Bush Gets Year-End Boost in Approval (Bush Approval at 59%: ABC News/Washingto Post)

Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, December 22, 2003 | By Dan Balz and Richard Morin

[dangus]

Growing optimism about the economy and a spike in support for going to war in Iraq have given President Bush a sharp year-end boost in his approval ratings... The boost for Bush comes after the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and a succession of brighter economic indicators that helped to reverse a decline in his ratings that began in the early fall. His overall approval rating stands at 59 percent in the poll, the highest since August, when increased U.S. casualties and terrorist attacks in Iraq led the public to question his policies.

[dangus]

No-one posted this so I did...

Good news: only 42% of Americans think the economy is OK. Why is this good news? Because if Bush is doing this well in lean times, imagine what he'll be doing when we start to feel the effects of the twin surges in productivity and GDP.

And Great News: Dean is getting clobbered by 18%. In 1992, I thought, "Do you Dems care about nothing but victory?" In 2004, I can't help but think that they don't give a d@mn about victory.

OK, troops: Like I keep saying, this isn't grounds for getting complacent; it's grounds to go on the offensive. Let's make sure we pull within striking range of 60 Senators!

[dangus]

O... and I usually hang out in the Religion section... If anybody has any political ping lists of people they think'd be interested, please ping away.

[dead]

It also shows you how much the American people watched and/or believed what they heard during the 1,362 Democratic Presidential Candidate debates.

[Bluntpoint]

"In other news, Democrat strategists say they are not worried by Bush's numbers!"

[xrp]

Just wait til a little closer to the election when Bush Jr pulls Osama out of where Bush Jr has been hiding him for 18 months! HAW HAW HAW (/Madelene Albright off)

[Izzy Dunne]

Bush Approval at 59%:

I'll bet Tommy Dachshund is "deeply saddened" by this news...

[ClearCase_guy]

Although some of the Dem candidates have been hitting Dean lately, I think the past few months have seen 9 Democtats all saying "Bush is a disaster!" and the media saying "Bush is a disaster!" and Bush (of course) not even trying to defend himself. And his approval rating is 59%.

And when Bush actually starts campaigning, and telling people what he has done and why they should vote for him ... well, I think he'll do rather well.

[sticker]

The tears falling at du over this are going to make the Johnstown flood look like a coffee cup that was overfilled.

[princess leah]

Does anyone but the most rabid of democrats even pay attention to all those worthless DEM debates? Talk about a waste of campaign dollars - no WONDER they are down in their fundraising!

[Howlin]

Good news bump!

[KantianBurke]

"The public has a more negative view of Bush's handling of key domestic issues"

What a shame! All that gross pandering and "compassion" is being seen for what it really is. Electioneering and not viable solutions. Bush has done a terrible job when it comes to such things as out of control govt spending and bills such as the "Leave No Chil Behind" Act that doesn't help kids. President Bush, the American people are smarter than you're giving them credit for. Shrink the govt! They know it'll work much better than what you've been serving.

[dangus]

Are you kidding me? The candidates aren't paying for them... the special interest groups are, and the networks are simply grabbing cheap programming. Carol Mosely Braun and Al Sharpton are running 100%-pure free-publicity campaigns, and Al is STILL beating Breck Girl, Ketchup Boy and that wierd little Star-Trek convention freak who somehow looks like a cross between Adolf Hitler and Haley Joel Osment.

[Peach]

That IS good news. All in all it's been a pretty good news week and a half.

[Peter Jennings]

"Heads will roll when I find out who allowed these poll numbers to be reported on our newscast last night!"

Regards,

Peter Jennings

[dead]

Amen, brother.

He's got enough cash in his war chest now, maybe he'll start trying to win votes with his money and not mine.

[cwb]

I think you're exactly right. And while there are times that I wish Bush would put these media-crats in their place, his "staying above the fray" approach has made him look like the only adult in a room full of whining children.

[Admin Moderator]

Please include original titles when posting.

[dangus]

<< He's got enough cash in his war chest now, maybe he'll start trying to win votes with his money and not mine. >>

Great line!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

If the alphabet channels and the Washington Compost report that GW's approval rating is 59%, it's more like 79%. The Dems are in a full-blown panic. They're realizing that their anti-war antics PO'd everybody. Between that and Dean saying stupid things with the race too far along to dump him, the DemonRats have already thrown the 2004 election. But it's no time to get complacent, the media is going to go full bore against Bush even if he parts the Red Sea and turns water into wine.