The Democrats Gloat Thread

Bush's approval rating falls to new low
53 percent say they disapprove of president in new Post-ABC survey

By Richard Morin and Dan Balz
The Washington Post
Updated: 12:02 a.m. ET Aug. 31, 2005

Rising gas prices and ongoing bloodshed in Iraq continue to take their toll on President Bush, whose standing with the public has sunk to an all-time low, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found Bush's job approval rating at 45 percent, down seven points since January and the lowest ever recorded for the president in Post-ABC surveys. Fifty-three percent disapproved of the job Bush is doing.

The war has been a drag on Bush's presidency for many months, but his Iraq approval ratings in the new poll were little changed from two months ago [..] What may have pushed Bush's overall ratings down in the latest poll is pervasive dissatisfaction over soaring gasoline prices. [..] Six in 10 Americans said there are steps the administration could take to reduce gas prices. [..]

Bush also received negative marks for his handling of immigration, the economy and Social Security, although his ratings on the latter two were not as low as they were two months ago. [..]

The poll numbers paint a portrait of national frustration with the direction and leadership of the country, which, if not reversed in coming months, is likely to color the environment for next year's midterm elections, putting incumbents in both parties on the defensive.

Dissatisfaction is not limited to the president. Fewer than four in 10 Americans -- 37 percent -- approve of the way the Republican-controlled Congress is doing its job, the lowest rating for lawmakers in nearly eight years.

The survey also provided bad news for Democratic leaders, who are judged as offering Bush only tepid opposition. Slightly more than half of those surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats for not opposing Bush more aggressively.

Self-identified Democrats were particularly impatient. More than three in four said congressional Democrats have not gone far enough to oppose Bush on Iraq or on administration policies in general. [..]

Independents were similarly dissatisfied with Democratic leaders for not challenging the president over the war and other issues, with six in 10 saying Democrats have been too meek.

Public attitudes toward the war have not changed significantly since the first of the year, the poll found. Slightly more than four in 10 -- 42 percent -- approved of the job Bush is doing in Iraq; 57 percent disapproved, unchanged in recent months. Slightly more than half -- 53 percent -- said the war was not worth it, while 46 percent said it was, identical to the results of a Post-ABC poll two months ago. [..]

The survey also found that [Cindy] Sheehan, who has been protesting the war outside Bush's ranch near Crawford, Tex., has become the most visible symbol of the antiwar movement. Fully three in four Americans have heard or read about her.

[..] Slightly more than half of the country -- 52 percent -- said Bush should meet her again; 46 percent said he should not. Fifty-three percent supported what [Sheehan] is doing and 42 percent opposed. [..]

A majority of Americans supported his handling of the campaign against terrorism.

By a 51 percent to 38 percent ratio, the public said the United States is winning the war, despite mounting casualties and insurgent attacks.

A majority (54 percent) continued to say the United States should keep military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there; 44 percent said U.S. forces should be withdrawn. Six in 10 opposed announcing a timetable for withdrawal. Only about one in eight -- 13 percent -- said U.S. forces should be withdrawn immediately.

Despite escalating bloodshed, the struggles to approve a draft constitution and the well-covered antiwar protests led by Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, the survey found little evidence that antiwar sentiment has increased the past two months.

High gas prices.

Public attitudes toward the war have not changed significantly since the first of the year, the poll found. Slightly more than four in 10 -- 42 percent -- approved of the job Bush is doing in Iraq; 57 percent disapproved, unchanged in recent months. Slightly more than half -- 53 percent -- said the war was not worth it, while 46 percent said it was, identical to the results of a Post-ABC poll two months ago. By a 51 percent to 38 percent ratio, the public said the United States is winning the war, despite mounting casualties and insurgent attacks.

Dissatisfaction is not limited to the president. Fewer than four in 10 Americans -- 37 percent -- approve of the way the Republican-controlled Congress is doing its job, the lowest rating for lawmakers in nearly eight years.

Quote:

A majority (54 percent) continued to say the United States should keep military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there; 44 percent said U.S. forces should be withdrawn.

Well, that's even more interesting. If the majority of people approve of the war

published pictures of Cindy getting "touched up" by her makeup artist prior to her "going on camera"

Something that occurs to me re: Congress/ Bush is that the Congress one is more telling in terms of how people feel the work of running the country is going[...]

You folks are really desperate when it comes to Sheehan, judging on the "allegations" you grasp to. Everyone gets the "touch up" treatment before going on TV. You probably would want to, too.

Not everyone. Not Gary Qualls or Greg Garvey (both fathers who lost sons in Iraq and were in Crawford much of the time Cindy was there).

JustWonders wrote:

Quote:

A majority (54 percent) continued to say the United States should keep military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there; 44 percent said U.S. forces should be withdrawn.

Hell, I think the US should stay in Iraq for now; make a mess, you gotta clean it up too. Dont say nothing about how I like President Bush or the Republicans. Hell, most Democratic politicians feel the same way.

yep. i got into this a little bit on one of the other threads in the context of how a poll's results are based largely on how a question is asked. bottom line is, agreement that the us must leave iraq in some semblence of order does not necessarily equal support for maintaining a frontline presence in perpetuity.

true, we shouldn't make over much of these polls, but the bush loyalists also shouldn't make too little of them. something is changing and it doesn't seem to be in favor of the policies of the current administration.

JustWonders wrote:

published pictures of Cindy getting "touched up" by her makeup artist prior to her "going on camera"

You folks are really desperate when it comes to Sheehan, judging on the "allegations" you grasp to. Everyone gets the "touch up" treatment before going on TV. You probably would want to, too.

gosh. this is the tackiest attack yet... probably soon to be followed by accusations that "mother sheehan denies getting "touched up" for her "manufactured touching moment".

"she lies !" reports matt drudge.

"cindy sheehan's use of makeup gives aid and comfort to the enemy. typical liberal hatred of america." opines sean hannity from his dressing room while being "groomed" for his daily declarations on HANNITY [size=7]and colmes[/size]

speaking from the right hand of the right hand of god, the reverend jerry falwell confirmed the judgement of the almighty; "this cindy sheehan, in league with her hollywood homosexyul make-up crowd certainly must bear some of the responsibility for 9/11."

mrs.phyliss shafley was succinct; "burn the painted WITCH !!"

but the most crushing indictment comes from john o'neill of the group, swiftboat vets for truth; "cindy sheehan painted herself! and she was NEVER in cambodia !"

on a golfing trip in scotland, neither tom delay or ralph reed were available for comment.

finally, when questioned, karl rove denied any involvement or knowledge of the alledged accusations against ms. sheehan.