Day: March 28, 2008
Poll: Bush’s Job Approval at 28% – What Is in the Kool-Aid Republicans Drink?
Here is more confirmation, not that any is needed, that over a quarter of Americans are dangerously delusional. A new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press has George Bush’s job approval rating at 28 percent, which is remarkably — no, stupendously — high by any rational measure.
Bush has been polling around 30 percent for months. Statistically speaking, all of these Bush lovers are Republicans. Seven years on, it is still a giant mystery what these people see in him.
Good news, though. Fewer people are identifying themselves as Republicans, according to Pew:
In [the poll taken in January and February], 36 percent identify themselves as Democrats, and just 27 percent as Republicans.
The share of voters who call themselves Republicans has declined by six points since 2004, and represents, on an annualized basis, the lowest percentage of self-identified Republican voters in 16 years of polling by the Center.
The Democratic Party has also built a substantial edge among independent voters. Of the 37 percent who claim no party identification, 15 percent lean Democratic, 10 percent lean Republican, and 12 percent have no leaning either way.
And with all of this, John McCain still gets support from a little over half the electorate in most national polls.
Turn Off the Light for Earth Hour
We like easy ways to do good things for the planet and it doesn’t get much easier than this.
On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour…
Last year’s Earth Hour, which only took place in one city — Sydney — had the same impact as taking 48,000 cars off the road for the same hourEarth Hour was created by World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.
Before you dismiss this idea, know that last year’s Earth Hour, which only took place in one city — Sydney — had the same impact as taking 48,000 cars off the road for the same hour. Tell me that doesn’t add up.
Some of the places in this country already on board to participate are:
- Atlanta — Coca Cola Headquarters and the Georgia Aquarium (largest in the world)
- Chicago — Sears Tower, John Hancock Building, Soldier Field (Chicago Bears stadium), Boeing Headquarters Building, Merchandise Mart, Drake Hotel, Chicago City Hall, C N A Building, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building, Chicago Theater Marquees, Hard Rock Cafe marquee at Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs)
- San Francisco — San Francisco Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, San Francisco Town Hall, Hewlett-Packard Company headquarters (Palo Alto)
- Phoenix — City government buildings
If you’re doing something creative with your time in the dark (that’s not X-rated), the folks at Earth Hour are providing information on how to make your event a success.
Update: Now I know why actions like these are important. I went whole-hog and refrained from the computer, TV, and even radio, sticking to the spirit of the thing, which was to not use any power (I decided even my wind-up emergency radio with the built-in flashlight would be cheating). Time passes very slowly when all you can do is sit in the dark and reflect on why you’re sitting in the dark. I decided it must be what fasting for a cause is like. It focuses your thoughts on the reason you’re uncomfortable. Even though I finally gave up and walked the dog for the last half-hour, I still spent the whole time thinking about global warming and about the impact that using each of my appliances, and my car, has. This morning, I’m still thinking about it.
So I would say this was a good thing. You think you know this stuff, and on an intellectual level you do, but actually going through the exercise is valuable. If you missed Earth Hour, take one of your own. Tell yourself you will refrain from using electricity for one hour. Your mind will automatically focus on why and the contemplation will be illuminating. Pun intended.
Baghad ‘Green Zone’ Under Attack By Insurgent Rocketfire
Surge: At least two U.S. officials have been killed in the ongoing rocket attacks by insurgents on the Green Zone in Baghdad. Two Iraqi guards were also killed at the Iraqi vice president’s office inside the zone:
Extremists lobbed more rockets or mortars against the U.S.-protected Green Zone Friday in Baghdad, with some falling short and killing two guards outside the Iraqi vice president’s office.
Lubna al-Hashemi, the daughter of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, said at least five other guards were injured when rockets or mortars hit the courtyard outside her father’s offices.
She said her father was praying at the time and was not in the offices.
A thick cloud of smoke was seen over the zone Friday shortly after the first rounds hit.
The bombardment of the Green Zone has prompted the State Dept. to issue a warning to U.S. embassy personnel:
“Due to the continuing threat of indirect fire in the International Zone, all personnel are advised to remain under hard cover at all times,” [the warning] says. “Personnel should only move outside of hard cover for essential reasons.”
“Essential outdoor movements should be sharply limited in duration,” the memo says, adding that personal protective equipment “is mandatory for all outside movements.”
“We strongly recommend personnel do not sleep in their trailers,” it goes on to say, offering space inside the Saddam Hussein-era palace that is the embassy’s temporary home as well as room at an as-yet uncompleted new embassy compound and a limited supply of cots.
Dr. Dean: Dem Supporters’ Squabbling Risks Demoralizing the Base
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says infighting between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama threatens the party’s chances for winning the White House in November:
“Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat.”
— Howard Dean
“You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other,” he said Thursday during the interview in his office at Democratic National Committee headquarters. “Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat.”
Dean says he has a plan for resolving the superdelegate conundrum:
Dean wouldn’t talk in detail about what the plan is, but it likely involves encouraging superdelegates to pick a candidate shortly after the voting ends. He said he will not encourage any delegate to vote one way or another.
“I am going to stand up for the rules, and I know I’m doing the right thing most of the time because I’ve got both Clinton people and Obama people mad at me,” he said.
For instance, while Obama’s campaign has been encouraging superdelegates to support the candidate with the most pledged delegates — which almost certainly will be Obama — Dean says the rules don’t require that and superdelegates are free to chose who they want.
On the other side, Clinton has been arguing lately that even pledged delegates — awarded to a candidate based on the outcome of state contests — aren’t bound to vote for that candidate at the convention. Dean called that “a very technical argument.”
“You aren’t going to get pledged delegates to move unless something really shocking happens,” he said. And he thinks it unlikely the superdelegates would support a candidate who did not have the most pledged delegates.
And he commented on the Florida and Michigan controversies:
