They did not fail to acknowledge it, they did not try to hide it. And it is
respondents that are measured, not including those who were attemped to be contacted, or refused the poll, etc. Are you telling us that you respond to every single pollster who calls you?
In any case, the data and the breakdown was available, otherwise we would not be talking about it.
Doh!
Tony Snow, Bush apologist was on Bill O'Reilly today and briefly mentioned the poll, saying that it was somewhat skewed in his opinion, but then quickly mentioned that the Rasmussen poll, which has always been favorable to Bush, also shows that Bush's numbers are slipping.
That is the salient point, deal with it....
The focus on the methodology of the CBS is a red herring when we look at the reality that Bush is losing support from all sides, democrats, republicans, and independents.
p.s. O'Reilly and other typical talking head Bush supporters are not talking about the legitimacy of the CBS poll, they are focusing on what Bush needs to do to bring up his approval numbers.
Also of note, in the past, when people did not approve of Bush, they still polled favorably on him personally, and that is slowly changing, as polls are showing less likability and trust of Bush.
During the Clinton years, when his approval numbers dropped, his likability and trustworthiness remained relatively constant, and he remains a very popular president and former president.
Unless something changes dramatically over the next couple of years, my prediction is that Bush will likely go down as a very unpopular president.
Quote from domi93:
What they failed to acknowledge (until page 18, at the very bottom of a PDF version of the poll) was that CBS contacted substantially more Democrats than Republicans.
it's True that "That" poll was weighted to the Dem side pretty heavily, BUT, Bush has taken a pretty hard hit (5%) in the Rasmussen Poll, which is pretty much dead accurate, since the Dubai Ports and "Civil War in Iraq" stories hit. Anyway, this is a midterm election year, so Congress as a whole is in full-tilt pander mode. Anyone who makes noise about the ports deal scores easy points with their electorate on national security. Bush, however, can stand on the "what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular" principle and prevent the domestic rumblings from interfering with foreign policy.
for the Next 8 month you Cant believe in polls on either side.