Bush Approval Falls to 33%, Congress Earns Rare Praise

Pew Research ^ | March 15, 2006

[jmc1969]

In the aftermath of the Dubai ports deal, President Bush's approval rating has hit a new low and his image for honesty and effectiveness has been damaged. Yet the public uncharacteristically has good things to say about the role that Congress played in this high-profile controversy.

Most Americans (58%) believe Congress acted appropriately in strenuously opposing the deal, while just 24% say lawmakers made too much of the situation.

The new Pew survey underscores the public's alarm over the prospect that an Arab-owned company could have operated U.S. ports. There was broad opposition to the proposed deal from across the political spectrum, including two-to-one disapproval among conservative Republicans (56%-27%).

Bush's overall approval measure stands at 33%, the lowest rating of his presidency.

The president's ratings for handling of several specific issues, particularly terrorism, have also declined sharply. Just 42% now approve of Bush's job in handling terrorist threats, an 11-point drop since February. In January 2005, as Bush was starting his second term, 62% approved of his handling of terrorist threats.

Bush's personal image also has weakened noticeably, which is reflected in people's one-word descriptions of the president. Honesty had been the single trait most closely associated with Bush, but in the current survey "incompetent" is the descriptor used most frequently.

Congress has drawn bipartisan praise from the American public for its response to the possible transfer of U.S. port operations to a United Arab Emirates company. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats (68%), and roughly half each of independents (53%) and Republicans (49%) said Congress acted appropriately, though a third of Republicans felt too much was made of the issue.

[CyberAnt]

So you're saying that "not being aligned with a party" means a person is and IND ..?? Really ..?? I think it means they're too lazy to get involved in voting.

[Bubbatuck]

Yes I see those numbers. And I've explained them to you.

I've also explained why they shouldn't be adjusted the way you want them to.

It's also been explained to you that even if they ARE adjusted the way you want, he's still below 38% approval.

So your very best scenario is that he's really at 38%, not 33%. Does that make you feel appreciably better?

[roses of sharon]

They energize FR's long-time trolls too, who are very useful to the enemy.

LOL, with their diatribes against Cheney at few weeks ago, it is they who have no cred.

[HitmanLV]

Congress's approval went up when they openly defied Dubya on the ports deal. You may be on to something, but the renewal will come at the cost of a relatively impotent Republican president through 2008.

[MikeHu]

Why don't they hire some cub reporters to go out and report on some real news -- instead of laying them all off so they can keep only those with seniority who never get out of their double-wide LaZy Boys anymore but only rewrite what they get sent over the AP Newswire as "facts."

I'm sure there must be something going on in their communities they can write about. They've probably heard rumors that their newspaper might not be around much longer. That's the problem with these polls; it's a distraction from the fact that they have really nothing to report, no reason for their continued existence but to fabricate the news.

Turn out the lights and save the trees.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>I think it is perfectly legitimate to question any President's competence. In fact, President Reagan's competence was intensely question in his second term...and he had approval ratings lower than President Bush has.

That is not true. Reagan's second term JA numbers were never as low as Bush's second term JA numbers are today. See for yourself: Job Performance Ratings for President Reagan

 

Date	Organization	Approve	Disapprove	No Opinion	Sample Size	Notes
12/27-29/88	Gallup	63	29	8
11/11-14/88	Gallup	57	35	8
10/21-24/88	Gallup	51	38	11
9/25-10/1/88	Gallup	54	37	9
8/19-22/88	Gallup	53	37	10
7/15-18/88	Gallup	54	36	10
7/1-7/88	Gallup	51	35	14
6/24-27/88	Gallup	48	40	12
6/10-13/88	Gallup	51	39	10
5/13-22/88	Gallup	48	43	9	3021
5/2-8/88	Gallup	50	38	12
4/8-11/88	Gallup	50	39	11
3/8-12/88	Gallup	51	37	12
3/4-7/88	Gallup	50	42	8
1/22-25/88	Gallup	49	40	11	2061
1/8-17/88	Gallup	50	41	9	2109
12/4-7/87	Gallup	49	41	10
10/23-26/87	Gallup	51	41	8
8/24-9/2/87	Gallup	49	42	9
8/7-10/87	Gallup	45	41	14
7/10-13/87	Gallup	49	43	8	1607
6/8-14/87	Gallup	53	40	7
6/5-8/87	Gallup	47	44	9
4/10-13/87	Gallup	48	43	9	1571
3/14-18/87	Gallup	47	44	9
3/6-9/87	Gallup	43	46	11
1/16-19/87	Gallup	49	42	9	1562
12/5-8/86	Gallup	48	43	9
12/4-5/86	Gallup	47	44	9
10/24-27/86	Gallup	63	29	8	1559
9/13-17/86	Gallup	63	26	11
9/12-15/86	Gallup	61	25	14
8/8-11/86	Gallup	61	27	12
7/11-14/86	Gallup	63	28	9	1539
6/9-16/86	Gallup	64	26	10
6/6-9/86	Gallup	61	29	10
5/16-19/86	Gallup	68	23	9	1004
4/11-14/86	Gallup	62	29	10	1552
3/4-10/86	Gallup	63	26	11
1/10-13/86	Gallup	64	27	9	1570
12/6-9/85	Gallup	63	29	8
11/11-18/85	Gallup	65	24	11
11/1-4/85	Gallup	62	28	10
10/11-14/85	Gallup	63	29	8	1540
9/13-16/85	Gallup	60	30	10	1021
8/16-19/85	Gallup	57	32	11
8/13-15/85	Gallup	65	26	9
7/12-15/85	Gallup	63	28	9	1536
6/7-10/85	Gallup	58	32	10
5/17-20/85	Gallup	55	37	8
4/12-15/85	Gallup	52	37	11	1525
3/8-11/85	Gallup	56	37	7	1571
2/15-18/85	Gallup	60	31	9	1557
1/25-28/85	Gallup	64	28	8	1528
1/11-14/85	Gallup

[Walkin Man]

A lot of KoolAid-lovin' FReepers are going to have a stroke when they see the results this November, I think.

I agree. Maybe when the rat party takes control of the House and starts impeachment proceedings against Dubai W, they will realize the American public is sick to death of republican BS.

In the meantime the fantasy continues that all the polls are wrong.

[Bubbatuck]

I don't understand.

The polls aren't done by newspapers. They're done by professional polling firms, often commissioned by a news outlet.

Why do they do it? Because it's news - obviously, people are interested in this stuff. We're discussing it, aren't we?

[HitmanLV]

There is no justification for having 32% ind. That number just does not exist. There is no GREAT independent voter that's anywhere near the numbers of repubs or dems. If you think there is .. you're deceived.

Look, is it just that you don't get it or that you are fighting for dear life not to get it?

This is about how the voter self identifies as his or her status. It's not that 32% are supporting an independent candidate. It's that 32% don;t identify as either dems or pubbies, that's all.

I have been a registered republican since 1986, age 18. If I were polled today, I would self identify as an independent. That doesn't mean I am backing an independent candidate for any office - it means I don't identify myself as a dem or a GOPer, that's all. This is not a difficult concept, though you are having a remarkably difficult time with it.

[zarf]

Bush doesn't have the political clout or credibility to bomb anyone now.

He's CINC. It's all the clout he needs.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. if the guy is that bad - just throw in the towel and go home - it's all over.

I give up - you people are just too stupid to realize the media is lying through their teeth. Go ahead and believe this mess .. and it will break your heart in 2006 when the dems lose and lose and lose again and again and again - because the AMERICAN PEOPLE are totally fed up with the lying - smearing - Bush haters.

AND - FOR YOUR INFORMATION .. I don't happen to think the President's speeches are "INEFFECTIVE" and your statement tells me who and what you are and how you vote. Besides, the condescending attitude - talking down to me like I'm a 2 year old - gave you away!

Quite frankly .. I don't give a RIP what you think!!

[Apercu]

The MSM "polls for trolls" are a means to an end - part of the impeach President Bush strategy - at any cost.If the DemocRATS wish to live on fantasy island blinded by their hatred, let'em. As they attempt to whip their own base into a frenzy (along with the disaffected know nothings who don't vote anyway), they repeatedly expose their treasonous demagoguery and hypocrisy.The unfortunate consequence is to put our troops in even more harms way by their fifth column, giving aid & comfort to the enemy, antics.

[HitmanLV]

Thanks for this wonderful, sobering post.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I have one question .. if there is only a 3% difference between the dems and repubs - why are the pollsters using 12+ - 14+ dems ..??

BECAUSE THEY ARE LOADING THE POLL TO GET THE ANSWER THEY WANT - I HAVE PROVEN MY POINT!!

Thank you so much!!!!

[Bubbatuck]

nope... you've proved nothing. In fact, it's been explained to you before, a few times.

You're either not reading the explanations, or just not understanding them. But the fact remains, that with a large enough sample, there's no reason to adjust the numbers. You could conduct this same exact poll without ever asking about party identification.

[roses of sharon]

Of course they like them, LOL, it is obvious!

When FR's true "conservatives" get their guys on the left win back the Congress and the Presidency, their "conservative" agenda will passed, and peace and prosperity will reign again.

See, makes sense, right?

[Reagan Man]

Stop being in denial.

[HitmanLV]

Not really. Congress can refuse to budget a prospective military adventure, for example.

Bush needs to improve his personal credibility before he can comvince the american people that the USA should attack another country. Right now, he doesn't have the credibility.

He has the power, but doesn't have the public support to use it in the way you suggest.

[1035rep]

Very thoughtful post and I agree. GWB is the right man for the job.

[pollyannaish]

Hmmm. I am pretty sure that Dr. Deb had some polling from other outlets that had lower numbers for President Reagan during Iran Contra especially.

I'm headed in right now, or I would find a link.

You may be right and I really don't feel like arguing about this because frankly, I don't care because it really doesn't' matter. It is what it is. But I will try to find that information eventually and post it when I do.

Thanks for the info.