Kausfiles: A mostly political weblog.

Maybe It Was A Game Changer After All

Rasmussen's robo-poll, which discerned a big bounce in Obama's favor on health care after his speech last week--a bounce that soon dissipated--now reports opposition to health care reform has risen to a new high of 55%, with only 42% in favor. Yikes. ... P.S.: It's possible that Sunday's numbers were just mysteriously awful for Obama, dragging down the two-day average. But there was no equivalent drop that day in Obama's overall approval rating. ... Sorry, Nate.** ... .P.P.S.: Here's a more comprehensive Pollster chart of various health care surveys. Not quite as bleak, but the red line of opposition trending ineluctably upward is not what you would want to see if you were in the White House. ... 9/18 Update: Pollster says the red line's alarming trajectory is the product of a "mysterious bug," and publishes more elaborate charts here. They're less grim but aren't auspicious--and since then, Rasmussen opposition has reached a new high of 56%.

**--Nate Silver in a  9/14 post:

The real question, of course, is not whether there's been a bounce, but how long-lasting its effects might be. Bounces usually dissipate. ...[snip] ... I'm not yet prepared to render a prediction on this subject, although for a variety of reasons -- basically, the GOP having used up a lot of its firepower coupled with Obama having underachieved his overall approval ratings on health care reform -- I think the bounce (if there is one) is more likely to have "oomph" than it usually does.

Lucky that wasn't a prediction! ... 1:10 A.M.

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The MSM Plot Against Obama Continues: I've run into a surprising number of people who don't know that Obama called Kanye West a "jackass." Apparently the press' reluctance to publicize an off-the-record remark has worked to inhibit dissemination of what otherwise would be a juicy little bit of news. (Try to find a mention in the print Washington Post, for example.) But everybody's heard about Jimmy Carter saying that an "overwhelming portion" of animosity to Obama stems from "racism." ... Hmm. The suppressed Kanye remark helps Obama. The heavily publicized Carter remark hurts Obama. Coincidence? Or yet more evidence, if any was needed, of the secret Mainstream Media plot to sabotage the President at this crucial time?  ... 1:47 A.M.

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@kausfiles: Sex, Racism, and Jimmy Carter

Roger Simon says John Edwards could rehabilitate himself by becomng the "poster boy for tort reform," He forgot about the sex tape. ...  6:47 P.M.

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Jimmy Carter cites racism as anti-Obama factor. Instant reaction: Kiss of Death. Gift to the GOPs. Remember the Carter era of smug moralizing? Anyone want to go back to that? ... P.S.: A good example of how, if the MSM wants to tilt against the Republicans, it's often too wedded to its own conventions--e.g., the desire to 'make news' with an ex-Pres.--to be effective. ... No sophisticated campaign propagandist would say, "OK, let's throw Jimmy Carter at them. They'll be reeling!" ....6:42 P.M.

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Obama Overexposure Tour continues. ...  Next: Bloggingheads? Mediaite Office Hours?     6:40 P.M.

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Jeffrey Lord gives a good description of the MSM Gatekeeper's Greatst Hits. Then he goes on and on. Makes Rabbi Saperstein look like Marcel Marceau. ...P.S.: Lord lays it on as if only conservative bloggers, etc, have been rebelling against Big Media. As if he wants a piece of the Mark Levin business. Depressing. ... [via Lucianne] 6:40 P.M.

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Why did the GOP lead in "generic" ballot evaporate on Rassmussen, even as Obama health bounce also vanished? Is the Joe Wilson heckle hurting? ... Could this be an example of a successful kamikaze-style attack? Wilson's "You lie" badly damaged its target (Obama has apparently now caved on the central issue of verifying legal status) but it also damaged Wilson. ... Except that it's not clear it damaged Wilson himself, reelection wise. It's his party that's maybe been hurt. "Kamikaze" isn't the right analogy. ... What's the word for a kamikaze attack in which the pilot survives but the carrier he took off from gets sunk? ... 6:23 P.M.

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Twitter is not @marcambinder's friend! It broadcasts his initial take--which is often 180 degrees wrong. Example #1: Twittering as if Obama would be mad at the networks that his off the record "jackass" comment leaked. #2: Twittering as if town hall rebelliousness would help the Dems. ...   6:09 P.M.

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That False Consciousness Keeps On Coming: Workers at Boeing factory vote to un-unionize. By secret ballot. ... Because when it comes to decertifying unions, union lobbyists insist on the sanctity of the secret ballot. ... 6:08 P.M.

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Jack Palance Plays Elmer Gantry: Andrew Breitbart + Good Haircut = Slightly Scary Rabble-Rousing Potential. ... 6:05 P.M.

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Sister Kanye

Obama strategist David Axlerod must be so upset that a reporter wrongly twittered Obama's comment that Kanye West was a "jackass." ... Good for, what, a 5 point increase in Obama's approval rating? ... 6:34 P.M.

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They're Just Baiting Glenn Beck with This One

National Public Radio fights back against the old accusation that if you scratch its surface you'll find a bunch of government-subsidized leftists. From the Sept. 11 "All Things Considered":

MELISSA BLOCK, host: This week, a Web site called FiLife.com launched a Twitter contest to reduce policy on how to fix health care to a mere three words. Some entries so far...

ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Promote Healthy Living and Eat an Apple are two examples.

[snip]

SIEGEL: Our staff made up some three-word policy proclamations: Doctors Make Less and Cuban Health Care. ...

[E.A.] 6:23 P.M.

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Joe Wilson: Controlled implosion? ... P.S.: And where was Kanye West that evening, I ask you? ...  6:24 P.M.

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