A Small Step in the Right Direction at SPIEGEL ONLINE?

(By Ray Drake)

Could it be that SPIEGEL ONLINE finally wants to bring some balance to its reporting on George W. Bush? Does the magazine actually want to present the US President to readers as something more than an ignorant, trigger-happy, war-mongering, human-rights-abusing, unilateralist, cowboy-hegemon constantly under "massive pressure"?

A recent article entitled "Readings: Bush and the Great Czar," seems to provide a tiny shimmer of hope that perhaps the magazine is looking to begin the process of balancing out years of biased journalism. The article discusses the President's selection of three books to read while on vacation. They include "Alexander II - The Last Great Tsar," by Russian historian Edward Radzinski, "Salt - A World History" by Mark Kurlansky and "The Great Influenza - The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History" by John Barry.

When first reading "Bush and the Great Czar," one might honestly think that SPIEGEL ONLINE is trying to give readers a true glimpse of the President while hinting that he is not a profoundly ignorant cowboy after all. But as the article unfolds, the usual tell-tale signs of bias quickly overtake all hopes of fairness. Here's an excerpt:

"The next book on the list, "Salt - A World History" by Mark Kurlansky handles the story of a substance that was once so important as oil is today. Finally "The Great Influenza - The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History," by John Barry. The worldwide Influenza epidemic of 1918 is described, to which more than 20 million people fell victim. Possible that Bush hopes to gain ideas as to how to handle such a pandemic, perhaps caused by terrorists with biological and chemical weapons."

That's right. It all comes down to power, oil and terror. And loyal SPIEGEL ONLINE readers hardly need the magazine to spoon-feed them the real reasons why Bush has selected the books. But the publication does it anyway. And if there is any doubt that SPIEGEL ONLINE is still not the same old magazine that it has always been, one need only look at the mandatory condescending photo caption with the usual less than flattering photo:

"US President Bush does read sometimes - and not just stories about hungry caterpillars (like here in a visit to an elementary school)"

It's clear what this reminds SPON readers of. We'll give you a hint: It's a movie by a man with the initials MM.

Comments

[Foobarista]

As for the "Great Influenza", one wonders whether the newshounds have heard of bird flu? I, for one, am happy that Bush is studying up on influenza pandemics, since numerous WHO types and others in the field feel we're on the verge of one...

[Vic]

While it is amusing to read what SPON thinks, the only thing that really counts is what the American people think. Here are today's numbers from the American Research Group:

"George W. Bush's overall job approval ratings have dropped from a month ago even as Americans who approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president are turning more optimistic about their personal financial situations according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 36% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 58% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 33% approve and 62% disapprove."

By the way, only Richard Nixon had lower numbers.
Link: http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/

[Dan Kauffman]

LOL one set of figures from ONE source? Did you decide to quit while you were ahead?

Myself I like to check Rasmussen, since during the last Election it was obvious they wanted Kerry to win,but were ethical enough to report Good News for Bush albeit, grudgingly.

NOW

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Bush_Job_Approval.htm

It does show for Aug 22
Approve Disapprove
48 51

But I myself find TRENDS to be more meaningful than one day snapshots, it is too easy to cheery pick data with that method.

So what trends DO we see on this website?

The ratings are almost identical to what they were at the start of the month. There was a downward trend during most the month which reversed about 4 days ago and now we are back where we started before the downward slide.
Approve Disaprove
Aug 1 48 50
Aug 18 43 56
Aug 22 48 51

Of course neither site gives the margin of error of the sample.

Good try though Vic

[Dan Kauffman]

There is a nice graph of the last 4 years here.

http://www.pollingreport.com/

Looks like the battle lines stablized about a year and a half ago with minor fluctuations back and forth since then.

But while we are at this website, which is by the way a MEGA Poll site with multiple polls on it check out the 2008 Election results predictions.

http://www.pollingreport.com/2008.htm

Bush is not running again but the Likely Republican Candidates seem to do much better than the Democrats ;-)

[Foobarista]

At least 20 points in that disapproval is because of $2.70/gal gas. I'm amazed that so many people regard gas pump prices as the sole definition of economic health, but they do. Give Clinton $2.50+ gas prices in 2000, and he's hated too.

[Mr. G]

Is it that the Germans are just afraid of Americans in general? GWB may fit the European steriotype of an American - pushy, opinionated, optimistic - that does not go well with so many people. It seems that he may just be the lightning rod. Mr. G

[Scout]

@Vic: Haven't given up, have you? You pitch up every once in a while to drop the results of some biased, meaningless poll into the discussion to support your twisted view of the world... and with almost the same lead-in comments.
Get a life, and come up with some original thought.

[Sock Puppet of Doom]

Polling while Congress is out and Bush is on vaction just seems contrived to me. Looks like the media trying to make news

It's a good choice of reading. Remember Bush has to read tons of papers each day even when he is on vaction.

[Doughnut Boy Andy]

Back from 4 weeks of holiday and sadly not at all surprised to see that the Spiegel is still stuck on this record.... good to see Medienkritik is still up and running and i like the registering thing.

A President doesnt have to know everything, just to appoint good advisors, listen to debates and make decisions based upon this.... so it doesnt really matter what Bush is reading on holiday this is boring no news. What is amazing is that even in the "middle of election fever" articles about Bush`s holidays are still in the news here in Germany!!!

BTW is the Uncle Gerhard Nobel prize rumour real or just some sick joke?

http://www.gmx.net/de/themen/nachrichten/deutschland/aussenpolitik/1286086,cc=000000160300012860861velY2.html

[Nervensaege]

Scout, YOU call other's opinion twisted?

ahhhh--------ha--------ha-------ha-------h

[amiexpat]

@Nervensaege...
well people are always misunderestimating the Shrub..
at their peril..
and the only 'poll' I really care about occurred last november..
scout, I appreciate your stuff..
what a brilliant debater you are nervensaege.. gifted..

[joe]

Yes I am sure the poll numbers are impressive to someone like Vic.

For the rest of you I might suggest you look at the agenda that GWB is pushing through Congress. True some of these votes are very close but they are becoming laws and they carry the same weight if they are passed by 1 vote or 50 or 75.

Congress also looks at these same polls. Surely if they were to believe them or want to believe them as much as those of Vic's stripe then these bills would not be being passed.