Bush Approval a Low for Two-Term Leaders

[Placebo]

President Bush's standing with an American public anxious about Iraq and the nation's direction is lower than that of the last two men who won re-election to the White House — Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton — at this point in their second terms.

But solid backing from his base supporters has kept Bush from sinking to the depths reached by former presidents Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bush's father. Truman decided not to run for re-election. Nixon resigned. Carter and the first President Bush were defeated in re-election campaigns.

"This president should be glad he's not running for re-election," said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst from the American Enterprise Institute. "But the president is clearly holding his base. It's very important for him to keep the base support in terms of getting things done."

Indeed, Republicans in Congress already are starting to fret about the 2006 election. If Bush's approval ratings sink lower, more of them may be unwilling to go along with his major initiatives for fear it could cause backlash for them with voters.

More...

Umm...maybe because he wasn't even a one-term leader, let alone two.

[terrya]

1. And the longer the troops are in Iraq, the lower his poll numbers drop.

And we'll still be in Iraq by November 2006, or course.

I don't give a flying fuck if he holds on to the mouth breathing, creationist loving, homophobes who form his base. The Republicans have every right to worry about 2006.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Even Clinton, in the midst of the Monica gate hearings,

had an approval rating nearly twice as high as the McChimp's.

[Arkana]

37. Right. The Big Dog's approval ratings--even four years later,

were in the high 60s-low 70s. Dubya can't hold a candle to that.

And the only reason he is holding the "base" is because the base consists of four types of people:

1. Fundamentalist and evangelical nutcases who are somehow "pro-life" and pro-war.

2. Faux macho freepazoids who pop stiffies watching Dubya's tough-guy routines.

3. Toothless (usually Southern, sorry, Southerners) idiots who are unnaturally focused on owning as many guns as possible and are paranoid that the Democrats will revoke their Second Amendment rights.

4. Obscenely rich, snotty elitists whose personal motto is "I got mine, screw you."

That is Dubya's base, and luckily, they only comprise about 35-40% of the country.

[FourStarDemocrat]

58. I remember the day that Clinton was impeached by the House...

His approval rating was at 58% and even went up higher in the weeks following.

You are absolutely right about his base, but I'd add a pont about your #4. There are people who are also obscenely rich, snotty elitists *wannabees* who are deluded that they will someday be part of this crowd, and mimic them in all ways possible. They would also fit into that category.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. His base is just that

The basest ie lowest form of human life their is.

[gizmo1979]

4. If you read the whole article

the repugs are optimistic and really don't care.They said 80% OF DEMS disagree with him,who are the 20% that do agree I haven't met a single one.The piece actually ended up pissing me off.

[mike_c]

6. you should read this thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2008393

[AndyTiedye]

11. Why Are The Republicans Optimistic in the Face of Such Horrible Numbers??

Fixing the votes around the Republicans

[kestrel91316]

17. You get a gold star for clever thinking today.

[RedSock]

25. DIEBOLD PARODY ADs

More: http://homepage.mac.com/rcareaga/diebold/adworks.htm

[Atlas Mugged]

30. Holy crap!

That one with the egg is totally brilliant. I really need a t-shirt with that one.

[lancdem]

40. I haven't met a single one either

:shrug:

[...of J.Temperance]

5. They point out the obvious

Don't they?

The POS waste of human skin that's squatting in the WH, was NEVER chosen by the people, not once and certainly not twice. He stole the office, he's a thief...just ask President Gore and President Kerry.

You've seriously got to do something about both Diebold and various GOP SoS's.

[madmax]

7. Welcome to DU J. Temperance

:hi:

[...of J.Temperance]

13. Thanks

:hi:

I'm thinking of dropping the ...of part, if I can find out how to do that. I originally was intending to be The Impression of J.Temperance, but they told me that was over the 20 letters allowed. So I need to just get to the point of dropping ...of.

[madmax]

29. I tried to see if you could change your user name

thru editing your profile but, you can't. I would suggest that you email Admin and ask them for the change.

[...of J.Temperance]

33. Well

Thanks for seeing if I could edit my profile, that was a nice thing for you to do.

I'll probably just leave my username as it is...I'll just have to learn to live with it, I'm sure it'll grow on me.

[madmax]

35. Ya gotta admit - it's unique

:toast:

[...of J.Temperance]

39. Yeah

Come think of it, it is unique :)

[Peace Patriot]

52. "...got to do something about both Diebold and various GOP SoS's."

It isn't just GOPers who have been corrupted by the billion dollar electronic voting machine boondoggle. THAT's the problem. Ever wonder about the Democratic Party leadership's mind-boggling SILENCE on Bushite companies owning and controlling the vote tabulation with SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code? HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN SILENT ABOUT THIS?

Check out this bipartisan hogfest at the Beverly Hilton last week--a week of fun, sun and high-ending shopping for our election officials from around the country, sponsored by Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia. It'll burn your eyeballs!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x380340

Lavish lobbying perks, future job offers, the heady power of brokering big business deals (that's what our vote has become--a big business deal), and the temptations of lording and ladying it, as "experts" and "professionals," over the dumb voters, who haven't a clue any more how their votes are counted. These are the ways the Bushites have utterly corrupted our election system--and the Democrats were suckers for it.

Bush's "pod people" in Congress poured $4 billion (of OUR money) into the states--to be paid to the major Bush donors and supporters who cobbled up a series of extremely insecure, hackable and unreliable electronic voting systems to be inflicted on the public at maximum expense (including the expense of long term "servicing" contracts), with NO requirement of a "paper trail" (let alone a paper ballot backup) and NO prohibition on "trade secret" vote counting software.

These companies turn around and donate large amounts of money to Bush/Cheney, and even run their campaigns for them (Diebold!).

And the Democrats say nothing. NOTHING!

I'm a lifelong Democrat tearing my hair out here. How could my party do this to me?

Corruption. Lousy, venal corruption. We need a BIG BROOM, friends. And it's not just the GOP that needs their house cleaned.

[...of J.Temperance]

55. There's

Definately something weird happening with the entire Democratic Party. I know they're either bought off or threatened, but if ALL of them stood up and said something, isn't there safety in numbers?

They know themselves they're losing because of Diebold, isn't the first rule of a politician to make sure they keep their seat? WTF is wrong with them?

Maybe when the Senate returns, all of our side could just not turn up as a protest and stay at home until SOMEBODY is willing to take on Diebold and at least force them to have a paper trail.

[Spiffarino]

8. He probably would be doing better...

...if he'd been elected either time.

[kestrel91316]

18. Or if he were actually a leader, rather than a spoiled punk.

[Spiffarino]

42. Well, yeah. There's THAT little problem, too.

:rofl:

[indepat]

9. Wonder what the ratings would be had the MSM did its job rather than

being a propaganda arm for this Administration by shilling for its actions and covering up its boo-boos?

[kestrel91316]

19. He'd be running about NEGATIVE 38.5% approval. If that's possible.

[amerfayed]

53. C-Span's Washington Journal proved just that...

During a recent call-in poll, the first 8 callers disapproved of Bush and Iraq. Once Brian Lamb began begging for callers, I think it ended up 18 of 25 against this administration, about 72% disapproval rate.
af

[FourStarDemocrat]

59. Welcome to DU amerfayed!

:-)

[kskiska]

10. Where is that Karl Rove-Karen Hughes magic these days?

I remember reading early on, when things were going oh so well, how they even had scripts written up for a year or so in advance. Whatever happened to their "Communities of Character" tour planned for Sept. 2001?

[Inland]

12. Just about right for two term criminal assholes, thought. nt

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

14. "This president should be glad he's not running for re-election"

Bullshit.

He ran for re-election nine months ago.

Were we REALLY that much "better off" in November 2004? If Bush ran RIGHT NOW he'd pull the same dirty tricks he pulled nine months ago, and the same people who voted for him then would be manipulated into voting for him again.

"It's very important for him to keep the base support in terms of getting things done"...she's RIGHT. September 30th, Bush's "Tax Advisory Panel" turns in their "recommendations" for a "fair and simple tax." ONE of the recommendations GUARANTEED to be on the list is the "National Sales Tax," also being called "The Fair Tax."

http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=press/release2005&file=NRST-comments.htm&bhfv=2&bhqs=1

Retailers File Comments Urging Rejection of Consumption Tax

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2005 - The National Retail Federation today announced that it has filed comments with the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform urging the panel to reject economically risky proposals to replace the nation's income tax system with a consumption tax or to add a new consumption tax on top of existing taxes.

"The United States should not experiment with a brand new tax system that will put our economic future at risk," NRF said. "It is better to engage in substantial reforms of the income tax that are designed to eliminate some of the major complications in the current Internal Revenue Code and stimulate economic growth without causing major economic dislocation."

NRF's remarks came in response to proposals for tax reform that were presented to the Advisory Panel during a series of hearings this spring. The panel asked for public comments on the proposals last month.

NRF on Friday submitted a detailed statement outlining the dangers of various consumption tax proposals. The statement addressed the National Retail Sales Tax proposed by Representative John Linder, R-Va., plans for a Value Added Tax similar to those used in Europe, and other consumption tax proposals.

The NRF statement cited a study commissioned by NRF in 2000 that found that a national sales tax would bring a three-year decline in the economy, a four-year decline in employment and an eight-year decline in consumer spending. The study showed that similar results could be expected if other types of consumption taxes were enacted to replace the current system.

NRF argued that consumption taxes are inherently regressive because low-income families spend virtually their entire incomes while wealthier families have larger percentages of unspent income that would go untaxed.

NRF particularly urged the Advisory Panel to reject proposals to maintain the current tax system while adding a VAT or other new tax that would be used to pay for programs such as Social Security or health care. Doing so would amount to a tax increase rather than tax reform and would provide lawmakers with "a money machine" to finance increases in government spending, NRF said.

[halsaxby]

15. Poll numbers don't mean squat....

when you've got electronic voting machines. http://home.comcast.net/~clotheshorse1967/video/curtis121304.wmv">Clinton Curtis Testimony

[tabasco]

16. Borrow and spend republicans are living on our grandkids dime.

The base that supports this moran does so because they want the US to conquer all the ay-rabs. But the base is not paying the price for our war of conquest. They are not joining the Army and they are not paying higher taxes because the republicans just put it on the credit card.

[HockeyMom]

20. Start hurting people in their WALLETS and it will sink him even more

Putting aside Iraq, these gas prices (incl. utilities, groceries, etc.)will sink his number even more. The Bankruptcy Bill hasn't taken effect yet either. Wait until that kicks in. Like your new part time WalMart job without benefits?

If his foreign policy doesn't get him, his domestic agenda will.

[cliss]

28. You hit the bulls-eye.

I just finished reading a book by Robert Prechter, "Conquer the Crash". He writes; "When an economy is sliding downward, leaders are thrown out. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Voters do not appear to care which party is in power at such times, they jus throw whomever they perceive to be in in charge, and his party,out of power.

This is true of elected leaders all over the earth. For an instructive case in point, study the fortunes of Nixon, who won a 2nd term in a landslide in late 1972 at a major top and was hounded from office less than 2 years later as the Dow suffered its largest decline since 1937-38.

Or consider George Bush who enjoyed record presidential approval ratings in 1991 and yet lost the election just a year later amidst the deepest slide in S&P companies' earnings since the 1940's.

You're absolutely right about this, and now you have the backing of a Ph.D. from MIT. It's the ECONOMY, stupid George.

[HockeyMom]

34. I was in my 20s during the Nixon Administration

Yes, the war in Vietnam was a major issue, but it was ONLY Nam, not a doctrine of preemptive warfare. You also didn't have Nixon pushing class warfare of rich against poor/middle class. Privatize this, privatize that. Plus, RELIGION was not an issue at all in the Nixon era.

All things considered, Bush is WORSE than Nixon.

[alarcojon]

21. Holding on to his base

I'm telling you, he could screw a sheep on the WH lawn, laughing to himself about how he lied to get us into Iraq, snorting line after line of coke, and he would still get 35% approval. It astonishes me.

[raccoon]

54. I have to agree with you.

It astonishes me too. I can only think that it's because the corporate media downplays or totally ignores anything Bush does that can be perceived as "bad" (I am not counting unwarranted attacks on other countries, which can be spun into being a "strong leader.")
and also, a lot of people who still have their heads firmly up their arses either perceive him as a "winner" or else don't want to admit that they've been snookered.

[ignatius 2]

22. Fine line between loyalty and enabling a psychopathic murderer.

The republican cult is alive and well.

[wakeme2008]

23. Wait until Gas hits 3.00-3.50 per gallon

and see what his poll numbers are.... :)

[DBoon]

36. The "base" will just blame Clinton/liberals/homos

these people are self deluded

[Zynx]

51. The base is hopeless. They are conspiritorial about Bush's failures.

They think everything that has gone wrong for Bush is one big conspiracy.

[Mike_The_Computer]

24. Bush's conservo-fuckwit "base" are flaming, friggin retards

Just needed to say that.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

26. Now tell us how you really feel.... welcome to DU Mike... :)

[catmandu57]

27. He's wearing cement shoes

Things are coming together that will spell either the end of this idiot* and all his henchmen, or, the end of us. That I truly believe that in an act of desperation this spoiled fucking brat would inflict as much damage as possible before it's taken out.

If you take in to account Cindy in Texas and the gathering momentum there, plus the rise of gasoline, plus the rise of casualties in Iraq, plus the sabre rattling about Iran, plus the fact that he's* done absolutely nothing domestically that doesn't help anyone but the corporations and the wealthy, there isn't any way to raise his numbers.

Also, the effect of the bankruptcy law will fall like a hammer next spring. After a cold dark winter, when people will be forced to choose between food and staying warm, that's going to be affecting not only the chimp, but the reptiles in congress as well.

I think that if I were a regular run of the mill reptile I'd be getting very nervous.

[Gman]

31. By this time next year

Rove will be incarcerated, Delay will be incarcerated and every Republican will be running from Bush like the devil from Holy Water.

[Barrett808]

32. Vote this up -- 3/5 with 500 votes n/t

[wli]

38. he's not worried, he's got Diebold on his side n/t

[Disturbed]

41. When qas hits $5 per gallon

heating oil doubles this winter and groceries go up 40% the Amerikan Bush Cult will whine and blame all of it on Liberals.

[steely]

43. I believe I can sum this up succinctly.

I used to think I could repect the office, if not the man, but he's a shithead. What else can I say?

[lovuian]

44. Bush Approval a Low for Recent 2-Termers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5210547,00.html

Monday August 15, 2005 3:16 AM


AP Photo WX108

By WILL LESTER

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's standing with an American public anxious about Iraq and the nation's direction is lower than that of the last two men who won re-election to the White House - Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton - at this point in their second terms.

But solid backing from his base supporters has kept Bush from sinking to the depths reached by former presidents Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Bush's father. Truman decided not to run for re-election. Nixon resigned. Carter and the first President Bush were defeated in re-election campaigns.

``This president should be glad he's not running for re-election,'' said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst from the American Enterprise Institute. ``But the president is clearly holding his base. It's very important for him to keep the base support in terms of getting things done.''

Indeed, Republicans in Congress already are starting to fret about the 2006 election. If Bush's approval ratings sink lower, more of them may be unwilling to go along with his major initiatives for fear it could cause backlash for them with voters.

Bush's job approval in recent polls ranges from the low- to mid-40s. It was 42 percent in the latest AP-Ipsos poll. His ratings on everything from handling Iraq to the economy to Social Security and other domestic issues are at their lowest levels so far.

Reagan was at 57 percent at this stage of his presidency and Clinton was at 61 percent, according to Gallup polling at the time.

The partisan divide for Bush is stark - 80 percent of Democrats disapprove of his overall performance while nearly 90 percent of Republicans approve.

more...

He is sooo BAD!!!

[gatorboy]

45. I can't see it going below 30 myself.

I'd say 30% of the population consists of the Con die-hards and they won't admit to a mistake for nothin'.

It's the "on the fence" folks that should have their heads examined for giving this guy another term.

[Pacifist Patriot]

56. I think die-hards are lower than that.

Brainless idiots make up the balance.

[Iowa]

46. I predict that he has come close to bottoming out...

He'll hover in the 40-45% range and then inch up before the 2006 elections. His handlers like to create extremely low expectations. They push all kinds of nasty crap, and then sit back and observe the fallout. When a massive, across the board, outrage that one would expect from an educated, civilized society doesn't materialize, they push an even more sinister agenda. They're probably ecstatic that they have been allowed to perpetrate so much evil, yet still command the approval of 42% of the country (if one believes the polls). It's all about momentum in an election year - and fence-sitters have short memories. Just wait a few weeks/months. He'll start inching up toward 50%+ and the media will be gushing about a mandate. And our Vichy Dems will be raising their hands, waving their arms in the air, and shouting, "ooh-ooh!! - me too!! - me too!!". I hope I'm wrong.

[SoCalDem]

47. No surprise.. the pre-election polls were shit.. he just stole a 2nd one

and once again, the public said.. "hey, no biggie..we'll just try harder next time".:grr:

[Vogon_Glory]

48. GWB's Got Three More Years For his Ratings To Sink Lower eom

[0007]

49. junior is a true little leaguer. No doubt about it.

A wimpy cheer leader trying to impress the little boys.

[Roland99]

50. Be sure to vote up that article and email it around!

[paineinthearse]

57. Boston Globe used far less-flattering photos than the little league pic.

On the home page


Bush approval a low for recent 2-termers
Solid backing from his base has kept Bush from the depths reached by Truman, Nixon -- and Bush's dad. (AP)
(Isn't this a portion of the flight suit photo?).

...& for the main AP story.


President Bush flashes a "thumbs-up" after declaring the end of major combat in Iraq as he speaks aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast in this May 1, 2003 file photo. Recent polls suggest the continuing war in Iraq is one of the factors in the sagging populatity of the President. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)