Could the 27% of the remaining Bush supporters/approvers be called Cultists?

Question

They seem to be committed to the personality of Bush more than facts and reason.

They call Iraq a "war" when the war was over 3 years ago and it's an "occupation" now.

Why are they so beholden to his "Bushness"? No matter what. Sounds like a cult to me.

Answer 1

some people would rather die then be wrong. stupity should be a crime

Answer 2

The answers to your questions couldn't be more telling. There are dozens of polls, almost all conducted scientifically, but since the *facts* are in opposition to what the Bush'ites *believe* to be true, they deny the obvious.

Here is a summary of the major polls:

http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm

You notice how the Bush cultist found an obscure polling outfit that gives Bush a higher rating then Faux News even and tries to argue from that. And even that polling outfit says that Bush has been a miserable failure at keeping the trust of the American people.

I asked the "28%"ers if there was anything that Bush could possibly do that would make them stop supporting him and the vast majority of them couldn't even understand the question. All they could do is hurl invective for daring to even consider it.

Quite telling, I think.

Answer 3

Seriously, yes.

From a sociological perspective, they are technically a "cult" only because the organizational structure doesn't exactly fit the formal difinition. But the ehavior--and the psychology and rhetoric--are indeed strikingly cult-like:
>they follow a charismatic leader ("charismatic" not as personality goes, here it means they believe he is appointed by God)--actually several, but Bush is the "top" of these leaders
>a millinarian ideology--they believe their actions are fufilling some divine plan and leading them to a divinely ordained goal.
>Seperatism--a pattern of excluding "unbelievers." In typical cults (this is where the model doesn't exactly fit) this is accomplished often by withdrawing from everyday contact with the surrounding society. The substitute here is to attempt to exclude "the Other" in any way possible--witness the refusal of Bush to work with or listen to anyone re Iraq, acccountability for his actions, etc--and the "believers claim that, since he is President (and appointed by God="prophet") he is not answerable to (man's) laws.
>A systematic indoctrination program of children and converts. Again, this departs from the standard model slightly. In addition to their schools, there is an active campaign to force everyone to be taught--or at least grant legitimacy to--their religious beliefs--hence the so-called "Intelligent Design" nonsene, not "believing" in climate change (not a matter of belief--it either is or it isn't--and the data say it is; "belief" is irrelevant)--and ongoing efforts in communities alll oveer the country to ban books such as "Harry Potter" becaue their belief system disapproves. Etc.

BTW--I am a sociologist/historian--and this isn't just me--all this is in the literature.

Answer 4

where do you get the 27% number from. Did it come out of your Azz? I support our President and even though I did not like him I also supported Clinton. I disagree with policies of both but I think one is a real man while the other is a weasel but I supported both because they won the office via the democratic process (you know the vote). As far as the 27% approval rating that doesn't mean that 27% think he is bad, or evil, or wrong on all issues it means that they don't agree with everything he has done. The best way for a person to get 100% approval is to flip flop and not take a stand on anything. If you are a puppet in the hands of everyone then all will like you. Approval ratings don't show how good of a president one is but how popular they are. MLK was not popular but he was good.

Answer 5

No, the 75% of pollsters who do these polls need to be called cultists. Approval ratings, exit polls, dynamics polls; these are all just statistics that are the least bit accurate. The person doing the polling chooses a small segment of the population to ask them certain questions, then tries to make it seem like they represent the whole nation.
Iraq has always been a war zone. While he was a criminal (and I think his punishment was just), you have to admit that Saddam was able to keep the "peace" (through torture and genocide) in a very hostile region between three warring factions (shittes, sunnis, and kurds). Now that he's gone, we have chaos in that region. The situation is a lot worse, because Hussein's soliders/police were able to apply swift justice when needed without any red tape, while American troops have to fill out a pile of paperwork for every bullet that's fired; and are scrutinized for the "murder of innocent Iraqi civilians" and "torture."

Answer 6

I find there are many people in this forum who espouse support for Bush's policies, but I bet if you met them on the street and asked them, in person, they'd be less likely to support his failed and embarrassing policies.

Answer 7

I support Bush because I realize that he is not personally responsible for the "occupation" as you call it. He did not authorize the war. He is only insisting we stay in Iraq to take responsibility for the damage we did tot he country and it's infrastructure, and to pull out before the country can survive on it's own would be irresponsible.

Sounds like being a grown up to me.. taking responsibility for your actions. I have yet to meet a liberal or democrat who can do that!

Answer 8

It is the same ideology from the past doesn't matter what leader, followers are stay loyal and refuse to accept truth i.e. Jim Jones.

Answer 9

His approval rating is up to 43%.

Only neo-liberals call the Iraq war and "occupation".

Aside form the Iraq war Bush has been a better than average President. The best economy, job growth, wages increasing faster than inflation, record monies going into Pell grants, expansion of social services.

Bush has done a lot more than just Iraq. A lot of his initiatives have nothing to do with her perceived position as a conservative and he will be seen historiically as a right leaning, moderate president. The media is so bent on feeding their agenda that they ignore the good things he has done.

To sydb1967: Don't put words in my mouth, I never said I don't believe in polls. I just don't give credibility to polls by media outlets or where they don't explain the polling criteria or questions. Rasmussen and Zogby are the two best independent polling organizations, especially where politics is concerned. Most importantly they always explain their methodology.

Answer 10

Your off on your numbers pal . As of yesterday it was at 38% and growing . Actually I'm kinda sorry I even answered such jibberish . Cult??? Whew !!

Answer 11

you also have a bunch of cultish people supporting a woman named Hillary. She voted for the war before she regretted the decision.