"What does it matter about his approval rating? Did I miss a big change in the way things work now and he is eligible to run for office again?
What he needs to do now is tell us all this, "Hi America. I come to you now to explain how I am going to be handling the situation in the Middle East from now on. Congress isn't going to like it, the House isn't going to like it and a lot of you citizens aren't going to like it. But, I don't give a damn. It needs to be done. First off, we are going to be killing a lot of terrorists/insurgents/upset natives (What ever it is you like to call them now.) Secondly, we are going to be blowing a lot of shit up. This is how it is going to go until I feel it is time for us to pull out or until I am replaced as COMMANDER!"
Presidential Job Approval Ratings and Personal Favorability Ratings translate in how much of a bully pulpit the President has to implement his programs at any particular point in time. The fact that there are so many Republicans "off the reservation" right now and that the Democrats are so emboldened to take him on are directly related to his popularity with the American people. A very approved of and popular President can wield considerable influence just through his personality. An unpopular and weakened President, not so much.
No, but lots of his allies are, and these low approval ratings are bad news for us in 2008, just as they were in 2006. Somebody mentioned Truman's low approval ratings. In 1952, backlash voters voted Republican across the board and gave the GOP control of the Presidency and both houses of Congress for the first time since 1930. If Bush doesn't do something to change his standing we'll probably be enduring the same thing next year.
Guess that would depend upon which demorat you want to win the 2008 election. I short friend it hurt the party.