Bush's second term: Back by unpopular demand

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Eric Boehlert



Dec. 21, 2004 | Republicans like to brag about the sweeping mandate that President Bush received on Election Day. But as he prepares for his second term, Bush approaches Inauguration Day with historically weak job-approval ratings, according to a series of new opinion polls. Unless there's a dramatic turnaround in public sentiment between now and Jan. 20, Bush will be sworn in to office with the lowest job-approval rating -- barely 50 percent -- of any president in the last 80 years, or since modern-day presidential polling began.

"It's striking how weak he is right now," says presidential historian Richard Shenkman, editor of George Mason University's History News Network. "You'd have to go back to Woodrow Wilson to find a president who was reelected in a position as weak as this one. There's been no euphoria around Bush's win."

Since his 3-percentage-point win over Sen. John Kerry, Bush has experienced a complete lack of bounce in the polls. In fact, in at least one national survey, Fox News' Opinion Dynamics poll, conducted Dec. 14-15, Bush's approval rating has fallen five points in the last month, to 48 percent. In other polls, including Washington Post-ABC, NBC/Wall Street Journal, Pew Research Center, Associated Press-Ipsos, Zogby, and Gallup, Bush's already soft approval numbers have flat-lined since the election. That phenomenon stands in sharp contrast to U.S. history, when presidents voted into office for a second term, even after close elections, routinely have received robust approval ratings.

According to an analysis posted on the Gallup Web site in mid-November, Bush's current 53 percent approval rating "is actually the lowest of any of the last seven presidents who won a second term in the first poll conducted after their re-election." Right after securing their second terms, Bill Clinton received a 58 percent approval rating, Ronald Reagan 61 percent, Richard Nixon 62 percent, Lyndon Johnson 70 percent, Dwight Eisenhower 75 percent, and Harry Truman 69 percent.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/12/21/unpopular/index.html

[seito]

1. One Nation Under Fraud

mourns our latest selection. Those that actually did vote for the little shrub will be feeling buyers remorse all too soon.

Keep the Faith

No Retreat No Surrender

[Skink]

2. Judging by today's press confrence.....

maybe he should just go on vacation. Stay home for awhile.

[New Earth]

3. was it really that bad?

i heard about it but didn't see it, and for some reason it won't play for me online.

[Skink]

4. I'm watching it on CSPAN.....

He keeps talking about negotiating with himself. I think he knows other world leaders are laughing at him.

[New Earth]

5. i'm watching it now too

he dont' look too good.

[Griffy]

6. hes not in yet.. Be in DC on the 6th! stand up for democracy! nt

[Straight Shooter]

7. W stands for weak.

It's striking how weak he is right now," says presidential historian Richard Shenkman ...

Bwahahahaha! W stands for Weak.