Compare, contrast the wonders of polling questions which should give consistent answers:
Has your opinion of Gordon Brown gone up or down in recent weeks, or has it stayed much the same?
My opinion of him has gone up 21%
My opinion of him has gone down 27%
My opinion of him has stayed much the same 48%
Change: -6%
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with Gordon Brown as Prime Minister?
Gordon Brown, polling 17-19th September: net -58%
Gordon Brown, polling 27-29th October: net -38%
Change: +20%
So people’s views of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister have improved over the last few weeks, even though overall people say their view of him has gone down. Where would we be without political polls 
One Comment
I’m not sure this is inconsistent. Most of the 21% whose opinion of him has gone up have moved into the satisfied group, while the ones who say their opinion has gone down or stayed the same were already in the disatisfied group.