Junior's 45% approval rating (TEN points below REAGAN at his LOWEST)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Gallup: Bush Approval Rating Lowest Ever for 2nd-Term Prez at this Point

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=2103

NEW YORK It's not uncommon to hear or read pundits referring to President George W. Bush as a "popular" leader or even a "very popular" one. Even some of his critics in the press refer to him this way. Perhaps they need to check the latest polls.

President Bush's approval rating has plunged to the lowest level of any president since World War II at this point in his second term, the Gallup Organization reported today.

"All other presidents who were re-elected to a second term had approval ratings well above 50% in the March following their re-election," Gallup reported.

Bush's current rating is 45%. The next lowest was Reagan with 56% in March 1985. More bad signs for the president: Gallup's survey now finds only 38% expressing satisfaction with the "state of the country" while 59% are "dissatisfied." One in three Americans feel the economy is excellent or good, while the rest find it "only fair" or poor.

[fryguy]

1. mandate my ASS!!! - n/t

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

5. I've talked to several Bush voters about that "mandate"...

...they said the main reason they voted for him was that John Kerry "didn't define himself" and / or "didn't provide a clear alternative to Bush," and they "weren't willing to take a chance." I'm not attacking or justifying that position, just repeating it as it was said to me.

I have NOT talked to any Bush voters who can say WHY they voted for Bush. We went through endless debate and flame wars on DU regarding John Kerry's campaign, and I don;t want to stir it up again, but when RELUCTANT Bush voters talk, we ought to listen.

[fryguy]

7. understood, however

(and equally not seeking re-ignite the flame wars of the post-election)

i think for anyone to say that kerry didn't define himself means, to me, that they weren't actually listening to him but were rather listening to the pundits talk about what he was saying....

[MoonRiver]

10. Personally, I think Kerry did fine and probably won.

His (unforgivable ?) mistake was not fighting the thugs when they cheated their way into a second pResidency. I honestly do not know if I can forgive him for that. I certainly won't trust any promises on his part, to "fight for us".

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. You and fryguy both make excellent points...

YES, Kerry defined himself (he had the downloadable "Plan For America" book on his Web Site).

So WHY do people say Kerry "didn't define himself?"

Because Bush stomped and swaggered and waved his arms around like a spoiled child (remember the "Furious George" moment with Charlie Gibson during the debates) and people bought into the concept that he was "strong" and "unwavering," as opposed to belligerent. Kerry wanted to form a partnership with the world, while Bush told France to kiss his ass. That was viewed (by SOME) as "strong leadership."

After the election, Newsweek ran an article in which the Kerry "I voted for it before I voted against it" sound bite was portrayed as the first major nail in his campaign coffin. Whether that hurt him or not, and the degree to which it did, is open to speculation. I don't think anyone is going to step forward and say it HELPED him.

I still believe to this day that John Kerry did not truly understand HOW dirty and corrupt Karl Rove was / is...OR he did not fully understand how IMMEDIATELY and HARD he would have to fight back. The John McCain "illegitimate black child" stunt from the 2000 election should have clued him in. It is a well-documented fact that a primary rule in the Rove playbook is to isolate the opponent's greatest STRENGTH and use it against him, so Kerry could have seen the Viet Nam attack (and planned for it) L-O-N-G before the Swift Boat Scumbags launched their first volley.

And yeah, the DU flame wars...I never jumped in with both feet because I don't care for that sort of thing, BUT...I do recall a period of about a MONTH where they went something like this:

DU Poster #1: "The Swift Boat Liars are attacking Kerry and a new ad aired today. WHEN IS HE GOING TO FIGHT BACK?"

DU Poster #2: "SHUT THE FUCK UP."

SO...I hope all of the "Shut the fuck up" folks got what they wanted. My guess is that some of them DID.

:grr:

[MoonRiver]

13. It was a mistake ethically & tactically for Kerry to vote for war

with Iraq. Why can't these politicians ever get a clue?? Still, the hatred of * was so huge, and most statistical evidence points to the fact that it was stolen and Kerry actually won. He should have fought to the bitter end, like he promised us he would.

[Jesus Saves]

2. Will they stop calling him popular now? - nt

[wakeme2008]

3. And this is Gallup that over polls Repugs

sounds like he is now 41/42 max.

[flakey_foont]

4. I find it hard to even believe those numbers

I suspect it is at least 5 points lower

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. Yeah, Fox was claiming 49% approval a week ago and THAT smelled...

...so I agree, this new number is probably "overly generous."

[demosincebirth]

8. I really don't care if his rating was down to 10%!

We still have over 3 1/2 years left with the jerk.

[rzemanfl]

9. Is anyone still polling how many people believe the election

results? As I recall it went from 20% who thought it was stolen to 30% who thought that and then it fell off the radar.

[unhappycamper]

11. that is still a lot of morans, folks n/t

[Mark E. Smith]

14. Wait'll $3.00 Gas Hits This Summer

Gas guzzlin' SUVs and the restless lifestyle of the road is sacred to Smirky's knucklehead base. They'll be howling in pain.

[applegrove]

15. Wait until the recession! n/t