Bush's disapproval rating worst of any president in 70 years

[Newsjock]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — President Bush has set a record he'd presumably prefer to avoid: the highest disapproval rating of any president in the 70-year history of the Gallup Poll.

In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday, 28% of Americans approve of the job Bush is doing; 69% disapprove. The approval rating matches the low point of his presidency, and the disapproval sets a new high for any president since Franklin Roosevelt.

The previous record of 67% was reached by Harry Truman in January 1952, when the United States was enmeshed in the Korean War.

... Views of Bush divide sharply along party lines. Among Republicans, 66% approve and 32% disapprove. Disapproval is nearly universal — 91% — among Democrats. Of independents, 23% approve, 72% disapprove of the job he's doing.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080422/a_pollbox22.art.htm

[zanne]

1. Nobody can tell me a Republican will be elected in November.

People are obviously sick and tired of the old man's party.

[MilesColtrane]

10. The national polls tell a different story.

No matter who the Democratic candidate shakes out to be, it's going to be a hell of a fight against McCain who will have more money than god to shape his image and define (slime) his opponent.

Then there's always the Diebold factor.

[pattmarty]

18. Look, he ain't gonna have the money the Dem candidate......

....is going to have this election year. The Dems for the 1st time in a long time are blowing the Republicans out in contributions. Next, the Dem candidate has yet to mount a campaign against McCain yet. And lastly, keep mentioning Iraq and the economy and then tell me how much of a fight it'll be.

[MilesColtrane]

34. Yes, contributions to Dem presidential candidates have been record setting.

Most of the over $537 million dollars has been burned in the extended primary.

Obama and Clinton have about $72 million between them, but there's still 7 state primaries to go, and no indication that either will drop out any time soon.

The question will be for whoever emerges from Denver, have Democratic campaign contributors already dug as deep as they can during a recession?

McCain only has about $11 million on hand now, but he's been doing nothing but collecting envelopes over the past month. It will be interesting to see the figures on April when they come out.

[zanne]

19. Right now, they're polling either Clinton or Obama v. McCain.

Right now, the question is something like "Who would you vote for in November--Clinton, Obama or McCain?" Of course, with the Dem. nominee undecided, it splits the vote and the result of the poll. Once we have a nominee, it will be "Who will you vote for in November; Dem Nominee v. McCain?"

[MilesColtrane]

25. I'm looking at straight up, head to head polls.

Both Dem candidates are within the statistical margin of error of a tie with McCain for now.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/national.html

[zanne]

35. But that's exactly what I was saying...

Right now, it's either Clinton v. McCain or Obama v. McCain. Right now, Dems are either supporting Clinton or Obama. Repubs are supporting McCain. The Dem vote is split right now, while the Repub vote isn't. These polls don't tell the story we'll have after our nominee is elected and it's Dem v. Repub.

[MilesColtrane]

36. So Democratic supporters are so rabid in their allegiance to one candidate over...

...another they are answering for McCain when asked about a scenario in which their guy is not in the race?

[whopis01]

49. When answering a poll? Yes, of course they are.

Polls are not votes and as such people approach them differently.

You can't tell me that there are not a number of people who use the "my candidate does better against McCain than yours" approach. To them, having the opposition look weak in the polls against McCain is (as of right now) a benefit. Of course the vast majority are going to go with the Democratic nominee come November, but they might tell the pollsters something different right now.

I'm not saying it is everyone or even a majority. However, there is going to be some split that will be resolved once a candidate is chosen.

[MilesColtrane]

61. I bet the number of people who think of responding that way is very small.

And, that their strategic machinations in supplying false answers amounts to statistical insignificance in the poll results.

The real world is not like GD/P. (Thank god.)

[zanne]

74. No. That isn't what I meant, either.

Let's just say that I think that after the Primaries, we'll see poll numbers that favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party in November.

[LiberalFighter]

79. And if I was asked that question my response would be Gore

[roguevalley]

30. I disagree. he has had a free ride. no one knows all the shit he's

compromised and all the shit he's done. he has no money. this will be the easiest election ever. most of the repug pundits when pressed will agree.

[rasputin1952]

39. You are reading too much into it...McCain has had a free ride

while people are watching the D storm.

Once McCain starts actually having to face the nominee, (or presumptive nominee), it's all over. McCain has nothing. The few times I've seen him, he's all about accelerating what bush has done, he has no new ideas, he has absolutely nothing for anyone to get a handle on.

Economic policy...if it existed, it would be laughable, as we've gotten a few bits an piece's. The war...100+ years. Domestic policy...absolutely nothing. Health care...no insurance, you die. Taxes...more for the rich, drop 3 cents from the gas tax...(average consumer gets $28 per year in gasoline tax savings)...:eyes:

The man is a fraud...we'll hear about his "heroism" while he was in Nam...we won't hear about the 4 Navy jets he destroyed before he was shot down.

There is nothing there but a suit covering a shallow human being...and if bush gives his blessing...call the morgue, he's done for.

The attacks on the D will be fast and furious...but McCain is his own personal attack machine...against himself. I am willing to gamble the first debate, he will fly off the handle and go ballistic...biggest weakness he has, is himself. If I were debating him, it would take 30 seconds for me to have him in the Red Zone.

[treestar]

68. Exactly. McSame has nothing new as the most unpopular president

in 60 years.

[enid602]

53. war

I think the only way McCain can win is if he sells the war to the electorate. It will be an uphill battle for him. This, of course assumes that our candidate will put the war issue at the forefront and offer a choice to the public.

[CountAllVotes]

13. GOP =

Grand Old Perverts IMO.

:dem:

[Norrin Radd]

14. Gang Of Pedophiles

[truth2power]

27. You underestimate the stupidity of the American people. n/t

[ToeBot]

33. The only reason a Republican has ANY chance is the utter corruption of the American news media. nt

[Triana]

44. Depends on how much bu$hco and his DOJ mess with the vote...

...not to mention those wonderfully accurate :sarcasm: Diebold, ES&S and Sequioa touch-screen, no paper-trail machines -- and other tactics the Repigs have in their well-practiced arsenal to disenfranchise, confuse, and otherwise stop people from voting - esp those pesky Democrats who have been registering to vote in record numbers this year...

[Deep13]

47. Two problems with that prediction.

1. We need to make sure that Bush's sins are visited on McC. People might not see McC in the same light at Bush even though they have the same stated views on two of W's most disasterous policies: endless war and pro-debt. Unfortunately, people seem more concerned with the dude's personality than his views. And the R.s will make sure no one likes Obama or Clinton personally.

2. Even if the country as a whole wants a change, if those voters are standing in the wrong states, it might not matter. We are not winning the deep South or the big, square states. The R.s have built-in advantages there.

[reggie the dog]

69. Colorado, Virginia

2 states that could go D this year. Perhaps Iowa and Ohio too.

[Deep13]

71. Agree on those states.

I meant the big, empty states like Wyoming and the Gulf Coast.

[reggie the dog]

72. Oh OK

Lets hope for a D Montana while we are at it, that is not too much too hope for either, along with a possible D Alaska if Al Gore does some campaigning there....

[reggie the dog]

73. How states like Mississippi and Alabama could go D

Obama is the nominee and black people vote in record numbers, along with the standard D voters who go up against McCain who is shown to be just like W. which leads to R voter apathy. Hell even Texas could flip if we convince people McCain and W. are not different.

[Deep13]

76. He's not the nominee yet.

And Blacks are still minorites in those states. White Alabama and Miss. are overwhelmingly Republican and Evangelical. They will be just as motivated to keep out someone who is "half Muslim" or attached to a Black radical church as they will be to keep out HC. Frankly, I think if Bush was their nominee, he could win those states even now.

[reggie the dog]

78. Lets wait and see

There are a lot of white folks who vote Democrat in the deep south, probably a third of white people there. My theory hinges on R voter apathy combined with record non white turnout. I will dream of seeing 5 or 6 states in dixie going blue in November.

Lets not forget Tennessee and Arkansas while we are at it.....

[high density]

63. But what about gay marriage, tax cuts, terrorism, and abortion?

Too many voters aren't smart enough to realize what they're ultimately voting for.

[JerseygirlCT]

66. The problem is that McCain has been sold as a "moderate"

and compared to Bush, he's supposed to look good. The "moderate" choice for someone fed up with Bush but not ready for that scary leftist woman/black man...

Of course, we know that's very far from the truth. The problem is, most of the American public does not, and the media has no interest in telling the truth on that.

[caledesi]

67. I agree! NT

[superconnected]

82. We thought that last pres election.

Don't count on it. Elections are stolen every 4 years now a days.

[CANDO]

85. Oh yeah! Tune into CNN and watch the talking assholes make the case.

McCain in a walk if the MSM has any say-so.

[islandmkl]

2. 28%??....there is no bottom, apparently.

[rasputin1952]

5. I figure the end # will be somewhere around 15-17%...

about the same # of the severely delusional %age of the general population...;)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

21. Wait till next year...

Let's face it, the next POTUS is not going to be interested in carrying water for this Administration. S/he is not going to spend political capital in the defense of George W. Bush. Congress wants to investigate Valerie Plame? Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force? They're going to get all the smoking guns they want.

Point is, a year from now the American people are going to start getting a full explanation of what's been going on for the past eight years, and they're not going to be happy.

Remember last year, when Jenna Bush and some consiglieres from the Bush Family were shopping for real estate in Argentina? I firmly believe that's where Bush is going to spend the rest of his life, if for no other reason than to avoid prosecution.

[rasputin1952]

37. He is a pariah...his entire family consists of nothing more than

people who enabled him to become one of the most disatrous human beings that could have gained power tis nation has ever seen.

I hope his daughters actually make something of themselves, but from what i see, we're not looking at Amy Cater or Chelsea Clinto here...we're looking at more "bush spoiled brats"...that family seems to have a genetic predisposition in that area.

[SlicerDicer-]

24. Well you could go to 0% :)

[no_hypocrisy]

3. He . . . doesn't . . . . care . . . .

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kind of ironic isn't it? I believe his not caring and historic piss poor disapproval rating feed

off each other, in a self perpetuating cycle.

[lebkuchen]

59. We all age, but Bush really does looks like shit

deep down, there must be an iota of sensitivity in him.

[Uncle Joe]

65. Two points regarding iota of sensitivity.

1. If Bush has one left, it's in deep freeze.

2. I believe having sensitivity or compassion keeps you looking young longer, this may pertain to your point regarding him looking like shit.

[ailsagirl]

58. He's got to-- I remember reading that he was angry when Al Gore

won the Nobel Peace Prize. (Like it should have gone to Bush?????) :rofl:

Even if he doesn't care, I'm glad he's got such low ratings. We aren't
necessarily a nation of ninnies...

[LynnTheDem]

4. So many TRAITORS! How dare they disapprove of The Decider!

66% of republics approve...that's a lot of stupid MFers.

[rasputin1952]

6. "repbublics" and "stupid MFers" are synonymous...

:D

[road2000]

20. So are "traitors"

[rasputin1952]

38. LOL...So true, how did I miss that...

:D

[Ganja Ninja]

7. I think I know what Dick Cheney would say.

"So?" They don't care anymore. They've cleaned out the vault and have their getaway plans in place. Screw America, screw the troops and screw the GOP. They've got all the money now!

[Lautremont]

8. Who are the 9% of Democrats who approve of him?

Or at least don't disapprove? I can't imagine such a creature.

[paparush]

12. I think you have to remove the percent sign..then you have your answer..

[Dr Fate]

42. The "off the table" DEMS in office?- The entire DLC membership?

That would be my guess. ;)

[madmax]

11. Of course it is

because he "Is" the worst president ever!

[Turbineguy]

15. It's fun to say

"Worst President Ever"

But it's really a tragedy especially for those of us who expected this all along. Also, the real damage will still take some more time to develop. Lower life expectancies and such.

[rasputin1952]

40. Yeah...one wishes it was still Buchanan, Harding or Coolidge...

"Worst President Ever" takes on a whole new meaning when you have to actually live through that presidency...:scared:

[L0oniX]

16. Ohh? I am sooo surprised. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

17. K&R

[natrat]

22. stupid american scum

maybe if they had taken the time to delve into what type of people they were voting for we wouldn't be in this mess. Granted it takes a lot to get through the corporate media filter. Or maybe they are just so stupid they don't have the ability to see around the bend. At any rate it is embarrassing being associated with these idiots. Yes Darwin will take them out and everyone else along with them. Despicable american idiots

[uppityperson]

23. Proud to be a 69%er

[lovuian]

26. How can they DO ANYTHING without the people

and yet they are doing it

[whistle]

29. All these guys need is a veto proof congress and the majority of SCOTUS

...with that the people do not matter

P.S. I should add that it helps to have the military also

[Dr Fate]

43. A few DLC traitors to watch your back doesnt hurt either.

The DLC- AKA the "we" in "we dont have the votes."

SCOTUS? Thank the anti-filibuster DLC/Bluedogs for that one too.

[whistle]

56. Spineless DLC traitors and SCOTUS gave Shrubya the election in 2000

[whistle]

28. Let's make it WORST of any president in U.S. history...include VP Cheney also

...as both are traitors :wtf:

[Auggie]

32. Has to be -- who else was close besides Nixon?

Hoover?

[Supersedeas]

31. 66% of Repukes make up the 28% posing as Bushists apologists

[Dollface]

41. So two thirds of Republicans are complete idiots along with a quarter of independents.

[happygoluckytoyou]

45. GWB "ok, so 70% hate me, at least that leaves the other half"

[whopis01]

46. Just to be clear - the poll has only been taken for 70 years - nothing bad being said about FDR. n/t

[whistle]

48. 70 years only goes back to 1938, I think he has been the worst President in 140 years

:wtf:

[closeupready]

50. Wow, that's bad.

n/t

[bow-tie]

51. Why can't they toss him?

He has no cred, the R's, for their own interests need to toss the SOB!!

[varelse]

52. That leaves us with just 3% "neutral" to Bush

Interesting... very few people polled had "no opinion" of Bush. He sure has galvanized the American populace.

[superconnected]

83. The uniter has united us against him.

[varelse]

92. Well, at least he kept ONE promise

:rofl:

[lebkuchen]

54. 28% percent of Americans believe in torture

Bush sure knows how to attract a 15th C. following!

[McCamy Taylor]

55. Sounds about right to me.

We should pick on him and not snipe at other Democrats who still get greater than 40% of the Democratic vote.

[ailsagirl]

57. kick

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

60. How is 1952 70 years ago?

If Truman's ratings were the lowest, that's not 70 years ago--try 56. Geez, I was born in '51. This headline and the article made me feel ancient!

[ashling]

62. I'm surprised his approval ratings are that high

only 91% of Democrats disapprove?

[sellitman]

64. 69 Feels good.

No matter how you slice it.

;)

[ckramer]

70. Who are these 9 % democrats?

who are still supporting Bush...

[darue]

81. probably people who lied in saying they were a dem in the first place n/t

[BayjanDem]

75. I know it's been said before...

but 28% approve? That's better than 1 in 4. That seems awfully high. I've been trying to think of something good that's happened over the last 8 years under the shrub. A meteorite didn't fall on my house. There, I knew if I gave it some time...

[Broadslidin]

77. Betcha, this sort of news never enters Bush's Boozy Brain...

Popping Paxil + doin' shots = :crazy:

[darue]

80. two thirds of ruthuglicans still support the simpering chimp in chief? amazing...

what flavor is the cool-aide?

[provis99]

87. yeah, there's no hope for the majority of Republicans

why can't they just all move to Texas, declare Texas independence, and then we'll be finished with them?

[darue]

88. well, at least a full third now willing to admit dissatisfaction is some improvement

that's about what I've always estimated is the max % of repugs that will ever admit they were wrong about anything. half the rest probably don't approve, but just won't admit it on a phone interview.

[Senator]

84. ERGO ... Impeachment Is Required To Win In November

It is the only thing that sufficiently taps into the historic Anti-Bushcheney sentiment of the public. It's the only thing that provides the "optics" of the Dems as a clear alternative.

Without it, McCain's euphemedia-free-ride and even a minimal level election theft will continue the bushcheney regime.

Yes, I said continue. Make no mistake, any and all Reps remain under the thumb of cheney(ism/ists) -- he don't need no stinking "I'm The Veep" badge -- his power is very real, in the real world, among the Republican locksteppers.

Only impeachment has the potential to end this nightmare and reunite our once-great nation.

The sooner the better. Get on with it.

====

[Jack Rabbit]

86. "Views of Bush divide sharply along party lines"

That's because dissatisfied Republicans have re-registered as Democrats.

[Doctor_J]

89. If HRC is somehow elected, she will "top" these numbers

Take it to the bank.

[Solly Mack]

90. Big fucking woo. The war criminal is still President.

He's still getting away with his crimes.
He's still torturing people.
He's still screwing people over and not just in America.


I'll wave the pom-poms when there's actual accountability.

[Stuart G]

91. It will go to 73 - 75 percent when....gas gets to 5.00 a gallong. nt