Poor Pathetic Bush hopes for lift from "upbeat" economic reports

[leftchick]

U.S. President George W. Bush walks across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One helicopter December 3, 2005. (Mannie Garcia/Reuters)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051203/pl_nm/bush_economy_dc_1

Bush hopes for lift from upbeat economic reports By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, trying to lift his sagging approval ratings, has launched a push to take credit for recent positive economic news the public has largely shrugged off.

In one example of the pessimism, an ABC/Washington Post poll taken in the month ended November 13 showed 64 percent of Americans described the economy as poor or not so good, with only 36 percent judging it to be good or excellent.

That dovetails with November 17-20 Gallup poll that found just 36 percent of Americans thought the economy was getting better while 58 percent saw it as getting worse.

"I think the White House is very frustrated," said Cesar Conda, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney. "There's been good data on gross domestic product, employment and business spending, and even oil prices are receding. But it's not reflected in the polling data on Americans' views."

In addition to a desire to stem a slide in the president's own popularity, Bush aides hope honing the economic message will help create a more favorable environment for Republicans ahead of next year's congressional elections.


... Lots of luck chimpy.