Olmert and the polls
Prime minister’s approval rating rising, but what will happen after his surgery?
A public opinion poll published about five minutes after the press conference where Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer showed a steep rise in public support for the PM.
It would be good if the surgery would not have to be performed under full anesthesia, so that the prime minister would be able to see, in real time, the immense support he is enjoying because of that prostate.
The healthier he gets, the less popular he’ll be
However, every surgery has the day after. The day after the successful surgery, God willing, Olmert’s approval rating will start declining rapidly. Two weeks after the removal of the tumor and the prime minister’s full return to his office, public support for the PM will dip back to the good old three percent it used to be.
The ungrateful and thankless people will forget about the whole deal and go back to being petty and grumbling. The healthier Ehud Olmert gets (and we all wish him good health,) the more his public approval rating will dwindle and fade. But as long as he’s healthy, that’s what matters.
And on the same matter: The prime minister already announced that he will be “fit to perform my duties fully before the surgery, and several hours after it.” This reminded me of an ancient childhood joke.
Moishe broke his arm and asked the doctor: “Doctor, after they remove the cast from my arm, will I be able to write?” The doctor replied: “Sure.” Moishe continued: “And will I be able to play the piano?” Again, the doctor replied positively: “Without any problem.”
“Great,” said Moishe. ”I never knew how to write or play the piano before the injury.”
