LA Times: Bush approval rating at record low

[LTR]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Seven months before the end of his term, President Bush's approval rating is at an all-time low.

In the just-released Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll, the president won approval from 23% of all registered voters -- including 3% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans. Those numbers are down from February, when he had an approval rating of 35%. His high mark, according to the poll, was in November 2001, just after the 9/11 terror attacks, when the president's popularity rating among registered voters was at 85%.

Perhaps the most interesting number is that 50% of self-described conservatives disapprove of the way the president is handling his job. But conservatives have been besieging The Times with complaints that the sample was overly weighted with Democrats. Jamie Gold, the paper's readers' representative, plans to post a blog response soon.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/06/bush-approval-r.html

---

Essentially, Bush has matched the lowest presidential approval rating since approval ratings have been tracked (during the FDR administration). Truman has the record low with 23% at one time (when the Korean War was going poorly). He dropped lower than Nixon, who's all-time low was 24%. Dubya's dad bottomed out at 29%.

http://ask.yahoo.com/20051011.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-12-26-approval-ratings_x.htm

Congratulations George, you suck!

[Enrique]

1. yeah, it was a bad sample

[ashling]

2. Owr Presnidint is stilll settin recurds! Goin fer Number wun!

Makes yuo prowd to be a Amurkan!

UAS! USA! USA! YSA!

:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:

[Lasher]

7. He'll beat Truman's 22% before long. n/t

[Hayduke Lives]

36. This surprises me, honestly.

I've generally come to believe that there is a (roughly) 30% segment of America - Colbert's "Backwash" - for whom reality has no special importance, and who have no interest in forming opinions on their own.

It appears that Bush is finally loosing the support of the Backwash. My question is why? Are they being told to end their support? Are they forming opinions independently based on their observation of external events?

[yardwork]

41. I think they're just moving on. They're fickle.

I can't believe that 58% of Republicans still support him. Of course, there are fewer and fewer Republicans these days...

[Liberty Belle]

63. Be aggressive in bringing truth to your GOP neighborhood.

I've begun posting on blogs locally where conservatives hang out.

The key to build credibility is to start out posting helpful info on topics unrelated to politics; for instance I post a lot in a local land-use forum with details and news on those issues.

Over time, we've gotten into issues such as energy policies, private military contractors (one tried to open up a base locally). I've had the opportunity to educate people on just how bad this administration's policies are for ordinary people.

The conservative forum director has now announced to her group that she intends to leave the presidential spot blank on her ballot, as she will not vote for McCain.

I consider that a major victory.

To change minds of conservatives, you need to identify why they vote Republican. Common reasons and how to dispel them include beliefs that:

Republicans are better for business
(wrong. The GOP is about helping large corporations, not small businesses.
The GOP has run our economy into the tank. If Democrats revitalize the economy and put money in the pockets of ordinary people - their customers -- their small businesses will be better off)

Republicans will protect us from terrorists
(Wrong, invading countries without just cause creates more people who hate us, and in turn, more terrorism. So does torturing people.)

Republicans are the party of family values
(Wrong. More like the party of perverts--just look at the long list of sex crimes committed by Republicans elected to Congress! Many are hypocrites, ie the marriage protection act sponsored by a Congressman who hired hookers and another who was busted for picking up an undercover male police officer in a public restroom! Democrats care about families--and the Democratic Party is the only major party that fights for measures to help families such as increasing the minimum wage and making healthcare affordable/accessible.)

Republicans are pro-life. Democrats don't care about saving babies.
(Wrong. Democrats are concerned about abortion, but believe the best way to reduce the number of abortions is through education, birth control availability, and providing access to free or affordable healthcare for all people, including pregnant women and babies. Our plan would likely save more babies than an outright ban; there were many illegal abortions performed back when abortion was against the law.)

[SpiralHawk]

11. Typical republicon weasling. They accept no responsibility for their FAILURES

Always look for someone else to blame.

Republicon 'family values,' wrapped in a crap-filled diaper.

Ptooey.

[Journeyman]

3. There were days, back in late 2001, when we on DU called ourselves the 10 percenters. . .

how poetically fitting it would be, if before he leaves office, the same appellative can be applied to George W.'s supporters.

[rfranklin]

45. Proud to say that I never fell for the hype...

He always had zero percent of my support.

[Arugula Latte]

51. Me too. I always saw through the pro-Bush bulls@#$

[Wednesdays]

57. Same here. Even here on DU there were

a lot of otherwise-loyal posters (and they were no trolls!) calling for us to unite, that gosh-darn, * was "our president, after all". :banghead:

Nuh-uh. I saw through the 9/11 exploitation from the get-go.

[davekriss]

48. I've always identified myself as part of the proud ten percenters

In 1999 I was going crazy that anyone would consider GWB for President, this man who oversaw with glee more death warrants in the state of Texas than all other governors combines (with glee, mind you!). Bush has fulfilled every expectation I had for him (except one, which was to raid the social security trust fund and end the program as we know it). "Worst President, ever" -- the most obvious and accurate comment on this pResidency since it began.

[pretzel4gore]

58. cannibalism on the horizon....

with all the entertainment we've had, you would think the people 'with economic freedom to choose' ie not the poor/black/underclass but the fans of britney etc, had some idea what true economic collapse means. Many think they can kill their way out, but that's just sept 10th thinking....lol (i hope the economy collapses around the pig's ears, force him to eat his kids hahaha...)
btw, when Dow loses a thousand plus points and forces the Fed Reserve to shut it down, let's have a nationwide party! Roast pig for everybody! Imagine the guy/gals who get rush limbah on the spit! Or the poor assholes stuck with anus coulter! :rofl:

[bluestateguy]

4. reply

"conservatives have been besieging The Times with complaints that the sample was overly weighted with Democrats"


That's because more people have become Democrats over the last 4 years because of their president.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

5. "Congratulations George, you suck!"

George sucked less 8 years ago?

"...the president won approval from 23% of all registered voters -- including 3% of Democrats..."
--Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll.

Have the cheerleading 3% "Democrats" all recently signed on at DU?
(not you, Fighting Irish)

[Lasher]

6. This came out a week ago

Junior is now officially the most unpopular president since Truman. Tricky Dick never got lower than 24%.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3514927

[northernlights]

8. those poor pollsters

must be getting harder and harder to find anyone will admit to being republicans.

[mwb970]

9. How could it be so high? I would expect 10% or less.

They must have asked the question in some tricky way. Or maybe some of the Republicans polled lied (gasp) about their beliefs to pump up the worthless shell of a "man" that is bush.

[harun]

56. Maybe it went like this

"This is agent X at the Department of Homeland Security and I would like to remind you this call IS being recorded, just a couple questions...

Are you actively plotting to destroy America?
Patriotic law abiding American families approve of the job B*sh is doing, do you?

Thank you have a nice day".

[Hawaii Hiker]

10. his approval is slightly higher than the drinking age

Hopefully by the time he leaves office, his approval rating will be below the legal age to drive, - :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Vinca]

12. Who are the 3% of Democrats who approve? I want names. nt

[Art_from_Ark]

13. Zell Miller, Joe Lieberman,

and my state's two "Democratic" senators who nearly always vote with the other side.

[LiberalArkie]

30. Lincoln and Pryor need to be replaced with anybody..

[Art_from_Ark]

65. The problem is, Pryor has "The Name"

He's nothing like his Dad, who was a decent governor and senator, but because his Dad was a decent politician, people just naturally expect his son to be like that, too.

As for Lincoln, what can I say? Arkansas's first woman Senator has been as much of a disappointment as America's first woman Speaker of the House.

[AwakeAtLast]

19. Here are a few

John Dino Smith

Joe Dino Blow

Suzy Dino Que

Mary Dino Jones



;)

[madrchsod]

31. the house and the senate has a lot more than 3%

who approve of what george bush is doing....

[bunkerbuster1]

14. "Conservatives have been besieging The Times with complaints...

that the sample was overly weighted with Democrats."


Face facts, conservatives. Many more of the nation's registered voters these days identify themselves as "Democrat." You can't get away with masking this President's deep unpopularity with actual Americans by continuing to pretend otherwise.

anyway, the LATimes response to the Cheeto-scarfing 101st Keyboard Kommandoze is here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/readers/2008/06/understanding-p.html

The questions centered on this passage in the story: "In this national poll's random sample of voters, 39% identified themselves as Democrats, 22% as Republicans and 27% as independents. In a similar poll a year ago, 33% identified themselves as Democrats, 28% as Republicans and 30% as independents."

Susan Pinkus, director of the Times Poll, and Doyle McManus, Washington bureau chief, respond to the readers' concerns:

The result for self-described Democrats seems high, acknowledged Pinkus, but, she wrote in an e-mail to readers, “This is what the poll got from a random sample of 1,233 adults nationwide, including 1,115 registered voters (which includes listed, unlisted and cell phone users).

[pattmarty]

20. Well, all that I can say to them is FUCK 'EM!!!!!

[TheCowsCameHome]

33. The are correct to complain

even they know it should be a 5% approval rating - tops.

[JeanGrey]

15. What is even worse is OUR Congress is even lower.

[Gman]

16. And he's still got 6.5 months to go!! Sub-20 is next! Go for it! Go Georgie, Go Georgie!

You can do it!

[flakey_foont]

26. it won't be easy

but George is just the man for the job.......<20 %.............if anyone can do it, Porgie Tirebiter will

[JeanGrey]

49. Our congress has manged to do 11 percent so I have do doubt

George can.

[fasttense]

17. I guess the other 14 polls that show buhes approval in the toilet were

overly weighted with Democrats too?

[pattmarty]

18. It'll go back up again, wait until they unveil their new product, IRAN..

[cstanleytech]

21. I just dont understand that 58%, are they truly that blind and or

partisan?
Bush has just "not" been that good of a president at all, in fact when you compare him to his father SR was the better president by a large margin.

[mrbluto]

46. Large margin.

At least 6%.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

22. It's hard to imagine those people

who still approve of the job he's doing.

[BrklynLib at work]

23. They will probably never reveal how low it really is....

[DeepModem Mom]

24. K&R

[bdamomma]

25. why is this POS coward still in office?

he should be kicked to the curb.

[UTUSN]

27. How many record lows does this make?!1 n/t

[trusty elf]

37. Dubya's on a roll!

[ElboRuum]

28. This has got to be the 9th time Shrub's approval rating has made the front page.

[npincus]

29. lower than Daddy, lower than Nixon... he's NOT a failure after all!

He succeeded at being the worst on record ever! Congratulations, F*ckhead!

[JackDragna]

32. In other news..

..23 percent of Americans think a thesaurus is a dinosaur. Seriously. Who supports this loser?

[Wednesdays]

59. Trust me, they're out there

You might have a hard time finding one in New England, but here in Oklahoma there are still plenty of SUV-driving, Faux News-watching redneck types who'd say, "Well, at least he ain't no lib'rul!"

[zanne]

34. I had to wonder as I was phonebanking a few days ago...

"Why do I keep getting people from that 28%"? Yes, they're happy with the way George Bush is doing things and Yes, they're better off now that they were seven years ago! WTH?

[mwb970]

40. Were you calling super-rich people?

It's hard to imagine who else would consider themselves better off than they were when the Idiot was appointed president!

[zanne]

47. One person said "Well, I feel safer than seven years ago".

Of course, I could have reminded her that, seven years ago, the twin towers were still up. This was an "undecided" voter (I), but I think her mind was made up.

[mwb970]

68. It would be interesting to probe exactly why she feels "safer".

Is it the Iraq War, in which we "fight them there so we don't have to fight them here"? (What an idiotic argument that was.) Is it the continuing lack of protection for our ports, nuclear and chemical plants, trains, etc., seven years after 9/11 that makes her feel safe? Or is it bush's complete disregard for the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission? Or could it be America's new reputation as a lawless and torturing nation that brings her comfort?

Would a war with Iran make her feel even safer?

I would guess that none of this is the case, but that she heard on Fox Noise that bush has made us safer, and that's the end of it for her.


edit:typo

[radhika]

35. But Congress still keeps suckin' up to him.....

A radio guest once said that even though Bush is the WORST PRESIDENT EVER - he's still the MOST EFFECTIVE. He gets every damn thing he wants - money, blood, surveillance powers, freedom from accountability and scads of well educated folks ready to subvert all national institutions for him and his cabal.

He merely sniffs in displeasure and the Congress modifies or votes down any silly little Constitutional measure that annoys his Royal Bushiness. So, will somebody do some 'spainin to me?

[AllyCat]

38. Would someone please tell Congress this?

Because they think he's at 80%

[JeanGrey]

50. Why would that matter because they are at 11.

[AllyCat]

52. A pitiful lot. They vote like he has 80%, then wonder why they are at 11

[JeanGrey]

53. Oh I doubt they wonder. Not at all.

[AllyCat]

66. Darn you jeangray! Stop bringing reality into my belief system

}(

[olddad56]

39. 23% ? It can't really be higher than 0%.

[Historic NY]

42. The Surge is working.........lets see if we can surge to 19%...

[bdamomma]

43. well it doesn't seem to be any changes from the Congress giving

this POS another 162 billion dollars for his illegal wars, truly disgusting.

[BayjanDem]

44. 58% are Republicans?

That number seems awfully high. Who are these fembots.

[Imagevision]

54. Lately Bush simply makes a statement on TV and his numbers drop, the man is poison...

[Hekate]

55. The numbers seem strange. 58% of Repubs? I read recently that only 28% of voters still admit...

...to being Repubs. 58% of 28% of the total of likely voters is a lot less than 58% of 50% ( i.e. half of voters Dems, half of voters Repubs) of likely voters. Now that's a number that could swing an election.

At this point I would want very much to know what the survey looks like and how they choose their sample.

Hekate

[curiousdemo]

60. How low can you go George?

George you are officially a loser... :rofl:

[fryguy]

61. doesn't he have to be DOING something to have a job approval rating????

appears to me they should be polling his vacation-approval rating.....

[workinclasszero]

62. When King George starts the bombing of Iran

and gas goes up overnight to 8 or 9 bucks a gallon his ratings will be lower than whale shit on the bottom of the ocean!

[eppur_se_muova]

64. 3% of registered Democrats APPROVE???? Should we assume these are ...

a) Repugs cross-registered as Dems, just to vote in the primaries ?

b) People who have been in a coma since the late 'Eighties, and think they're voting for GHWB ?

c) The tragic legacy of de-institutionalization ?

d) Forgetting that the pollster can't see the :sarcasm: smiley ?

e) Just playing head games with The Man ?

f) Some combination of the above ?

[liberal1973]

67. How low will he go?!!

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: