I knew he was taking a beating lately, but this is nuts.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/?ci=18148

Quote :

"Bush Approval Rating Continues to Drop Current 40% approval is lowest of administration to date PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll reflects further erosion in President George W. Bush's job approval rating, continuing the slow but steady decline evident throughout the year so far. The poll -- conducted Aug. 22-25 -- puts Bush's job approval rating at 40% and his disapproval rating at 56%. Both are the most negative ratings of the Bush administration. Bush's previous low point in approval was 44% (July 25-28, 2005) and his previous high point in disapproval was 53% (June 24-26, 2005). Bush's average approval rating for the last three Gallup Polls -- all conducted in August -- is 43%. The rolling average has been steadily declining throughout the year. Bush's average approval ratings for January, February, and March of this year were in the 50% to 52% range, but they then began declining slowly in subsequent months. Bush's average approval rating in May was 48%, declining to 46% in June, rising slightly in July, and then declining again to the current three-poll average of 43%. The following chart shows the rolling average for Bush's job approval rating this year, with each average consisting of three poll measurements. The current poll finds a drop in support for Bush among independents, and a small drop in support among Republicans to the lowest level of his administration. In two July polls in which Bush averaged an overall 49% approval rating, an average of 46% of independents approved. In the subsequent three polls (July 25-28, Aug. 5-7, and Aug. 8-11), Bush's overall approval average dropped to 45%, and his average support among independents fell to 37%. Now, in the current poll, 32% of independents approve. (An average of 41% of independents have approved across all 2005 polls to date, excluding the most recent poll.) Bush's support among Republicans -- although still very high -- is now at the lowest level of his administration. His current 82% approval rating among Republicans is down from the 85%, 86%, 87%, 87%, and 86% recorded in the last five polls prior to this one, and is below the 89% Republican approval rating he has received across all 2005 polls before the most recent poll. He has averaged a 92% approval rating among Republicans for his entire presidency. Bush's approval rating among Democrats remains very low. His current 13% is down slightly from his 2005 average (excluding the current poll) of 17% and down from his administration average among Democrats of 35%. Historical Comparisons There have been seven U.S. presidents re-elected to a second term since World War II (although two of them -- Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson -- had initially ascended to the presidency without being elected). Here's where they stood in August of the year after their re-election (or, in the case of Truman, in June): [click the link to see it] Bush's current 43% job approval rating is the lowest of all of these presidents with the exception of Richard Nixon, who was beset by the woes of Watergate by the summer of 1973. (Of course, Bush's most recent 40% is lower still by comparison.) Satisfaction The drop in President Bush's job approval rating has been accompanied by a continuing drop in the American public's overall satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States today. Just 34% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in this country in the Aug. 22-25 Gallup Poll, while 62% are dissatisfied. This is the lowest satisfaction level of the entire Bush administration to date and is the lowest recorded by Gallup since January 1996. The average satisfaction rating for 2005 before this poll has been 41%. The average for the five June, July, and August polls before this one in which satisfaction has been rated is 40%. Thirty-five percent of poll respondents identified themselves as Democrats, 29% as Republicans, and 34% as independents."

So, fellow pundits, to whom does Bush owe this distinction?

Cindy Sheehan with Michael Moore and MoveOn?

Karl Rove and Scooter Libby?

Iraq?

8/27/2005 5:23:19 PM

I wonder if all the idiots who voted for him regret it.

8/27/2005 5:27:51 PM

I don't. But the approval ratings are because of Iraq. America has a serious morale problem. And what's amazing is that the morale problem doesn't exist in Iraq. It exists here. You talk to the troops and they can see without the filter of the mainstream media what good they are doing.

But, I would rather the morale problem be here than there. You lose focus for a minute over there and you're dead.

8/27/2005 5:31:49 PM

blah blah media blah blah

8/27/2005 6:24:53 PM

He could have a 0% approval rating and it still wouldn't mean shit until 2008.(in Bush's case, it will never mean shit, unless he's just concerned with his legacy.)

8/27/2005 6:36:03 PM

Quote :

"You talk to the troops and they can see without the filter of the mainstream media what good they are doing."

that's funny, because the only ones I know hated it there, don't think it was worth it anymore, and tell me alot of their friends over there feel the same.

Also, don't forget that it's hard to be in a war that you don't believe in. People can convince themselves alot of things, including that their war is "doing good" when they dont' have any choice but to keep participating.

[Edited on August 27, 2005 at 6:59 PM. Reason : .]

8/27/2005 6:58:43 PM

hey, did you hear how that commander of forces in iraq said morale was high?????

8/27/2005 7:02:39 PM

Quote :

"that's funny, because the only ones I know hated it there, don't think it was worth it anymore, and tell me alot of their friends over there feel the same."

that's funny, because all of my buddies are the exact opposite of your buddies. I even know guys who signed up to go back.

Quote :

"Also, don't forget that it's hard to be in a war that you don't believe in."

It dosent matter if soliders agree or disagree. They do what their officers tell them to, and what congress and the president tell them to do.

The only reason Bush's ratings are down is because of Iraq. Look at what Vietnam did to Johnson.

8/27/2005 7:12:46 PM

I think its good to encourage the troops. We dont want anybody over there to hesitate and get their team blown up anymore than its happen in the past year. They just need to tie off that bleeding wound of government they wish to assemble and get the hell out.



And Never Ever Ever Ever EVVVEEEERRRR Go Back to that stink hole.

8/27/2005 7:28:33 PM

People are thinking with their gas tanks, I think.

8/27/2005 7:52:33 PM

now people are finally realizing Bush is a MORON

8/27/2005 9:19:09 PM

Quote :

" that's funny, because the only ones I know hated it there, don't think it was worth it anymore, and tell me alot of their friends over there feel the same."

should i be surprised that people that associate and talk with dirtygreek are not enjoying iraq and think we should leave?

no?

ok thats what i thought

8/27/2005 9:34:55 PM

Quote :

"Gamecat: So, fellow pundits, to whom does Bush owe this distinction? Cindy Sheehan with Michael Moore and MoveOn? Karl Rove and Scooter Libby? Iraq?"

[Edited on August 27, 2005 at 9:58 PM. Reason : moron = teh winn4r]

8/27/2005 9:57:09 PM

So we can expect approval ratings like this to continue worsening, then?

8/27/2005 10:14:32 PM

^ gas prices usually drop after Labor Day

8/27/2005 10:53:50 PM

now my also on point comment is going to get looked ove

8/27/2005 10:54:26 PM

The base will abandon him after the next terrorist attack. It will be another set of illegals, and he has done nothing about the borders. I'm sorry to say, but the only reason he won is because the democrats nominated a communist.

8/27/2005 11:59:29 PM

Quote :

"the morale problem"

bush only works in election years

8/28/2005 12:04:58 AM

yes, i will say it's wishful thinking, but i'd like for a special election like Germany is going to have. but, like i said; wishful thinking.

8/28/2005 12:10:23 AM

what left for bush to do:

whine about s.s.

blah balh patriot act

clinton got more done and he was a lame duck. the republicans rule the 3 branches now, and they cant even do shit.

8/28/2005 12:18:01 AM

I love how most of the Democrats got all excited that Dubya's numbers are falling when the reality is they are falling because of the worst morons who could not see the obvious. The rest may have seen it but generally were and still are on his side.

TGD, this is probably the most retarded explanation I've seen.

8/28/2005 12:27:53 AM

Quote :

"The only reason Bush's ratings are down is because of Iraq. Look at what Vietnam did to Johnson. "

yeah, that war was immoral, too.

Quote :

"should i be surprised that people that associate and talk with dirtygreek are not enjoying iraq and think we should leave?"

most of them were bush and war supporters before they left.

8/28/2005 12:34:22 AM

well at least you said "left"

and it's all about the gas prices.

i support the President in the Iraq war

but damn if i'm not pissed off about paying so goddamn much in gas to drive around looking for a job in an economy with horrible job growth.

so i am one of the ones that is currently getting disillusioned with this presidency.

8/28/2005 1:04:57 AM

Yep, of course, out of all the things you listed, jobs, gas prices, and the war; the war is the only one Bush had any control over.

8/28/2005 9:12:22 AM

Quote :

"Gamecat: So we can expect approval ratings like this to continue worsening, then?"

To a point, yes. He can only drop so far before you start digging into the real diehards though. Like I mentioned in another thread, I don't expect to see consistent survey results below 36-40% before he starts to go back up.

And I mean besides, Karl Rove is the evil genius remember?

---

Quote :

"MathFreak: TGD, this is probably the most retarded explanation I've seen."

How's that? You've devoted past threads to trashing the moronic Bible-thumping people on teh R1ght and their blind "aww shucks" redneck support of the President...if you believe that, do you really think they'd change their mind over something as trivial as bad news in the liberal media?

---

Quote :

"Josh8315: clinton got more done and he was a lame duck. the republicans rule the 3 branches now, and they cant even do shit."

You're kidding right? Do you even read the paper beyond the "OMF Iraq = Vietnam!!1" headlines?

8/28/2005 9:37:43 AM

Quote :

"How's that? You've devoted past threads to trashing the moronic Bible-thumping people on teh R1ght and their blind "aww shucks" redneck support of the President...if you believe that, do you really think they'd change their mind over something as trivial as bad news in the liberal media?"

No, I don't and they haven't.

8/28/2005 10:25:51 AM

Quote :

"He could have a 0% approval rating and it still wouldn't mean shit until 2008.(in Bush's case, it will never mean shit, unless he's just concerned with his legacy.)"

2006 midterms...but Congressional democrats still need to get their act together.

8/28/2005 10:33:52 AM

SOMEBODY STOP THE GAY MARRAGE TERRORISTS

8/28/2005 10:54:28 AM

Americans are so goddamn fickle

you wanna talk about approval ratings? Lets go back in history a few years. I'd like to use Mr. Lincoln as an example again. Many times during the Civil War, Republicans across the north were calling for Lincoln's head, as well as his entire cabinet.

Now I'm not comparing our sitiuation in Iraq to the Civil War, and I'm not comparing Bush to Lincoln (you cant) but approval ratings dont mean shit

You give people gas that costs 1.75 a gallon, and watch his approval ratings go up. Not everyone is pissed off about Iraq. The people that dont watch news, that could give two shits about whats going on in the world, are only concerned about why they are paying so much at the pump, and they blame Bush.

8/28/2005 12:49:37 PM

Bush could have a 0% approval rating, and I seriously think he still wouldn't care. The dude can't run for more than 2 terms anyway, so these are pretty much the last years he can be president. Nothing he does is going to extend or shorten his number of remaining years in office, so he's pretty much going to do whatever the hell he wants.

8/28/2005 12:59:53 PM

losing a lot of republican seats in congress in 2006 could make his job much harder for the last two years.

8/28/2005 1:16:36 PM

why people elected this man to a second term is still beyond me

8/28/2005 1:50:49 PM

^^
YES!!!

HE MAY NOT GET DONE HIS PLANS TO DO NOTHING!!!


iraq: stay the course
social sec.: stay the course

net work done: zero

[Edited on August 28, 2005 at 1:59 PM. Reason : -]

8/28/2005 1:58:59 PM

^^because Kerry would have been worse

8/28/2005 7:29:26 PM

I think its clear whats really going on here.

8/28/2005 8:31:30 PM

How about the most logical conclusion:

People are pissed because as gas prices go up, the media blares about impending Chinese domination, Jobs get outsourced, and economic growth begins to cool, we're in the middle of nowhere spending hundreds of billions of dollars on towel heads that are determined to kill us.

G fuckin G.

8/29/2005 11:32:13 AM

Quote :

"I don't. But the approval ratings are because of Iraq. America has a serious morale problem. And what's amazing is that the morale problem doesn't exist in Iraq. It exists here. You talk to the troops and they can see without the filter of the mainstream media what good they are doing. But, I would rather the morale problem be here than there. You lose focus for a minute over there and you're dead."

Sounds a lot like Vietnam. I hate to make that comparisson, but it does.

If the insurgency there is organized enough to pull a "Tet 2005", Bush can go ahead and start lining up the planes to bring the military back. If any kind of major battle erupts in Iraq, the American public is going to snap. Right now it seems like a lot of people are teetering between support and opposition, and the daily body count increase isn't helping. I think people have gotten used to swallowing 5 deaths here and 8 there, but if we something happens and we lose dozens in a major battle, it's over from the American public's standpoint.

8/29/2005 11:42:21 AM

Kinda off topic, but more journalists have died in this war than during the 20 years of the Vietnam War.

8/29/2005 11:43:48 AM

gotta get that promotion

8/29/2005 5:33:36 PM

^^ link?

8/29/2005 5:41:05 PM

^i heard this on some sort of network news yesterday. it was a report that must come out in the past few days. they mentioned it when some cameraman and ?reporter? were shot in the couple days.

[Edited on August 29, 2005 at 6:05 PM. Reason : ^]

8/29/2005 6:04:46 PM

Found it:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/28/iraq.journalists.reut/index.html

8/29/2005 6:26:59 PM

well, there's probably a ton more journalists there

8/29/2005 6:41:10 PM

Perhaps 10 times more journalists then.

8/29/2005 6:42:09 PM

i mean this is all outta my ass, but let's just take tv

back in the day it was just ABC, CBS, NBC and i guess PBS

now you've got all those +cable news

so there's more guys to kill right there

8/29/2005 6:50:52 PM

True true, fish in a barrel.

8/29/2005 7:22:57 PM

I think it's safe to say, at the same time, that covering this war is a lot more dangerous than Vietnam. You see, in Vietnam there was usually a front or dividing territory to do your reporting, but with bagdad and the sourounding area you're only safe in the green zone. That leaves little room to actually cover the fighting without leaving yourself open to all manner of deadly activity.

On a side note, I think we're all disillusioned as to the realities of war. We sit on our couches and see glimses of a rpg being fired. Then we all go oh well, war is hell, then flip the channel. Then we believe we know whats going on there. The truth is, sitting on the couch at home watching tv is the farthest thing from war there is. If you were to see the recieving of those bullets and not just the firing of them you wouldn't be so hunky dory. I comend a soldier for being a good soldier, but this needless bloodshed has gone on long enough. Do not let the "madness of militarism" (as Doctor King called it) cloud your thinking. There is more to war then what we see at home.

8/29/2005 7:37:55 PM

gallup hates our freedoms

8/29/2005 11:18:17 PM

Quote :

"The president’s popularity is lower than it’s ever before been for a president in a second term. Despite this, Bush ponders his legacy, but many historians are writing that he will go down as the worst president in history."

http://www.thecountycourier.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2056&Itemid=

8/30/2005 10:42:33 PM