President's Job Approval Rating Improves... MSM appears not to notice.

There was quite a bit of coverage of the President's approval rating from the Pew Research report released in early October. The usual doom and gloom.
But in their latest survey, things improved slightly.

Let's look at their data: To the question Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

Late October 12-24, 2005 40% Approve 52% Disapprove 8% don't know
Early October, 2005 38% Approve 56% Disapprove 6% don't know - this made huge headlines.
September 8-11, 2005 40% Approve 52% Disapprove 8% don't know
September 6-7, 2005 40% Approve 52% Disapprove 8% don't know
July, 2005 44% Approve 48% Disapprove 8% don't know

So early October was bad, but the latest report shows that his ratings are pretty much unchanged or back to where there were in September. Where's the news? Of note, his approval ratings were 44% in July, same as just before the election in 2004.

Positive spin ... the President's approval rating is not changed much. Negative spin... his disapproval rating is higher than last year.

Which message are you hearing from the MSM?

By the way, is it just me, or does there seem to be an assumption in the media that if the President's approval rating or his "handling of Iraq" is down, then that means it's down because respondents think we should never have gone in or that we should get out now? I for one challenge that assumption. I might "disapprove" of the "handling of Iraq" because I'd prefer more troops and more action against Syria or Iran (we'll have to fight them sooner or later any way)... not saying that's what I AM saying... but I might.

UPDATE: Mudville linked to a Washinton Times story that shows Pew research showing a divide between the public and the "opinion leaders." mmhmm



Milbloggers: The permalink to todays open post didn't seem to be working but heres a link Back to Mudville

STAY THE COURSE. DON'T SURRENDER

Just a quick note to our political leaders regarding the war in Iraq... We MUST stay the course.

Withdrawing our forces would not only violate our promise to bring democracy to the Middle East, it would be seen by the world as the defeat of America. We would immediately lose our standing as "sole superpower" and cease to be of consequence on the world stage. We might as well retreat behind concrete walls at the border, because our enemies will follow us. Leaving the UN as the sole international authority would be recipe for disaster. The Islamists would slaughter us on a scale that would make Cambodia, Rwanda, and Srebrenica pale by comparison.

If you have any doubt, read the words of our mortal enemy, Osama Bin Laden from 1996 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html

"...But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order
...when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you. Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge , but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut , Aden and Mogadishu."

That defeat gave our enemies the courage, strength and support to expand their aggressive war against us. The result of which was 9/11, 3/11, 7/7, and the thousands of smaller attacks by Islamists around the world.

If we accept defeat in Iraq. We have been defeated. Period.

Stay the course... NO END BUT VICTORY!