Matthew Yglesias » Cheney’s Popularity in Context

May 21st, 2009 at 10:55 am

Cheney’s Popularity in Context

The idea that Dick Cheney, who everyone hates, is going to go head-to-head with America’s popular new president in a “showdown” is a bit absurd. But just to help hype the matchup, CNN has a new poll out showing that Cheney is now more popular: “As Dick Cheney prepares to give a major speech on the battle against terrorism, a new national poll suggests that favorable opinions of the former vice president are on the rise.”

To help put this in context, though, compare the favorable rating CNN registered for Cheney to the favorable ratings CNN registered in April for select foreign countries:

With his new bump, Cheney is only slightly less well-liked than Cuba. China and Russia are kicking his ass.

Comments
25

25 Responses to “Cheney’s Popularity in Context”

Joshua Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
That damn liberal media, always fetishizing GOP Big Daddies the rest of America hate!
Alex Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:17 am
Comparing Cheney to countries is “in context” exactly how?
Winston Smith Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:17 am
It’s hard not to laugh at this initially…but does anyone really think we should dismiss the threat posed by a truly clever and dedicated fear-monger?

Such ploys don’t always work…but they work a frighteningly high percentage of the time.

I quit laughing after about half a second…
shooter242 Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Not surprising. Totalitarian dictatorships get better press than Cheney. This is just a reflection of Cheney Derangement Syndrome (CDS).
Will Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:26 am
Is there any particular reason the chart of favorability ratings is titled “Approval Rating …” and alt-texted “cheneyapproval”?
theo Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:28 am
Cuba’s approval rating is a lot higher than I expected. Maybe people just hated Fidel.
Jeffrey Davis Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:30 am
I think they should poll Cheney against diseases and see how he comes out.

-This just in: Dick Cheney is more popular than The Clap but less popular than a really bad chancre sore. Back to you, Ted.
kafka Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:32 am
Looks like Cheney’s in the high 30s. About where Pelosi is. Luckily for us, Cheney’s history, but Pelosi….
Not as Stupid as Will Allen Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:46 am
Really? You think that Pelosi damages the nation in the way that torturing people to generate a pretext to bomb innocents does? What kind of alternate reality do you live in Gregor?
Mac Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:52 am
How does he rate against swine flu?
Stendhal Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 11:54 am
Concurrently with the context of other countries’ approval ratings, most ex-presidents get a boost after they leave office. Bush has gone up 6, and Dick Cheney has gone up 8. That’s about in line with previous ex-Presidents; it’s not as if Cheney’s approval has gone up because of his return to the public sphere.
KCinDC Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Cheney’s history, Kafka? Then why is he getting wall-to-wall cable coverage?
Rob Mac Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I thought this post from Josh Marshall on TMP put Cheney in context better than anything:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/05/dont_forget_the_mockery.php?ref=fpblg
Den Valdron Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Wow, that had to be the worst troll ever. I’m getting the feeling that Shooter’s heart just isn’t in it any more.

But then again, who could defend Dick Cheney? I’m sure that if Shooter could defend something like syphilis, he’d be much more confident.
roger Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
The rise makes sense. The republican party is more and more the party of the base. In the end, I think this will give Obama a bound for his bi-partisan strategy. It is not a bound he probably wants – the nation will be divided about 60-64 to 36-40. But I have the feeling that, with the retarded GOP economic policy yielding heavy unemployment in Dixie, the GOP may be seeing its lock on the 35 percent – and that group’s lock on the GOP – bring about defeat after defeat even in the Sunbelt. And I think Dixie voters will be more comfortable voting Dem with Obama ostentatiously seeking ‘bipartisanship” even as he advocates for semi-socialist policy – to boil a frog in a pan of water, you have to turn the heat up very slowly. The core Dixie belief is not against socialism per se, but anything in which it is perceived that black benefit. But racism, a luxury in good times, may well take a hit in bad times. Do you want a job or do you want to look back, nostalgically, on the lynching era? We know Limbaugh’s followers are for the latter, but I can easily see the former looming much bigger as bills come due.
Not as stupid as not as stupid as Will allen Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
You think that Pelosi damages the nation in the way that torturing people to generate a pretext to bomb innocents does? What kind of alternate reality do you live in Gregor?

Ask the servicmen and women and our anti-terrorist agents and see what they think.
TS Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I don’t even know what this poll is supposed to measure. How do you judge countries? I can judge governments, people, but countries? Makes about as much sense to me as asking people about trees (oaks vs. palm trees) or tools (hammer more popular than screw driver).

Of course, I enjoy anything that makes Cheney look bad, so thanks for bringing this.
Barbara Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I really have to wonder who’s less-popular than Cheney, according to that standard. Whatever that standard might be …
Not Quite the Great Debate « Just Above Sunset Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 am
[...] as for how people see Cheney on that matter, see this bar chart – Americans feel more favorably about France, in general, than Dick Cheney, in particular, by [...]
kim Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 am
Obama’s chaotic speech was very much like static jamming the clear coherent signal from Cheney. I wonder why he thinks a jumbled message is persuasive.
============================================
kim Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
Jumbled? OK, you explain the tortured rationale for continuing Bush Administration Policy on terror? Talk about waterboarding honest communication!
=======================================
Matthew Yglesias » Cheney is Unpopular, Not “Polarizing” Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
[...] When I think of a “polarizing” figure, I think of someone about whom the public has strong, but closely divided feelings. Like if you were at 45 percent “strongly favorable” and 45 percent “strongly unfavorable” with only a few people in the middle. Cheney is just unpopular: [...]
Ukachukwu S. Onyeabor Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
One should appreciate the input of the former Vice President. I honestly think closing Guantanamor is right on the mark as it points “a torture” finger on the U.S. that has always stood for democracy and freedom for all. Let us not feed on “scape goats”. Former Vice President, Cheney has made his points.
Ruth Uppena Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I am sick to death of war taxes and paying for prisoners in Guantanamo.We need that money so many other places!
eyeswideopen Says:
May 24th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Cnn failed to highlight that the poll only was 1100 people. Probably from a Republican state. I am so glad to see that the younger generation has so much savy and cannot be conned like the older one was…

Matt Yglesias

Cheney’s Popularity in Context

25 Responses to “Cheney’s Popularity in Context”

Blogroll