"Unwavering" Disapproval for Bush

by Teh Nutroots | Here's a surprise:  with the war still carrying on in Iraq even as the global economic collapse continues and California is on the verge of cutting student loans, tax refunds, and welfare checks, only the 22% of the public with sawdust between their ears, their heads up their arses, and imaginary monsters under their beds approve the Bush administration's performance.  According to a CBS News/New York Times poll:

When asked about Mr. Bush’s performance over the last eight years, 22 percent of respondents said they approved. That matched Mr. Bush’s job-approval rating for much of last fall, the lowest of his presidency. In the current poll, 73 percent disapproved of his performance over the course of his two terms.

Disapproval cut across party lines, with Democrats, independents and even 34 percent of Republicans critical of Mr. Bush’s performance....When asked to assess Mr. Bush’s presidency more precisely, just 17 percent of those surveyed rated it very good or good, while 83 percent said it had been average or poor. (NYT)

"But how does this compare to past presidents?" I hear you ask.  How about Clinton, for example?  After all:  blowjobs in the Oval Office!  Resulting impeachment!

[I]n contrast, Mr. Bush’s most recent predecessors left office with approval ratings ranging from 68 percent for  Bill Clinton....Fifty-nine percent of Americans regarded Mr. Clinton’s presidency as very good or good when he left office."

Even Iran-Contra didn't stop Reagan from tying with Clinton at 68% approving or one-termer Bush 41 from garnering 54% who approved his performance.  (NYT)  Even one-termer  Jimmy Carter exited with a 44% approval rating, which we used to think pretty much signified an EPIC FAIL. (NYT)  

But from the very beginning, Bush set the bar for all subsequent presidents at a record low. Just for starters, let's hope that no subsequent president responds to news of a national crisis in this manner:  

As CBS News (via Memeorandum) puts it:

President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history...Mr. Bush's final approval rating is the lowest final rating for an outgoing president since Gallup began asking about presidential approval more than 70 years ago..

CBS walks you through some of the highs and lows of this most epic EPIC FAIL of any presidency in modern history here:

More blogger reactions at Memeorandum....

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