n8rsk8r

Bush’s New Low: A 19% Approval Rating








A new poll by the American Research Group has pinned the President Bush’s approving rating at 19% - a new low for the President. For comparison, here are some approval ratings of other Presidents towards the end of their terms:

• Clinton: 65%
• Reagan: 64%
• Ford: 53%
• Carter: 34%
• Nixon: 24%

Another fact for comparison: at the end of his first term, President’s Bush’s approval rating was about 50%.
Will this signify trouble for the Republicans in the upcoming elections? It doesn’t seem like it would affect the Republican vote, considering McCain has been doing well in the primaries despite his vocal support of the President’s policies. However, it may be an indication of the swing of independent voters, who will be looking for something different than the status quo.
For now, November is still months down the road and it’s unknown exactly how the President will finish up his term and be remembered in the eyes of the American Public. Yet, numbers this low bespeak of larger troubles, ones that may plague the next presidency as well, whether it be Democrat or Republican. Dissatisfaction with the economy, the war, and rising gas prices is not likely to disappear early into 2009.
In fact, it may turn out to be that case that, unlike Bush’s Presidency, no large disaster will confront the nascent President. Rather, he may have to cope with several pre-developed crises instead: environmental, economic, and diplomatic troubles that are starting to loom today. The housing bubble seems to be collapsing, there are large debates are environmental issues, and relations are chilling between Russia and the West. These circumstances are frightening, to say the least, but they also represent an opportunity.
As it stands, power has been shifting between Republicans and Democrats for the past couple decades, with neither party holding a durable majority of control for very long. This is in contrast to the long periods of party dominance in the nation’s past: the long era of Republican popularity around Lincoln’s Presidency, the period of Democrat strength after the new deal, etc. If the next president can resolve the looming crises in a graceful, effective manner, we might see the watershed moment of a new party era.
Single-party dominance of the government may not be a good thing in terms of spending and accountability, but at least it tends to get things done. President Bush famously refrained from using his veto power for 5 1/2 years during the early part of his Presidency, helping Congress push through all sorts of bills and measures without fear of presidential rebuff. How will the next President handle such a power? Wisely, we can hope, if he wants higher than a 19% approval rating.

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rbohm

considering that congress's approval rating is even lower, bush isnt going to affect the republican nominee as badly as things might seem. obama and clinton are splitting the democrat party vote to the point where supporters on each side will refuse to vote for the other in the general election. john mccain has good support across the political spectrum, and while the hard core on each side will vote for their parties candidate, i think that mccain will carry the independants, and the moderates.

that said, if either obama or clinton win the general election, liberalism will be severely damaged, and may give the republicans power for several years.

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ReyRey

wait...people still approve of bush?

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n8rsk8r

I think this thing is squewed

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winndea

19% approve

1 in 5

Based on the booing at last night's opening game, that sounds about right.

n8rsk8r

that was a while ago too, the article that is. That is awesome they boo'd him! well most of the people there would/should be bluecollar working class folks!

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FreeBird

i would have ventured a guess closer to 10%

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n8rsk8r

mesa.t

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Mach1Run

I hear Lincoln had a higher approval rate in the CSA than Bush has in the entire USA.

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Jon


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FreeBird

but i think thats actually a fact.....

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