Wednesday, February 20, 2008
19%
He really was a uniter. Will Bunch on the consensus forming around President Bush:
George W. Bush is now the most unpopular president in recorded American history. (h/t Atrios)I really think the American people got this one right - eventually. It has long been my contention that Bush will go down as one of the worst presidents in US history. I think it's probably time to drop the caveats. Bush is #1. Roughly 8 out of 10 Americans agree.
Worse than Richard Nixon in the days before he resigned in disgrace during Watergate, worse than Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis, much worse than Bill Clinton when he was impeached. Just as Roger Bannister raced through what once seemed the unreachable 4-minute mile, Bush has burst through a barrier once also thought impossible, below the 20-percent mark.
Check this out:George W. Bush's overall job approval rating has dropped to a new low in American Research Group polling...Among all Americans, 19% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 77% disapprove...That is just mind-blowing. How does it compare to other presidents? There's no comparison.
Among Americans registered to vote, 18% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 78% disapprove.
Nixon, as he was hounded out of office in August 1974, never dipped below the mid-20s.
Here's a pretty good compilation of poll numbers from Roper. To summarize the highlights:
Clinton low: 36 percent, May 1993 (early missteps like Zoe Baird)
George H.W. Bush low: 29 percent, August 1992 (recession)
Reagan low: 35 percent, January 1983 (recession)
Carter low: 28 percent, July 1979 (high gas prices)
Ford low: 37 percent, January 1975 (economy, Nixon pardon)
Nixon low: 23 percent, January 1974 (Watergate)
Johnson low: 35 percent, August 1968 (Vietnam)
Lowest ever? That would be Harry Truman during the Korean War, in February 1952, at 22 percent.
