Originally Posted By FaMulan <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9672058/" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/96 72058/</a> "For the first time in the poll, Bush’s approval rating has sunk below 40 percent, while the percentage believing the country is heading in the right direction has dipped below 30 percent. In addition, a sizable plurality prefers a Democratic-controlled Congress, and just 29 percent think Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers is qualified to serve on the nation’s highest court. "Any way you slice this data, I think these are just terrible sets of numbers," said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. "
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KVD/is_1_3/ai_109025096/pg_4" target="_blank">http://www.findarticles.com/p/ articles/mi_m0KVD/is_1_3/ai_109025096/pg_4</a> Here are the low approval ratings for the last seven presidents: *Johnson: 35% *Nixon: 24% *Ford: 37% *Carter: 28% *Reagan: 35% *Bush I: 29% *Clinton: 37%
Originally Posted By Darkbeer No, but it does show it isn't as bad as some folks make it out to be...
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Did any of those presidents have a nearly 90% approval rating at one time?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Bush I had a pretty high rating following the first Iraq war before the economy hit the skids. It was in the high 80's for sure. Here's the deal. Bad things have happened while Bush has been in office...some of those things by his own doing...some not. But, there is no doubt that he is now warming the seat for the next guy (gal) as his second term winds down and the campaign for '08 gears up. (And I assure you that campaign will kick off earlier still than any before it.) And, if the Press were as crazy with cable channels, 24 hour coverage, etc back in Johnson/Nixon/Ford/Carter's day as it is now I suspect those low numbers Darkbeer quoted would be even lower.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka It's the gas prices. People are getting ticked about paying so much.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Why is his second term winding down? What happened to the political capital he was talking about less than a year ago? He's still got a three-year lease on his rental house.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I have read in many political history books that a second term President had better get anything big accomplished in his 5th year because the Senate races heat up in his sixth year and the following campaign for President drowns out everything in years 7 and 8.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^^maybe he spent the 'capital' I dunno.. with the Harriet Meirs thing really not getting a lot of support (me, I think it's bad to nominate *any current president's* personal attorney regardless of political party.. it's called conflict of interest.. nevermind any experience they may/may not have.. I'm sure it'll work itself out.. I hope. Anyway.. I think a lot of his good will has been spent what with the escalating numbers of the war on Iraq, Afganistan, the closing of bases (that could/could not be used to house military families like out here in California), Katrina and Rita, the oil platforms being offline, the escalating cost of heating this winter, the floods in New England, the earthquakes in Pakastan.. it's taxing everyone.. Unless he suddenly turned into a moderate or something, I don't see his numbers getting any better... I'll freely admit I have no clue how to fix the country.. but maybe it would be a good time to bring back the WPA or something and put some qualified people back to work fixing all the roads and flooding in the Northeast, not to mention the levees, hospitals, libraries (only 2 libraries in new orleans will not have to be demolished and yet still have a LOT of repair work not to mention all the books that will be needed to restock their ruined collections and computers..) schools.. etc. Oh well. Now I know why I stay out of WE section.. =P
Originally Posted By Spree <<<Unless he suddenly turned into a moderate or something, I don't see his numbers getting any better...>>> That's how his numbers have gotten worse.
Originally Posted By woody "It's the gas prices. People are getting ticked about paying so much." So blame Bush? Let's have more drilling!!!
Originally Posted By adizneeguy Drill, seal the borders, enforce laws on the books, stop spending my taxes on pork (though I am a fan of a good barbeque) There is plenty to be done to raise his approval number in my personal opinion.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka No woody, I'm just saying that a lot people *might* be blaming Bush for it. Most people are very self-absorbed and approved of Bush until they started feeling spending a lot more money on gas. Most people are going to blame whoever is in charge.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Spending money on pork is hardly a Republican-only issue. Ever heard of Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia? You should have. His name is on every freeway in the State.
Originally Posted By smeeeko wait wait! Shrub is a Moderate?? See, I knew there was a reason I stayed away from the WE topics.. darn those 'combined topics' sections.. =P If he's a Moderate, then I guess I'm leaning WAY more left of center than I ever realized. *sigh* All I know is that I didn't vote on him in the first place, and he really missed a HUGE opportunity with New Orleans. People are wondering how he's going to pay for things and make things better.. well he doesn't have to. He can just make promises to spend money to make things better, but while people are wondering how he's paying for the war, and the oil, and the rebuilding of the Gulf, nothing is really happening to make things better. ehhhh.. politics, religion & money. I'm done. =)
Originally Posted By itsme >>Unless he suddenly turned into a moderate or something, I don't see his numbers getting any better... ------- It would make me feel better if he did move away from the far left and move toward the middle or at least a little closer to being a conservitive like he claims he is.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Funny... some folks on the right don't like what Bush is doing anymore and they suddenly start calling him a liberal.
