Worst job approval ratings ever

[Adam D]

Bush approval hits new lows in poll
Support for war in Iraq also lowest ever



(CNN) -- President Bush holds a single-point lead over Democratic challenger John Kerry in the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll of likely voters, but voters' approval of Bush's performance and support for the war in Iraq dropped to new lows in the survey.

With nearly six months remaining before the November election, Bush led Kerry 48 percent to 47 percent in the survey -- a reversal of a poll taken last week, which found the Massachusetts senator with a 1-point edge, 49-48.

With consumer advocate Ralph Nader's independent candidacy factored in, the latest results showed Bush the choice of 47 percent of likely voters. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee, had 45 percent. Nader had 5 percent

The poll, conducted Friday through Sunday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, meaning the presidential race remains close.

The survey found that among all adults -- not just likely voters -- only 46 percent approved of Bush's performance in office -- the lowest rating of his presidency in this poll.

After April's heavy casualties in Iraq and the emerging scandal of the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops, only 44 percent said they believed the war was worthwhile -- another low.

Fifty-four percent said last year's invasion of Iraq was a mistake, and only 41 percent of adults said they believed Bush was doing a good job handling the war.

Only 37 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the United States -- a sharp drop from early January, when 55 percent said they were satisfied. Those findings had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Bush's handling of terrorism issues remained his strongest point among American adults.

Fifty-four percent of those surveyed said they approved of his performance.

Those poll also said he would do a better job than Kerry by 17 percentage points -- 55-38.

Only 41 percent of voters said they thought Bush was doing a good job handling the economy, with 56 percent disapproving; and 58 percent said they disapproved of how he was handling the war in Iraq.

On economic matters, 54 percent said they thought Kerry would do a better job, while on Iraq, Bush held a 3-point advantage over Kerry, 48-45.

The survey found the country was split over how Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has handled his job, with 46 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving.

But less than a third of those questioned thought Rumsfeld should resign or be fired over the Abu Ghraib scandal.

[Xodiac]

So...you emphasized all the anti-bush statistics (with bold) and left the pro-Bush statistics alone.

Now that I think about it, this is actually a pretty good analogy for what people do when arguing politics in any scenario.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by Xodiac
So...you emphasized all the anti-bush statistics (with bold) and left the pro-Bush statistics alone.

Now that I think about it, this is actually a pretty good analogy for what people do when arguing politics in any scenario.

None of them are really very positive for Bush. 54% approval for his best policy area is still pretty sad. If I wanted to emphasize all fo the anti-bush statistics I would have bolded the entire thing.

[bfp]

Prison scandal = Approval ratings drop . Even though he had nothing to do with it.

That was expected.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by bfp
Prison scandal = Approval ratings drop . Even though he had nothing to do with it.

That was expected.

Sure, but explain his approval ratings on other issues.

[bfp]

Only 37 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the United States -- a sharp drop from early January, when 55 percent said they were satisfied. Those findings had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

On what issues? They give no specifics, so I can't respond.

On economic matters, 54 percent said they thought Kerry would do a better job, while on Iraq, Bush held a 3-point advantage over Kerry, 48-45.

I have NO idea how anyone thinks that Kerry would do a better job than Bush regarding the economy, being that over 1.1 Million jobs have been created over the past 8 months. Manufacturing is even seeing great numbers. You can't argue with empirical data. Obviously they're ill-informed.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by bfp
On what issues? They give no specifics, so I can't respond.

They are the same general job performance questions used in every poll.

I have NO idea how anyone thinks that Kerry would do a better job than Bush regarding the economy, being that over 1.1 Million jobs have been created over the past 8 months. Manufacturing is even seeing great numbers. You can't argue with empirical data. Obviously they're ill-informed.

Well, for one, there's still a deficit in jobs created over the past 4 years. Two, the economy still isn't that good, just yesterday there was fears of the dow dropping below 10,000 again.

[bfp]

Two, the economy still isn't that good, just yesterday there was fears of the dow dropping below 10,000 again.

The dow dropped on fears of rising intrest rates, mainly because the economy was doing better than expected.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by bfp
The dow dropped on fears of rising intrest rates, mainly because the economy was doing better than expected.

That is why the dow dropped. Iif the economy is not sturdy enough to weather such concerns, then perhaps it is not as strong as you would like to believe.

[bfp]

Originally posted by Adam D
then perhaps it is not as strong as you would like to believe.

The liberal mantra for dumbing down the best economic growth in 20 years.

[Adam D]

Originally posted by bfp
The liberal mantra for dumbing down the best economic growth in 20 years.

According to who?

[Adam D]

P.S. I know you love being a jingoist and all, but in the future please make an actual contention rather than a jumble of jingo.

[Ryan]

This might be the one and only time I ever agree with bfp. The DOW likely dropped for fear of interest rates and the drop really is not that significant. Most inverstors are sheep, so any irrational expectations will cause them to dump their stock. I'm buying their cheap stock right now.

[Ryan]

By the way, I still hate Bush, just so noone gets confused.

[bfp]

Originally posted by Ryan
By the way, I still hate Bush, just so noone gets confused.

Couldn't help but laugh.