The same 61% say Clinton was the best, i.e. the “historians” are moronic Leftist hacks.
In a few decades Bush will be hailed as a genius and Clinton a buffoon. Right now the historians are only reciting the popularity numbers, not the effectiveness of their presidency. When it’s over Bush will have removed a brutal dictator and his male heirs, removed the nuclear programs of Iraq, Libya, North Korea and possibly Iran. He conquered 2 countries filled with brutal extremists. He help lay the foundation of reasonable governments in a very unreasonable part of the world. He prevented the Kyoto treaty from forever damaging our economy. He showed that you can lead without following polls. He also showed that the term lame duck does not have to apply if you don’t let it.
Now, there were many bad things such as border control, the prescription drug plan and his coziness with his democratic enemies. I think those will be forgotten in history.