Response to George Will

When it comes to who's happy, conservatives win by a smile, by George Will
Chicago Sun-Times
Feb 23, 2006

Dear George,
I'll happily stay unhappy: I prefer to think about things. Troubling facts trouble me. I let them hit me head on. I don't spin them, or "get happy" about them.

I've read your columns, George. You tend to assume that most people think about issues. For example, when your candidate wins, you speak about issues. When a Democrat runs, you criticize him/her on issues. Most people don't think on this level. I realize this. It doesn't make me happy. George, you don't seem to realize this. As far as most Americans are concerned, the 2004 election was about cowboy boots versus flipflops.

In a column from October 10, 2004, you said, "After FDR's 1936 re-election, half of all Democrats polled said they wanted FDR's second term to be more conservative. Only 19 percent wanted it more liberal." Um, more conservative, how? In what way? What was the poll question? You see, I'm unhappy because I want you to tell me. That's what we libtards are busy frowning about.

Never mind that FDR won a few more terms.

So back to this recent column of yours. Are Conservative Republicans really happier? The pew poll asks a single question: "Generally, how would you say things are these days in your life- -would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?" And it records the responses. So accurately, it seems to me that one can only say that there seems to be a correlation between political ideologies and willingness to talk certain ways about ourselves. You call it "winning by a smile." I call it the propensity to be phony.

But what about facts? And what about current events? If I must produce an example, how about the opinions of Kerry voters versus the opinions of Bush voters? Pipa.org reported the following in October 2004.

PIPA-Knowledge Networks Poll: Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters

Percentage of supporters who misinterpreted the Duelfer report thinking it stated there were WMD or WMD programs:

Bush: 57%

Kerry: 23%

The 9/11 Commission found there was no link between Iraq and Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. Percentage of supporters who saw a link or direct involvement:

Bush: 75%

Kerry: 30%

Percentage of supporters who though the 9/11 commission concluded there was a link or direct involvement:

Bush: 56%

Kerry: 27%

Percentage of supporters who would have not gone to war without evidence of WMD:

Bush: 58%

Kerry: 92%

Percentage of supporters who believe the world has a favorable opinion of the Iraq war:

Bush: 26%

Kerry: 5%

Percentage of supporters who think the world has a negative opinion on it:

Bush: 31%

Kerry: 74%

Percentage of supporters who think the world supports Bush:

Bush: 57%

Kerry: 1%

On average when consulted about the topics of international treaties, defense spending, and Iraq, Kerry people knew more about their candidate’s position. The Pipa report itself has an issue by issue breakdown of how much supporters knew on each issue.

But for our purposes here is the average percent of supporters on individual issues who knew their candidate’s positions:

Bush: 38.5%

Kerry: 70.9%

Had enough, George? Don't go yet! There's even more.

I doubt you'll reconsider your positions, George. I can see that you're fairly entrenched in your ideology. But that's fine. You're entitled to be exactly where you want to be. I'm happy for you. George, I hear it's bliss.