Worse Than Nixon, Worse Than Truman

Chris Bowers has a good catch. The Gallup poll released yesterday shows George W. Bush with a  25% approval rating/70% disapproval, which puts him at the worst net approval rating for any president ever since Gallup started polling presidential popularity.

Bush has both the highest overall disapproval, and the lowest overall net approval / disapproval in any Gallup poll taken, ever. Keep in mind that this is a poll that has been functioning for more than 71 years.

While Truman and Nixon had even lower approval ratings (22% and 24% respectively) their net approval/disapproval ratings were slightly better than Bush's (Chris has the full historical chart), hence making Bush officially the least popular president ever.

Interestingly, -45% looks downright popular compared to some other recent polls. According to this chart over at Polling Report, the most recent Time and CNN polls both show Bush with -50% net approval and CBS has had Bush's approval rating at an all time low of 22% for two polls in a row.

As a sidenote, while the new NBC/WSJ poll gives Bush a slightly better 29 approve/66 disapprove, Chuck Todd's partisan breakdown of the numbers show how pathetic this number actually is.

As we mentioned above, Bush's approval rating in the NBC/WSJ poll is 29%. But it becomes just 10% when you exclude Republicans. That is just stunning. Remember, that 10% job approval is among Dems and indies. Sure, Democrats are anti-Bush, but indies are a 50-50 split between Obama and McCain, and they are pretty anti-Bush too.

Update [2008-10-7 15:4:26 by Jonathan Singer]: Ah, the milestones... It seems like it was just yesterday (well, back in April) that Bush set the all-time mark for the highest disapproval rating. Who'da thunk it that he'd be able to set another disapproval record -- and so soon?



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I had to laugh at the follow-up (none / 0)

Cause Chris Matthews said he'd like to talk to the people in the "Still approve Category" and ask them "what more does he need to do" for them to disapprove of his admin?

My take is, that is the hardest of the Evangelical right.

And, they absolve Bush of any blame for anything, they blame Gay Marriage and Abortion if a volcano erupts or a tsunami hits.


Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.
by WashStateBlue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:04:58 PM EST

Re: I had to laugh at the follow-up (none / 0)

I guess this must be all the people that ran out to watch An American Carol last weekend.


by gavoter on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:43:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Worse Than Nixon, Worse Than Truman (none / 0)

The approval ratings really do reflect a sort of sense by the American people, that they are being misled. I believe that the policy of "pre emptive self defense" and the unitary executive that were the hallmarks of the bush republicans will be done away with , in the next term.

Methinks Obama has a very, very big advantage in this election. It is troubling to see only plus six percent margin of victory for him.

However.. honestly.. I believe that the voters that are coming over to Obama's side.. are coming over to stay.  

This is a big debate tonight - should Obama tear McCain up?


by Trey Rentz on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:44:22 PM EST

Re: Worse Than Nixon, Worse Than Truman (none / 0)

No, I think Obama needs to stay cool and collected.    Let McCain come across as the hothead.    That is not to say Obama should let McCain get away with his whacko charges, but he does need to avoid becoming the 'Angry Black Man'.

That is the crap that McCain is trying to sell right now, and Obama's demenor in the debate will put that to rest with most Americans.


by gavoter on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 03:49:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Agreed-Different Criterion this time around (none / 0)

Rational is back in.

Smart is back in.

Deliberative is back in.

Calm and willing to listen is back in.

The guy you want to have a beer with?

Not so much this time.


Rush Limbaugh, Sara Palin and Joe the Plumber...The Triad of Republican Irrelevancy.
by WashStateBlue on Tue Oct 07, 2008 at 04:12:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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