Yesterday, USA Today released the results of the latest USA Today/CNN/Gallup presidential approval rating poll. And Democrats everywhere were smiling. The latest poll, which was conducted between Monday and Wednesday, showed Bush's approval rating at an all time low of 45%. And Democrats everywhere were smiling.
Just last week a poll conducted by USA Today/CNN/Gallup showed Bush's approval rating at 52%. So why the sudden drop of seven percentage points? USA Today attempts to explain, with the help of "Independent political analysts," that the sudden drop...
"... may reflect opposition to the White House and Congress intervening in the Terri Schiavo matter."
"You have to wonder if people didn't feel that the president and the Congress couldn't be spending their time working on Social Security and other problems," said Charlie Cook, editor of the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
and a second "independent political analyst" opines...
"Any politician pushing a Social Security privatization plan that cuts benefits and increases the national debt by $4.3 trillion would see his or her approval ratings tumble," said Josh Earnest, Democratic National Committe spokesman.
Now, while I will concede that many people are in fact angry/disappointed in Congress, and the president, for getting involved in the Schiavo matter, and that the president's social security ideas have received a lukewarm response at best, it seems a bit of a stretch to suggest that this alone can account for such a sudden drop. Especially in light of the following paragraph from the same USA Today story:
The poll also found an increased number of Democrats. In this survey, 37% said they were Democrats and 32% said they were Republicans. Last week, 32% said they were Democrats and 35% said they were Republicans.
Hmmm. Apparently, an eight percent net shift to the left side of the political aisle couldn't possibly account for the sudden drop in President Bush's approval ratings, since USA Today doesn't even suggest the possibility. And, in fact, USA Today conveniently buries this information three-quarters of the way into the story, long past the point where the casual reader will have stopped reading.
So what does it all mean? Perhaps that polls are as reliable today as they were during the presidential election, and should be digested with a grain (or two) of salt.
It goes without saying of course that other major news agencies (Washington Post, ABC, etc.), while gleefully reporting this "all time low," make no mention of the eight percent net shift in the left's favor. Nope, no bias in reporting there.
Satan finally reveals himself...
An Indiana pet store owner says he sees the image of Satan on the shell of a turtle that was the only survivor of a store fire in October.
The palm-sized red-eared slider turtle, named Lucky, was the only animal to survive the fire at Dora's A-Dora-ble Pet Shop in nearby Frankfort, about 40 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
Owner Bryan Dora now says he sees Satan's face on the critter's shell. He can spot lips, eyes, a goatee, shoulders and a pair of pointy horns on Lucky's back.
"The marking on the shell was like the devil wanted us to know he was down there," Bryan Dora said. "To me, it's too coincidental that the only thing to come out unscathed would have this image on it."
The image was not visible before the fire and Dora speculates the intense heat might have caused the shell's color to change. The turtle is healthy and there was no change in its behavior, he said.
The cause of fire that destroyed nine businesses or offices in the 1912 building in downtown Frankfort has not been determined.
"Turtles can hold their breath quite awhile," Dora said. "He may have taken one breath just before and held it through the fire. Except that the fire went on and on for hours."
Can a made-for-tv movie be far behind?
In 1994 nearly one million people were slaughtered in the Rwandan genocide. Men, women, and children were shot, raped, and hacked to pieces with machetes. And the world stood idly by and did nothing.
Sometimes In April, an HBO film, examines the Rwandan genocide from the point of view of Augustin (Idris Elba of "The Wire"), a moderate Hutu military officer. Augustin, who finds himself at odds with his own people, must try to save the lives of his Tutsi wife and three children. With his own life in danger, Augustin is forced to rely on the help of his brother, Honore, a Hutu extremist radio personality, to get his family to safety.
Sometimes In April is a story told in two interwoven parts. The first part deals with events of the Rwandan massacre as they unfold, the second part finds Augustin ten years later as he reunites with his brother who is on trial for the part he played in the genocide. It is through his talks with his brother that Augustin finally begins to learn the fate of his family.
Sometimes In April is not an easy movie to watch. It is not even a movie I can say I enjoyed watching. It is, however, a good movie, and one that is worth watching. The acting, especially from Idris Elba, is superb, and the story is heart-wrenching. Most striking are the scenes that depict but a small portion of the actual violence that took place during the genocide; they are not subtle, but neither are they overblown. They are simply, as it was, horrific.
It is easy to look back on those three months in 1994, say "how sad," and move on to whatever else occupies our interest next. It will not be quite so easy to do so after watching this movie. Nevertheless, I would recommend that everyone watch this movie, at least once. And, be prepared to pour yourself a stiff drink afterwards.
You can find out when HBO will air this next here.
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
You know you're having a bad day when...
A North Carolina man decided to check up on some Virginia property he owned — and immediately called police.
"He called to say that his house was missing," Danville, Va., Police Lt. Mike Mondul told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "We were like, 'What?'"
Joseph Martin, of Eden, N.C., about 20 miles from Danville, was in the middle of selling the house at 242 Cleveland St., but all he found was a grassy field.
"He went to where his house was supposed to be, and it wasn't there," said Mondul.
It turned out a wrecking crew had come by over the summer to tear down the house at 212 Cleveland St., but had demolished the wrong building. Each house had been next to a different building with a red roof.
Martin told police he hadn't visited his property since July.
Mondul said no charges will be filed and that the demolition was entirely accidental.
"Let's not tell him we screwed up, maybe he won't notice."
An "evil murderer" gets his just sentence.
A California judge finalized the death sentence for convicted double-murderer Scott Peterson.
Earlier, Judge Alfred A. Delucchi denied a defense request for a new trial.
Wearing a black suit, Peterson had entered the courtroom around 9 a.m. PST. His hands were bound in metal chains.
The family of Laci Peterson, 28, who was eight months pregnant when she was killed two years ago, was addressing her murderer.
"You made a conscious decision to kill them ... you threw them away like garbage," Sharon Rocha said.
"I miss her so much, having lunch with her, hearing her giggle," Rocha told Peterson. "I will never meet my grandson."
Scott Peterson, 32, was convicted last November of killing Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner.
Brent Rocha said he suspected Scott Peterson of murder soon after his sister disappeared and bought a gun with the intention of killing him.
"You still go on as if nothing's happened," Rocha told his former brother-in-law. "You always had this arrogance about you."
Peterson's appearance of indifference and arrogance was cited by many of the jurors after they recommended the death penalty for him in December.
Unfortunately, with things being what they are in California, Peterson's more likely to die of old age on death row than he is to be executed. (Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978, over 30 death row inmates have died of natural causes on death row while only 10 have had their death sentence carried out.)
The wait is over. After starting out with a small 10 gallon tank, and realizing almost immediately that it wouldn't be big enough to do with it what I wanted, I purchased a larger 28 gallon tank. It wasn't quite as large as I wanted to go, but I was having doubts about how wise it would be to have a 50 gallon tank in an upstairs apartment. The next step was deciding on the decor. The Greek themed decor seemed to be the natural choice for me.
I vowed not to make the same mistakes with this tank that I did with my first (the fish were dropping like flies), and thus shed my "Evil Fish Emporer" moniker, so I gave it an entire week to balance out and neutralize any harmful chemicals in it. And then, last night, I could wait no longer. So I went out looking for a few good fish...
28 gal. bow-front tank
Bala Shark and Albino Tiger Barb
Albino Rainbow Shark
Tiger Barb
Red Fin Shark
Ooops...forgot about the regular Rainbow Shark
So far all of the fish seem to be adjusting to their new home nicely. Now all I have to do is name them...or not.
