Love Him, Hate Him President (Check out the cover of TIME)

TIME ^ | 11/23/03 | JOHN F. DICKERSON AND KAREN TUMULTY

[Brian Mosely]

There is an axiom in American politics that says whenever a sitting President is running for a second term, the election is more a referendum on him than a judgment on his opponent. President George W. Bush has taken this truism to a new level. With just under a year to go before Nov. 2, 2004, Americans are already finding ways to show how passionately they feel about their President.

In August, KB Toys rolled out its George W. Bush Elite Force Aviator doll, a 12-in. action figure in full naval flight gear. At $39.99, it has set the sales record for collectible action figures on KB's website. There's also brisk traffic on the Web for donations in memory of Sally Baron, 71, of northern Wisconsin, and Gertrude M. Jones, 81, of Mandeville, La. Obituaries for both women contained requests that money be sent to any organization working for the removal of Bush from office. And in Jefferson County, Colo., West Jefferson Middle School teacher Martha Swisher sparked a furor by wearing a he's not my president button on her coat during a sixth-grade field trip.

Republicans in Colorado's state legislature honored the family that lodged the complaint; the teacher now wears a lapel pin to class that features an American flag and a peace sign. But there is little evidence of peace out there in an increasingly restive electorate. If Ronald Reagan was the Great Communicator, Bush is proving to be the Great Polarizer. Reagan and then Bill Clinton ushered in the modern age of the acrimoniously divided electorate, but George Bush has cleaved the nation into two tenaciously opposed camps even more than his predecessors. He is the man about whom Americans feel little ambivalence. People tend to love him or hate him without any complicating shades of gray. Shout "George Bush"

In a crowded theater, and people dive into two trenches. A new TIME/CNN poll shows that Americans are almost equally divided in their support for President Bush, with 47% suggesting that they are likely to vote for him and 48% saying they are not. For Bush, some of the signals are ominous: the poll shows his job-approval rating stands at 52%, down from its peak of 89% in October 2001, and his disapproval has reached a new high for his presidency of 43%.

But those numbers do not reveal the intensity on both sides—the zeal of those who regard Bush as the very ideal of American presidential leadership and those who regard him as an embarrassing and dangerous usurper. Nor does it take full account of a more paradoxical group: those who like his personality but loathe his policies and want him out of the White House. Fully 81% of Republicans say they like the job that Bush is doing; only 31% of Democrats do. "The President is a strong leader. He's very determined. He doesn't seem to be swayed too quickly by polls," says Jerome Kohel, 59, an accountant from Richland, Mich. But another fellow of the same age in that same crucial electoral state, car hauler Jim Carothers, fumes, "I think he's doing a horrible job. You'll never convince me (Bush) didn't know he was lying about the pretext for war."

[ladyinred]

I am so angry about the cover. WHY didn't TIME do an ugly cover like that about CLINTON~!??!?!?!?!

I was about to post almost the exact thing until I saw your post. This makes me furious and Time will hear from me!!!!

[ladyinred]

BTW: I ordered two of the Kaybee Action dolls and they are just Superb, if anyone is looking for gifts. Much better quality than I expected.

[Ichneumon]

Was it Time or Newsweek that ran a cover of Newt as the grinch who stole Christmas?

Newsweek, on the cover of their end of year December 26, 1994/January 2, 1995 double issue.

It showed a cartoon (by Rob Rogers) of Newt as the Grinch, with the large caption, "How the Gingrich Stole Christmas".

[ladyinred]

Take the white out of pink and you've got red.

.Another homerun comment Laz!

[Plutarch]

I am so angry about the cover. WHY didn't TIME do an ugly cover like that about CLINTON~!??!?!?!?!

Time did have one negative cover about Clinton, on their April 20, 1992 issue, before Clinton was nominated.

[ladyinred]

Of COURSE I don't agree with everything this President does for goodness sake, but that does not stop me from being sick and freaking tired of the so called media and so called journalist's not even attempting to be fair and unbiased anymore.

This is pure propaganda and if that doesn't BOTHER you than you aren't paying attention. They are manipulating the populace who don't know any better! That should cause you to ponder the ramifications of these kinds of actions.

[McGavin999]

And Time Warner wonders why they're losing their butt.

Sell any stock you might have in the company, this stock is going right into the toilet.

[Terp]

It kind of reminds me of a Mad Magazine cover. The cover doesn't really upset me much. It's to expected. I think most Americans can see through the bias of Time.

[longtermmemmory]

does anyone have a copy of the GHWB picture of him waling in front of a helicopter and the warding with the red danger arrow is pointing to x41?

We are going to see many many many more of these subliminal pictures in the year to come. The goal is not the story, the goal is to show bush with a black eye. The story is irrelevant, the image the leftists giddy with excitement.

[Plutarch]

Bush Time covers in his first term:

Clinton Time Covers in his first term:

[Freedom4US]

When did that happen? Henry Luce was no communist! I always new Time and Newsweek went over to the dark side sometime in the 60's or 70's. Or maybe I'm not asking when, but HOW?

[Freedom4US]

Yup. Stopped subscribing to TIME years and years ago because of their so-called "liberal" editorial stance, and will never, ever, ever get a dime from me again. Thank God for the internet.

[jocon307]

"Because they're a bunch of commie pinkos over at Time and have been for decades.

And I'm serious."

Oh and you are CORRECT! Let me say it again, I used to go with my dad and brother to the barbershop when the boys would be getting their haircuts, just so I could read the mags. This would be 35 years ago, or more now. I was just always a compulsive reader. Time magazine s*cked then as it does to this day.

[RandallFlagg]

Why can't we dent their little empire with halting of all $$$ that comes anywhere near these guys?

[Freedom4US]

I remember reading a long time ago, an editor or whoever came right out and admitted they always cherry-picked the absolute worst picture they could find when it comes to conservative/republican politicians. They do this as a matter of course.

[piasa]

I am so angry about the cover. WHY didn't TIME do an ugly cover like that about CLINTON~!??!?!?!?!

Because ANY cover with Clinton's mug on it is ugly by definition...

[jocon307]

OH yes, good post. I'd forgotten all about THAT obscenity. It's so hard to keep up. Hey, you know what, I know OJ killed those people, but Time was still out of line on that little photo op. Maybe it even helped him beat the rap.

Clare Booth Luce must be rolling in her grave. Like me grandma.

[Mo1]

In August, KB Toys rolled out its George W. Bush Elite Force Aviator doll, a 12-in. action figure in full naval flight gear

Well they could have made one of Clinton getting a BJ

But I don't think that would sell to well in a kids toys story

Or maybe they could have made one of Clinton accepting China money

Between this hit piece and the one in the NYT .. I'm starting to think those poll numbers being reported about Bush's approval rating are actually a bit higher then they want to admit

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I still get solicitations from TIME. I always mail back their little envelopes, empty.

[Plutarch]

As we can see, the President is standing tall, protecting us against the menace of Saddam.

During the Clinton Administration (Nov. 24, 1997)