Salon: Ratings prove Bush an "historically unpopular two term president"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/index.html#polls

President Bush has gone from first to worst in the polls, although the press has ignored the tumble. Blame it on the less than stellar election results in Iraq, as well as what looks to be a losing argument in the Social Security "crisis" debate.

According to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted from Feb. 7-10, Bush's approval rating stands at 49 percent, which is dismal for a just-reelected president. By comparison, during the first February of their second term, the most recently re-elected presidents all boasted approval ratings in the 60s'; Richard Nixon (67), Ronald Reagan (60), and Bill Clinton (60).

Yet the most recent results show Bush's approval ratings cratering eight points to 49 percent and his disapproval ratings spiking 8 points to 48 percent. That's a 16-point swing in less than one week. What happened? It's possible the realization about the vote in Iraq began to set in among voters who grasped that with the overwhelming Shiite coalition victory there's now a distinct possibility of an Iran-friendly Islamic state being established in Baghdad. Hardly the reason why U.S. troops were deployed. Domestically, the hot issue behind Bush's decline was likely Social Security reform, which the president sold hard during his Feb. 2 State of the Union address. Despite that primetime push, and a subsequent White House road show designed to build support, a plurality of Americans, by a margin of 48 to 42 percent, still disapprove of Bush's handling on the issue. That, according to CNN/USA Today/Gallup.

Perhaps a better explanation is that the poll last week that showed Bush earning a 57 percent approval rating -- the poll that generated all sorts of glowing press for the White House -- was a fluke. No other polling outfit that regularly checks the public's pulse on the White House detected that sort of post-inauguration jump for Bush. For instance, according to Newsweek, Bush's approval rating in late December was 49 and in early February was 50. Fox News uncovered the same apathy towards Bush; in early January 52 percent of Americans approved, while today the number has edged down to 51 percent. Bottom line: Three months after earning his self-proclaimed Election Day mandate, Bush remains an historically unpopular two term president.

[GOPBasher]

1. Well with Diebold, his low approval ratings don't matter. n/t

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. True, and even though Salon is more "alternative" than "mainstream"...

...it's nice to see the truth in ANY media. It's a start.

:toast:

[GOPBasher]

5. Hey Fox News is totally true all the time.

And I'm a 7'2'' NBA center.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. As pro-Bush republicans always tell me

he doesn't care about raitings and being popular. :eyes: Just his agenda. :eyes: Shouldn't that tell you though that a lot of people aren't happy with him? Isn't our government supposed to be Of the people, by the people and for the people? Shouldn't we all have a say in what goes on in our government? Shouldn't we all have access to see the President and tell him our concerns instead of these stupid-ass loyalty oaths and pre-screened rally's? :grr:

[GOPBasher]

22. Yeah, we should ask them *WHY* he doesn't care. In a democracy,

he needs the consent of the governed in order to continue to do his job. He has to get elected, so how can he "not care." We know the answer. With Diebold (and the other e-voting machine companies), he doesn't need to win elections.

[Nite Owl]

2. The Unpopular President

pass it on, keep saying it. Maybe it will sink in to the public discourse.

[Pastiche423]

16. Make that...

the historically unpopular president.

[ginnyinWI]

18. the Anti President

He's tearing the country down rather than helping it. :(

John Kerry is the true one. :cry:

[Supersedeas]

25. The President of Hate: those who voted for him were motivated by hate;

those who did not can not stand him.

And oh how quickly, those motivated by hate can turn on ya?

Almost sad, ain't it.

[DemocracyInaction]

4. Two points

1. Saw on Bloomberg News (financial news) that Bush's approval has dropped because of increasing disapproval among OLDER Americans----(you touched the 'third rail' you cockey cocksucker and you got fried). 2. I don't think the general public goes through all that analysis put forth in the Salon pieces. Point blank: the useless morons in this nation got all excited and liquored up over the tear jerking Iraqi voter stories (most filmed here in the US of A and they thought Iraq was now looking all that modern, etc.)and now, like everything, it's sooo yesterday. It just don't get ya' up and all proud to be an Amurekan. They need another swig of canned patriotism. These fools swing a predictable 6 points depending on how much the media can charge them up and drop a predictable 6 points if the media doesn't have a 'story' to spin---happened all through the campaign and is still happening.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

8. You're right, all it takes is a couple of purple fingers...

...and it's the "We Are The World" video all over again. "Group hug" time.

There are a lot of good ol' boys in the U.S.A. who would like nothing more than to down a couple of Buds, wave the flag, and salute the president who "keeps us safe."

Hopefully, when the day comes in which they can no longer afford to buy groceries, these "patriots" will keep waving the flag...because that's what we REALLY need. Flag wavin'...and LOTS OF IT.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. For those who say we're so safe

should tell how our boarders are still unprotected and anything could past our ports. Not long after the election even Joe Scabrorough said this. They aren't doing anything for our boarders and anybody can get through by sneaking through and having a distraction or something. Know what I mean? All Bush cares about is Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. If he loves them so much why doesn't he move there and give us a President that cares about us?!

[Clark2008]

13. Let's also remind then that since our National Guard units have been

deployed more than in any other war, there's no one, save our emergency service personnel, to protect our borders.

[coloradodem2005]

9. I take it you're talking about SS.

Here's the thing. You are talking about these people that are so easily manipulated by the media that they in their natural state don't like Bush. But they are bought, by fear, or by visions of victory. They also get manipulated by the "If you disagree with the President, you're unpatriotic." schtick. People really are dumb.

[Pam-Moby]

6. Now the right wings see the same as we do.

Maybe the repugs are waking up. They maybe just getting what we knew over 4 years ago. B*sh is no leader.

[ginnyinWI]

19. notice that the prominent Dems are beginning to

frame the debate lately--

Every time they talk they speak about the immorality of what Bushco and the repub Congress are doing. Putting it in terms of values and morality like Lakoff says. Maybe it is starting to have an effect already.

[Pam-Moby]

21. I sure hope so. n/t

[Erika]

11. Bush is the planet king

which is a far cry from what his priorities should be as an American president. Yes, I think the GOP is starting to wake up.

You notice how they never talk about the Iraq war. He has sent our troops to die without cause. My favorite www.icasualties.org.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

14. Bush is a facsist!

[TheDonkey]

12. horrific, he's really a big fat sack of crap

at least his legacy will resemble his governing (BAD).

[Erika]

15. Real bad day today in Iraq

View www.icasualties.org. American kids dead, a triple amputation on one of our kids, a pipeline blown up, many Iraqis killed.

Just another joyful day in liberated and free Iraq.

[ginnyinWI]

20. here's what some people want to give him

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/01/23/planting_flags_in_do.html

[quinnox]

17. Yet Bush was "overwhelmingly supported by the American people"

according to republicans. Yea right, he won by 3 million votes out of over 100 million cast!

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. MAN DATE! Political CAPITOL!

:bounce: :silly:

[Roland99]

24. Prevaricating Unpopular Propaganda President Evades Truth

P.U.P.P.E.T.