How Low Can He Go? (Newsweek Poll Bush at 26% Approve 65% Disapprove)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC/Newsweek

In 19 months, George W. Bush will leave the White House for the last time. The latest NEWSWEEK Poll suggests that he faces a steep climb if he hopes to coax the country back to his side before he goes. In the new poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday nights, President Bush’s approval rating has reached a record low. Only 26 percent of Americans, just over one in four, approve of the job the 43rd president is doing; while, a record 65 percent disapprove, including nearly a third of Republicans.

The new numbers—a 2 point drop from the last NEWSWEEK Poll at the beginning of May—are statistically unchanged, given the poll’s 4 point margin of error. But the 26 percent rating puts Bush lower than Jimmy Carter, who sunk to his nadir of 28 percent in a Gallup poll in June 1979. In fact, the only president in the last 35 years to score lower than Bush is Richard Nixon. Nixon’s approval rating tumbled to 23 percent in January 1974, seven months before his resignation over the botched Watergate break-in.

The war in Iraq continues to drag Bush down. A record 73 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Bush has done handling Iraq. Despite “the surge” in U.S. forces into Baghdad and Iraq’s western Anbar province, a record-low 23 percent of Americans approve of the president’s actions in Iraq, down 5 points since the end of March.

But the White House cannot pin his rating on the war alone. Bush scores record or near record lows on every major issue: from the economy (34 percent approve, 60 percent disapprove) to health care (28 percent approve, 61 percent disapprove) to immigration (23 percent approve, 63 percent disapprove). And—in the worst news, perhaps, for the crowded field of Republicans hoping to succeed Bush in 2008—50 percent of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of terrorism and homeland security. Only 43 percent approve, on an issue that has been the GOP’s trump card in national elections since 9/11.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19352087/site/newsweek/

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Teens by end or year or '08? Poll at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19354100/site/newsweek/

And the Dem Congress better get it together - they are at 25% and only 27% approval from Dems.

[antigop]

1. I don't think he will go lower than 25% -- read John Dean

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Video_50_year_study_says_conservatives_0711.html

>>
DEAN: The lead researcher in this field told me, he said, "I look at the numbers of the United States and I see about 23% of the population who are pure right-wing authoritarian followers." They're not going to change. They're going to march over the cliff. The best thing to deal with them -- and they're growing, and they have a tremendous influence on Republican politics -- The best defense is understanding them, to realize what they are doing, how they're doing it and how they operate. Then it can be kept in perspective and they can be seen for what they are.
>>

[RamboLiberal]

5. I think he can because he's pissing off that part of the base

with his stand on illegal aliens.

[glitch]

22. Yes, but they're authoritarians. They've nowhere to go until another authority figure takes command

One they can really trust, like Fred Thompson or Rudy Guiliani. :rofl: (ok, I know it's not really funny)

[Brigid]

13. Exactly.

There are still a minority of Bushbots out there. I know; I just had it out with one.

[Faygo Kid]

34. Totally agree. Fox and right-wing radio can hold the brainwashed.

Among the people I know, it's more like 1 in 30, not 1 in 4, that still support Bush (actually, I can think of two people). Still, I don't hang out with everybody, and Rush/Hannity/O'Reilly will hold the base together, with Rove's guidance. They let the base blow off steam on immigration, but will call them back soon, and the FReepers will once again march in lockstep. These brain-dead zombies are controlled by a powerful elite including Rupert Murdoch's crowd. And they will do as they are told, period.

[seriousstan]

2. Congress polls 14% on Gallup.

[CJCRANE]

3. What are the figures for disapprove

and strongly disapprove?

[seriousstan]

6. Here....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3331706

[Kingofalldems]

31. This has already been posted here on DU

You thought it necessary to bring it up again. Gee I wonder why.

[seriousstan]

36. Maybe because it was posted at the same time as my OP.

But don't let that stop your ignorant "wondering". Some of us can use a resource efficiently. Wonder about that.

[Kingofalldems]

37. You should have posted there

And my wondering isn't ignorant. This thread was about Bush's ratings in case you didn't notice.

[Uncle Joe]

10. I usually hear the Mass Corporate Media say, yes Bush's

approval ratings are low but the Congress is even lower, however I have yet to hear them state as to what the MCM's approval ratings are.

[creeksneakers2]

27. That's strong approval

Doesn't include plain approval, so the favorable rating for Congress is probably higher than 14%.

[Hawaii Hiker]

4. What I like to know is:

who are the 6% of Democrats that approve the job Bush is doing, :rofl:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19352087/site/newsweek

[Brigid]

14. I'd like to know that too.

:wtf:

[Tarheel_Dem]

24. The Joe Liebermann/Zell Miller Party....maybe?

[Art_from_Ark]

40. Lieberman/Miller '08!

NOT!

[truthisfreedom]

7. My guess is that they'll break out the terralerts soon. Expect to see whatever color is above orange

at the airports if he goes below Nixon's 23% approval... what is that anyway, purple? Taupe?

[catmandu57]

9. We're beyond terror alerts

They've used that once too often, now everyone just says so what. There is nothing they can do even an actual attack staged or real is just going to show incompetence and hasten the ride out.

[Brigid]

16. Isn't orange on top?

I forget, since it doesn't mean anything anyway. We're sitting ducks for another attack of some sort or another, and I have no idea why one hasn't occurred.

[RamboLiberal]

17. Red is the top color I believe

Silly system.

[Brigid]

19. Oh, yeah.

I think you're right. Forgot about that one. Yes, it's a silly, meaningless system.

[BrotherBuzz]

28. I think they dumped the color alert thing when Tommy Ridge retired

Methinks Tommy is playing with the flags in is basement retreat, along with his train set.

[Javaman]

8. And yet impeachment is not on the table. simply amazing. nt

[Brigid]

18. Too bad it would be pointless.

Don't get me wrong -- I'd love to see it. But I just don't think the votes are there. I have a better idea: Elect a Democrat in 2008 and watch the right go crazy as that president actually succeeds in making headway in cleaning up Bush's mess. :evilgrin:

[superconnected]

11. I think being a mass murderer on the atilla the hun scale and and being

a terrorist to world peace means he'll sink clear to hell to destroy this place.

[Brigid]

12. I have just one question:

Why is it that Bush's low approval rating seems to mean nothing? He still gets his own way almost all of the time. :banghead:

[Mike Daniels]

41. Because his way is still the Republican way

Bush has the low ratings. I bet if you asked people what their opinions were regarding general
Republican principles on the economy, social issues, etc. that the ratings for the policies would be higher.

I have a feeling that a certain portion of disapproval of Bush is grounded in disapproval of how he's carried out those policies. If he carried those same policies out more competently his approval would be higher.

[LiberalFighter]

43. The act of a two year old that does what he wants when he wants

Don't forget the signing statements, executive orders, refusal to release documents, Cheney, Gonzales, Rove.

[Barrett808]

15. Prof. Pollkatz: "Bush Index Hits 29.96%, Cracks 30% for the First Time"

http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com

[Ian David]

20. Republicans will keep us safe. Just ask New Orleans. n/t

[glitch]

21. For some reason I think 23% is his base. Maybe we should do a poll.

Edit: oh, I see from the first post that John Dean said 23% authoritarian. I bet that's where I got it.

Plus I seem to remember Hitler getting 23% of the vote and that always stuck with me as the absolute bottom dregs.

[Lisa]

23. "lower than Jimmy Carter"

Except that Bush really does deserve such a rating! (And my guess is that he will not go on to be a highly-respected ex-President who has done so much to help others.)

This might put a smile on Jimmy's face -- though I suspect that he is too worried about the damage Bush has done to America, at home and abroad, to experience any glee over Bush's continuing slide in the polls.

[LynnTheDem]

25. "bUsh scores record or near-record lows on every major issue..."

So if ya still support the idiot MFer, you are an idiot MFer. It's that simple. Like George W. bUsh.

How can we have 26% incredibly stupid idiots in one country??!

[0007]

26. junior is history in its lowest form!

[Doctor_J]

29. if smirk were running next year, this might be useful news

but since the current congress can't do anything about the ultra-rw agenda, it menas absolutely nothing.

[gulfcoastliberal]

30. Good thing the congressional dems have stood up against this lame duck.

Oops, wait: no, they still don't dare.

[GeorgeGist]

32. How low can he go ....

depends on how low he's allowed to go. There does not appear to be anything stopping him.

[flaminbats]

33. I wish Democrats in Congress would put 2 and 2 together..

Bush is losing support now even in most red states. In Georgia middle-class and suburban voters are flooding our party in local meetings!

Most who attend are outraged at this administration, but they are also disappointed that Congress isn't holding Bush accountable. it's time to stop giving Bush a free ride on so many issues, and impeachment hearings are long overdue! Bush doesn't believe in due process for you or me, but why would investigating the executive branch and holding it accountable be too unpatriotic and unjust? :banghead:

[ckramer]

35. Where was the majority before the Iraq war?

Bandwagon hoppers.

[bkcc]

38. Who the hell are the 9% who are undecided??

What rock have they been hiding under? Seriously, I have more respect for the Bush supporters than the people who can't even formulate an opinion at this point.

[Oak2004]

44. I'll bet they are bushbots in the middle of deprogramming

The Republican Party is, essentially, a cult. The process of leaving it is not much different from the process cult members go through when they begin to question the validity of the cult, then leave (yeah, I know "deprogramming" is not the right word here, but it makes a snappy title).

The 9 percenters have probably seen enough to realize the stories the cult tells them of a great and wise leader are probably false. They're now in the middle of coming to term with this insight and figuring out what to do next.

[bkcc]

45. I hadn't thought of that.

Your assessment is far more optimistic than mine. I was just thinking they were the brain-dead sheep who would rather watch reality TV than educate themselves about something that affects the direction of the country.

[kath]

39. Hey, a while back, didn't multiple people here propose a huge party for when his approval

dropped below 30%??
Let's break out the booze!! (or did y'all have a party already, and I missed it? :-( )

How LOOOOOOOOWWWWW can he go???

[Bragi]

42. Bush can dig deep and get the #1 spot /NT

[ryanmuegge]

46. Again, those that approve are the people that really matter and create policy.

Everyone else is unhappy.

[CRH]

47. And are the other 9% brain dead or 'new dems' still triangulating the mood? n/t

[toopers]

48. Unfortunately, Congresses approval rating is lower!

NT