the overwhelming minority until my grandkids go to college.
The “right” began the ecomic destruction – the “left” has picked up that mantle and is hell bent on finishing the job.
Where are the rational voices in the middle? I did not support Bush. I have grave second thoughts now about Obama. I get the feeling he is seriously in over his head. I also think that there must be a prerequisite to being a tax cheat in order to get a job in Washington these days (both Republican & Democratic).
Next up – the dow at 5K, say hello to inflation, double digit unemployment & interest rates.
You cannot continue shoveling money at failed companies – it does not work & it discourages investment.
How about turning off federal payroll with-holding? Try that for a couple months – if it doesn’t help, then turn it back on.
It is not US vs THEM folks – it is all us. During the Bush years I was told to disagree was unpatriotic. Now when I disagree – people belittle me. Attack the person is today’s mantra… forget about debating the merits.
Rasmussen is correct, average people view Limbaugh as a spokeperson for conservatism, not the Republican Party. These mindless rants claiming otherwise are funny to read, but ultimately unworthy of consideration.
Obama will be blamed by the citizens which matter, and rightfully so, if the economy doesn’t turn around in the next few months. Given the course he’s taken, the business class and investor class have voted with their money that they don’t trust him. People tend to forget, the 46% of Americans who didn’t vote for Obama still own and/or control somewhere in the neighborhood of 80%+ of the wealth in the country. Unless they cooperate, nothing he tries will work. And so far, he’s given them no reason to trust him.