Charlie Cook suggests that Bush & Republican disapproval may have hardened

[swag]

via War and Piece

http://nationaljournal.com/cook.htm

In the latest Cook Political Report/RT Strategies poll of 1,000 adults nationwide, Bush's approval was at 37 percent, down from 40 percent in late February ; his disapproval rating was 56 percent, up two points from that last poll. The more important finding in the poll conducted April 6-9 (margin of error +/-3.1 percent) was that only 18 percent strongly approved of the job Bush is doing, while 43 percent strongly disapproved.

In the new ABC News/Washington Post poll (conducted April 6-9, surveyed 1,027 adults, margin of error +/-3 percent), Bush's job approval was at 38 percent compared to a 60 percent disapproval rating. But while 20 percent strongly approved, 47 percent strongly disapproved. In the April 3-5 Associated Press/Ipsos poll of 1,003 adults (margin of error +/- 3.1 percent) that gave Bush job ratings of 36-percent approval to 62-percent disapproval, the strong approval was just at 18 percent while strong disapproval registered at 42 percent.

So in the last three polls that measured the intensity of job approval, the president's strong approval ranged from 18 percent to 20 percent but his strong disapproval ranged from 42 percent to 47 percent.

This trend continued when voters were asked about specific issues. For instance, even in the face of a strong economy over the last three months, the AP/Ipsos poll showed that only 39 percent approve of Bush's handling of the economy and 59 percent disapprove. On handling "domestic issues like health care, education and the environment," 37 percent approve of Bush and 60 percent disapprove. Just 37 percent approve of his handling of "the relief effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina," while 59 percent disapprove. On "foreign policy issues and the war on terrorism," the president's approval/disapproval split was 40/58. On the situation in Iraq, it was 35/63.

There comes a point for some unfortunate presidents when the American people begin to hit the mute button; they just stop listening. Or to put it differently, when the public turns strongly against an elected official on an issue, they begin to turn on that official on everything. In this case, Iraq has become a ball and chain for President Bush, weighing him down on every issue. The separation between his weakest issue, Iraq, and his strongest, terrorism, is just five points.

[bullimiami]

1. but he has nothing positive to show in anything he has done.

tossing out rhetoric.

He has fucked things up in every way for the vast majority of the population.

[Jack from Charlotte]

7. Oh, I disagree..... the Bush person deserves credit for this....

Not vetoing The "No Call List" law that stops ...MOST, but not all....phone solicitations.

He was probably on vacation somewhere and didn't know about it otherwise he'd have gotten his people to shake down the companies that made those calls... and vetoed it.

But that is a positive thing that took place under this AWOL/moron. It's the only thing I can think of.

ps.... I was raised in Miami and went to Norland high, many years ago.

[saltpoint]

14. One thing clicks with me on Bush: the White House lawn t-ball field.

After that, it's all negative energy.

[renate]

2. so 18-20% are swimming in Kool-Aid

They'll support him on everything, and I understand that 35% could approve of his handling of Iraq because of the brainwashing that to do otherwise is to "not support the troops," but I'm confused by the 39% who approve of his handling of the relief effort for Katrina victims.

:shrug:

Love that "strong disapproval" from 42% or 47%. That is a LOT of strong disapproval.

[swag]

3. Re: Katrina victims

I think 39% of Americans just like visible underarm perspiration.

[WI_DEM]

4. Bush is finished

I don't think he can turn it around at all. The changes in WH staff couldn't matter--it's his policies which people detest and to a degree they also have come to dislike this president.

[grytpype]

6. Agreed, he has no chance now.

Unless Iraq miraculously improves, and it won't, Bush is toast. Finally. Long overdue.

[rustydog]

9. The problem is we have this incompetent murdering ass until 2008

bush may not care himself what the polls are, he occupies the White House, no matter how low his polls are, he gets the issues passed that mean the most to him and he has waged the war he wanted without any real opposition.
he passed tax cuts for the wealthy, he has been caught inlie anfer lie and now implicated in crimes against this nation and the republican party and national media defend him. Who gives a fuck about a poll of what this country's citizens think?

We have this jerk and his upcoming Iran war until 2008.

[oasis]

5. Bush's war has turned him into the Incredible Shrinking President (n/t)

[pacalo]

8. Dim-son is looking for a new Mission Accomplished moment

to redeem his legacy. And to prevent the Democrats from putting the judicial pin in the party hog if they take one or both houses in November.

From Paul Krugman, NYT:

Why might Mr. Bush want another war? For one thing, Mr. Bush, whose presidency is increasingly defined by the quagmire in Iraq, may believe that he can redeem himself with a new Mission Accomplished moment.

And it's not just Mr. Bush's legacy that's at risk. Current polls suggest that the Democrats could take one or both houses of Congress this November, acquiring the ability to launch investigations backed by subpoena power. This could blow the lid off multiple Bush administration scandals. Political analysts openly suggest that an attack on Iran offers Mr. Bush a way to head off this danger, that an appropriately timed military strike could change the domestic political dynamics.

Does this sound far-fetched? It shouldn't. Given the combination of recklessness and dishonesty Mr. Bush displayed in launching the Iraq war, why should we assume that he wouldn't do it again?

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0410-26.htm

[Supersedeas]

13. time for break out the corpse of Osama or a tall dead bearded Arab labeled

Osama

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Since he has JUSTIFIED the whole Iraq War in the name of terrorism,

the ratings should be one and the same, even though the issues are separate.

[KoKo]

11. Notice on all issues his only approval is 35 to 39%.

Some folks have said that his hardcore support will always be around 26%.

Not much more to go down before he hits bedrock....

[Virginia Dare]

12. I read recently that 28% responding to some poll...

thought that the Sun revolves around the Earth, so that's probably about as low as he'll get.