CNN's latest poll: Devastating with a touch of optimism

Here's some news, from CNN's SSRS polling, that should have you retching for both distance and accuracy, to steal from Martin Crane.

"After five days of public hearings in House Democrats' impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, public opinion over whether the President ought to be impeached and removed from office remains exactly the same as it was in October.

"Half of Americans say Trump should be impeached and removed from office, 43% say he should not."

This seems especially troubling: "Independents are closely divided on the question, 47% in favor, 45% opposed." If by "Independents" one means the somewhat persuadable, then a split in opinion disadvantages House Democrats in swing districts.

Even more troubling for House Dems is this: "The public is about evenly divided over whether there is enough evidence now for the House to vote to impeach … (48% say yes, 47% say no)." That's just to impeach, mind you, not to remove the head of the Trump crime family.

And get this: Among all Americans, "17% say [Republicans] are doing too little and 41% say they're doing the right amount to defend Trump." That's an electorate in which 58% also believe mob lawyers should either kick up their game or they're "doing the right thing" by encouraging their clients to whack any disagreeable witnesses.

The good news is that women may save us yet, next November. "There is now a 20-point difference between men and women on Trump's overall approval rating (52% of men approve vs. 32% of women)…. And the poll marks the first time that more than 60% of women have said they backed impeaching Trump and removing him from office."

Why? Because women have spent the centuries (surreptitiously) developing their brains while men have been content with their nonevolutionary brawn. We men are the apish iguanas of the human species; we figure that as long as our gorilla chests and lizard dicks are big enough, we'll get by just fine. Which leads most of us to support morons and mob bosses like Donald J. Trump.

***

I apologize if I sound a bit cranky. My dehydration has advanced to the point of an emergency-room visit for a petrol fill-up. And I detest emergency rooms.

Comments

[Anne J]

Please just take care of yourself. You are highly valued.

I read an article by Chris Cilizza yesterday where he said that the 50% support for impeachment is actually much worse for Trump than it appears because when Bill Clinton was being impeached support for his impeachment only peaked at 29%. Could it be that maybe even when people don't like a president they would rather wait until the next election to remove them from office? Or am I being overly naive?

On an unrelated note: Haven't heard from Peter G. in awhile. I hope he's ok.

[Peter G]

The res of your piece is interesting as always but I must strongly disagree with you about one thing. Emergency rooms are fascinating places. Recent experiences have only reinforced that opinion. I love to observe humanity. Among the great places to observe humanity en masse are airports and bars late in the evening, food courts of malls when such had crowds to observe. But nothing quite matches an emergency room as an opportunity to see humanity and be human.
You will see things that can break your heart to witness like children or infants in pain they cannot understand. And you can see, depending on the time of day, nominees for the Darwin awards. There are almost always present the unfortunates looking for a prescriptions for opioids doomed as these hopes might be. There are obstreperous drunks sometimes accompanied by police. Older couples quietly supporting each other. It is often hard to tell which has the health complaint. And of course there are almost always patients with mental health issues. They are often my favorites and I am always prepared to have them sit by me and let 'er rip. You are certainly going to witness humans at less than their best but you will also see humans at their best, kind and patient.

To answer Anne's question, I am fine. I have some sort of tumor in my head that is degrading my vision. It will be dealt with in due course with a gamma knife and they aren't even going to charge me for shaving my head or inscribing targeting tatoos on my noggin. How cool is that? But although I have very limited reading time daily and that with the aid of magnification, I never fail to read this blog and the accompanying comments. Keep on keeping on. I shall comment as I can.

[Dale White]

Maybe the problem is that people don't see Mike Pence as a significant enough improvement over the Cheeto.

[Freesia]

How lovely to see you pop up with one of your great comments.

Good wishes to you.

[Anne J]

I'm glad to know you are doing fine. I wish you nothing but the best in your medical procedure. Good to hear from you again.

[Peter G]

Thank you. I find that your comments very much in line with what I also think. So I think for the most part I will let you say what I would have said for now.

[Jason]

Ah, a fellow people watcher. Loved your comment, thank you.

[shsavage]

Wishing you the best possible outcome Peter.

[Jason]

Gah, that was in reply to Peter G

[ren]

The important thing is whether you will (still?) get clear transmissions from the Saucer People after the procedure. I do. Good luck!

[pm]

Damn Peter I'm so sorry to hear that. But there is hope with surgery, yes? That's good news. By the way, my emergency room isn't nearly so interesting. I Iive in a small and I'm usually the only one there.

[Max]

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Peter. Here is betting you will come roaring back and willing to share some of those inevitable, newfound insights.

[Tony]

I've now learned a bit about the "gamma knife" procedure, and it sounds like a very powerful one. One day in, and out the same day I understand.

I also know a little about how benign tumors can cause hearing loss, and am thinking you have something analogous interfering with a visual nerve.

Nevertheless, I am sorry to hear that you must undergo a complex medical procedure. No stranger to such procedures myself, I rate them no higher than a pain in the ass, even with the pleasurable interactions with doctors and other patients. I am wishing you the best and a complete recovery.

[L. Reeves]

Peter, I cannot stay silent if there is even the remote possibility that one more good wish can help to cheer you. Kudos to you and your remarkably good humor, your witty remarks, your insights and knowledge. I never tire of reading what you have to say, and it often makes me feel better about life, the world, and people. I believe you may be an incurable optimist and in my humble opinion, that is the luckiest thing in the world. From one optimist to another, I wish you a speedy and good recovery.

[Mary]

Peter, what's with you, and him? You have us all in a tizzy. (If you don't understand that, you're not a Northern Englander) We all love you both. You are so much a part of this blog. I hope, I'm sure, that the gamma knife will go well for you and that we'll see you back here, full steam, shortly. So that we can start arguing again.

PS. You must be the only person whose absence is instantly noticed. That's because we miss you. Loads.

[David & Son of Duff]

Peter, emergency rooms are not the place to continue old disputes so I suspend hostilities for the moment and wish you a full and speedy recovery.

[Marc McKenzie]

You're right about what Cillizza said, Anne--the numbers supporting Trump's impeachment is actually _higher_ than it was for Nixon (and yes, Clinton's was much, much lower). Plus that number is higher than Trump's approval ratings which remain at 40 so (they've never gone above 44 with the general public).

Considering that the Impeachment process has only begun, yes, that is pretty bad for Trump. And his re-election prospects look even more grim, despite the MSM's horshoe-race nonsense.