Yes, Obama's Approval Rating Is Down. . .But Not as Much as Everyone Else

Amongst friends, I've openly pondered, why are President Obama's approval ratings so low? All things considered--and that would be the relentless and constant opposition from Republicans in and out of elected office--I think he's doing a pretty good job. I don't agree with everything he's done, and some of the stuff that sort of carried over from Bush? Yeah, I could do without a bunch of that. But on balance, I think he's been a pretty good president. Certainly better than anyone who ran against him.

 

Image from source, NewsCorpse

But I get it that Right Wing World hates him. Hates. Him. That would be somewhat understandable, if it was simply a response to his policies, but it's been like this from Day 1 (or earlier), and hasn't dissipated, it's only gotten worse. And they hate him even for things that they used to be for. It's transparent, naked hatred (and I don't know if you happened to notice, but he's black). So, anyway, I'd get it if his approval ratings were hovering around 50%. That would make sense. But in the 40s?

I'd chalk it up to a fickle, easily distracted, easily led, not particularly interested public, except for the fact that Obama's ratings are among the best of the rest of our elected officials! 'Course, people could still be disconnected and hate 'em all, I suppose. But before the Boehners and McConnells and the rest get too overjoyed about Obama's predicament, they should look at their own numbers. And before the completely sell their souls to the Tea Party, they should look to see who is at rock bottom.

[Excerpt]

GOPee Yew: What The Media Isn’t Telling You About Obama’s Poll Numbers

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll (pdf) has some decidedly bad news for President Obama. The American people, according to this survey, are losing patience with the President and expressing it with low opinions of his job performance, foreign policy, and leadership. It is a distinct concern for him as his administration heads into its final two years. That said, the news isn’t all bad. But far be it for the media to put the results in context so that people get a balanced perspective of the nation’s mood. In addition to the floundering numbers, there are some areas that ought to produce some optimism for the President and those aligned with his policies. First among them is the fact that, while Obama’s numbers are nothing to write home about, his political rivals are doing so much worse that may want to run away from home. . .

Read more at: NewsCorpse

GOP Approval Rating in Dumper Amid "Scandal Week"

What a boner. Image from source, Examiner.com

It's made the news in the last few days that several polls show President Obama's approval rating to be doing just fine, even amid the heavy focus on three or four (if you count the idiotic umbrella-gate) potential scandals. But did you know polls are now showing that the GOP's approval raging is going down? I didn't know they could go lower, but there you go. And good for America, you're making me proud.

[Excerpt]

New poll: GOP favorability hits record low following 'Obama scandal' week

After a week of scandals, the dreaded "three-headed monster" of Benghazi, the IRS/Tea Party and the AP/DOJ phone records were supposed to sink the president, harm Hilliary Clinton and catapult the Republican party into the 2014 mid-term elections. While the media focus has highlighted the "three-headed monster," the American people don't seem to be pointing the finger of blame at the president. . .

Read more at: Examiner.com

George W. Bush Doesn't Give a Darn What You Think

Surprising absolutely no one, (still, for now) President George W. Bush doesn't give a darn what you think about him. Bush has long maintained that he doesn't follow polls--a questionable claim given Karl Rove's slavish attention to them--so at least he's being consistent. But what does it say when a President and his administration don't give a flying. . .darn. . .what the public thinks of them?

Bush's Disapproval Rating a Staggering 70%

Photo from parent source, Huffington Post

I know that conservatives would sneer at this headline and say, "George W. Bush isn't running for anything. His approval ratings don't matter!" Well, I respectfully disagree. When is the last time a party's President has suffered approval ratings so low, and seen their next candidate get elected?

Now, this has been an atypical campaign, and the electorate is strangely committed to their parties regardless of "the facts on the ground." But still. . .

[Excerpt]

Historic Disapproval: Bush Hits All-Time Low Amid Economic Meltdown

Barack Obama maintains an advantage on the economy, especially economic empathy, and he's cracked majority acceptance on his key challenge, experience. But the political center remains unrooted, keeping John McCain in the race, albeit against headwinds. . .

Read more at: ABC News (via Huffington Post)

Bush's Approval Rating Hits New Low

Photo from source, AOL News

These stories are always a little confusing, as different polls have different "all time lows." Some polls have shown The Decider's approval rating as staggeringly low as 19%. But it's always interesting when a poll that usually shows him higher than the rest reaches it's all time low. How low can he go?

[Excerpt]

Bush's Popularity Hits New Low

Five years after he green-lighted the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, President Bush faced strikingly low approval ratings as he reaffirmed his commitment to "accept no outcome but victory" in the war.

Just 31 percent of Americans approve of how President Bush is handling his job, according to a poll released Wednesday, the anniversary of the start of the conflict in 2003. . .

Read more at: AOL News

President Bush's Approval Rating Hits 19%

Whoa! How low can he go? Now, Bushies will say, "Bush isn't running for anything, you libtards!" True enough. But when is the last time a party stayed in power after such a staggeringly unpopular President left office?

I'll link to the boring poll results in a second. But it's much more fun to hear it from The Young Turks.



An now, the link, as promised: American Research Group

President Bush's Poll Ratings

Every once in a while, I check in with PollingReport.com to see what President Bush's poll ratings are. Conservatives would bellow, "but Bush isn't running for anything, you liberal moonbat!" True enough, but that isn't the only reason I'm looking.

Even more interesting than Bush's overall approval rating is precisely who thinks what of him. We on the left talk a lot about the intractable 25% of America who think that The Decider is doing a "heck of a job" no matter what. If that is true, it is just this bunch (and a very few others) who are currently in The Commander Guy's camp, and they're almost exclusively Republicans. Take a look:

All poll data from PollingReport.com. Click images to enlarge.

Why are Congress' Numbers So Low?

I'm having a little trouble getting inspired to post this evening. I've caught a cold that has been going around, and even had to beg off of a gathering with friends and The Other Half. Blah. Low-grade fever, stuffy head, and all-over ooginess.

Anyway, one thing I wanted to post about was the low approval ratings of Congress. I did a Google search, trying to find a newsworthy item to tie my idea to, but no dice. Not much there today.

So, I'll just wing it. Much has been made of the low approval ratings of the now 9-month old Democratic Congress. Conservatives love it of course, because when the President's own approval ratings are mentioned, they can point to Congress. Hey, it's better than the usual, "but, but, Clinton. . ." Of course, they cannot even do this one thing honestly, and gin up (or rather, down) the numbers. They constantly throw out an 11% number that I can't find anywhere.

My question is, why exactly are the numbers so low? I mean, I understand that Democrats feel like Congress isn't living up to the bargain. But what are the Republicans bitching about? The Republicans in Congress are doing everything that conservative voters want. For that matter, Democrats are (by action or lack of it) also doing everything conservative voters want.

Shouldn't Congress' numbers be hovering around 50% with this scenario? Or are Republicans so partisan-minded that they can't give approval to a Democratic Congress, even when they're getting all that they ask for?

Screen captures from: PollingReport.com

Bush Approval Ratings: Speedbump

A few days ago, I heard a little crowing on talk radio about Bush bumping up in the polls (up to 35% or so), allegedly due to the "success" of the "surge." I also heard an explanation--I think on one of the Sunday shows--that the bump was due exclusively to Republicans who had drifted back. Well, they're drifting away again. . . (click to view larger)

To read a little more on just who is supporting the Commander Guy, read on.

[Excerpt]

Bush down to his base of support

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer Wed Aug 8, 1:01 PM ET

WASHINGTON - To see the type of person who still backs him, President Bush need only look in the mirror. The president fits the composite of today‘s Bush supporter: a conservative, white, Republican man, an evangelical Christian who goes to church regularly. [snip]

Last month‘s AP-Ipsos poll showed that:
• Whites and Hispanics like him better than blacks.
• Married couples support him more than singles.
• The only subgroups where a majority of people give Bush the nod are Republicans (67 percent), conservatives (53 percent) and white evangelicals who attend religious services at least once a week (56 percent).

Read more: LocalNewsWatch.com

President's Star Once Again on the Rise!

OK, I found this sort of hilarious. I just got a gushy letter from the GOP, telling me how President Coo-Coo-Bananas' star is on the rise, while Congress in in the dumps. Check it out:



So, "dutiful Republican" that I am, I clicked through to find this:



No matter which of my browsers I tried (AOL, IE 7, FireFox), it was the same. No data! So, being quite unlike a dutiful Republican, I pursued the matter further. Here's what I found:



Yeah, well that's just stunning news! You have to be pretty hard up for positives when you spin those numbers!