Bush Approval Rebounds Slightly

[Shaffer]

President Bush’s job approval rating inches up to 38 percent this week, a slight increase from last month, according to the latest FOX News Poll. A 53 percent majority of Americans disapproves of the president’s job performance. Even fewer Americans approve of the job Democrats and Republicans in Congress are doing, and over half say they are either extremely or very interested in the upcoming midterm election.

The new poll finds that President Bush has regained a bit of ground this week. Two weeks ago his approval rating hit a record low of 33 percent. His current 38 percent approval is almost identical to his 2006 average, which is 39 percent approve and 52 percent disapprove.

At the beginning of the year, 80 percent of Republicans approved of the job Bush was doing; now that’s down to 66 percent. It’s a similar story among conservatives: 68 percent approved in early January and 54 percent approve now. Today 16 percent of Democrats approve of Bush, which is about the same number as approved six months ago (13 percent).

Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News on May 2 and May 3.

"There has been a dispute in polling circles about whether or not to weight survey results by party identification," comments Opinion Dynamics Chairman John Gorman. "The FOX News poll is not weighted by party. We feel party identification moves around just like positions on issues and candidates.

"That being said, in the current survey, 39 percent of people responding say they think of themselves as Republicans and 37 percent as Democrats. In Fox News/Opinion Dynamics polls conducted over the last few months, an average of 39 percent of respondents identified themselves as Democrats, while only 34 percent identified as Republicans, suggesting that Republicans may be overrepresented in the current survey. This, in turn, may have had a small effect in overstating the president’s current approval ratings."

Looking at Congress, more Americans disapprove than approve of the job Democrats and Republicans are doing. Thirty-six percent approve of the job Democrats in Congress are doing and 49 percent disapprove. Republicans rate about the same: 35 percent approve and 53 percent disapprove.

The midterm Congressional election is about six months away and voter interest appears high. Just over a quarter of voters (28 percent) say they are "extremely" interested in the upcoming election and 36 percent "very" interested.

Currently Democrats are slightly more interested in the November elections than Republicans. About a third of Democrats (34 percent) say they are "extremely" interested compared to 27 percent of Republicans.

The poll shows that Democrats have small edge over Republicans on the vote question. If the congressional election were held today, 41 percent of registered voters say they would vote for or lean toward the Democratic candidate and 38 percent the Republican candidate. Almost one in five voters (21 percent) are undecided.

Self-identified independents are more likely to say they would vote for the Democratic candidate by 35 percent to 22 percent. Most Democrats (76 percent) and Republicans (74 percent) say they would vote for their respective party’s candidate in their district.

What issues do Americans say will be most important to their vote for Congress? Right now, there isn’t one issue that clearly outdistances the others. The economy (16 percent) and gas prices (15 percent) edge out Iraq (13 percent), immigration (12 percent), health care (11 percent), and terrorism (10 percent). The two issues that fail to make it into the double-digits are ethics in Washington (9 percent) and Social Security (7 percent).

Among Democrats, the economy (23 percent) outranks Iraq (16 percent) and gas prices (15 percent). For Republicans, the top issues are terrorism (16 percent), gas prices (15 percent) and immigration (15 percent).

On the issue of immigration, the poll asked how people felt when they saw the thousands of participants in Monday’s "A Day Without Immigrants" protests. By three-to-one Americans say it made them think the United States needs to do a better job protecting the country’s borders (63 percent) rather than that the participants should be given rights and made citizens (21 percent).

And on a related question about the recent release of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem, there is widespread agreement -- 78 percent say the anthem should only be sung in English, while 16 percent think it is okay for it to be sung in Spanish as well.

[rktect3j]

Seeing as how there wasn't a national disaster last week that I can pin on him I had to vote Yes.

[junker316]

Seeing how everything since he has come into office has been handled I say NO. Seeing how deliberately placed agendas, to keep the public eye away from issues of importance, are being handled and debated I say NO. Watching as the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has turned into a theme park for every-one who is not American and watching as his televized speeches have become " nothing else to say " speeches I say NO. Believing in his promises to the military and to the public become nothing more than empty I say NO. Each promise has to the military and the public have become to contradic each other. President Bush would rather have the next generation Presidents complete " HIS " wars and Battles than to step forward and bring a completion to it himself. The President would rather allow a debate on what other country should run AMERICAN Shipyards then to allow America to run it's own shipyards. Turning this and other issues into " blind spots " for the public eye and not dealing with pressing issues that America would benefit from. I'm not saying that he alone stands fault for these actions. because there are others as well that are intending to keep thier pockets full while America turns into a huge debacle of politics.

By the way a poll on FOX and CNN just showed that the President's Polls are down to 33% approval and 54% dissapproval.

[rktect3j]

So you are saying he is ok, maybe.

[junker316]

No...I'm saying that he is willing to allow some-one else do his job. He can't be blamed for anything if some-one does it. The fact is that he had to appoint them to do it. He can't be blamed for false information but he can always change the ones in charge of giving him that information. He can't be blamed for the national defceit but he has done nothing to lessen the burden on working class Americans. He can't be described as a " ridiclous " president just because he is willing to change American views and rights on any whim to please forgien countries as long as he doesn't have the final decision. He can't be deemed " UNPROFESSIONAL " as long as there is something pointing at some-one else's decision making. He can't be deemed as " UNCARING " as long as he finds reasons to concider himself the opposite. He can't be alot of things as long as he keeps Americans blind to the real issues.

So who is really running this country? Damn sure isn't the president then.

[GySgtRet]

the free world isn't any easy task. Besides being a Marine that carries out the orders of the Commander-in-Chief he has the toughest job in my opinion. Let's take a look at his record for a moment. He took over from a president that with held information or at least members of his administration did. Which lead to September 11 2001. I am sure that most people remember that day??? But even before this 8 years occured there were debaukles. Iran Contra (God Blees LtCol Oliver North), and the Murah Building Oklahoma City, oh and the 1993 World Trade Center explosions. Hum, there seems to have been a lot wrong before this president took office for his first term. Then there was a warning in August of 2001 that there was going to be some terrorist activity but agencies were afraid to share the information. I wonder if that is from the other administration's directives? Then 9/11 happened. The government did not go into termoil as the teerorists had hoped, instead the America that we know stood together and bonded as a nation, that is the American way. Then we have to still police the world of the rest of the problems. Our president isn't perfect but I'll tell one thing for sure I would not want the weight of the world on my sholders. I feel that the president has done the best job that could possibly be done. There is always party line bickering, that is what keeps America the way it is our differences keep us solid as a nation. Wheter or not you have a dislike for the president if you didn't vote don't B*tch you gave up that right when you didn't vote. If you voted and your candidate lost then you have the right to complain. (I happen to think there is a difference between these). I don't think that are country is perfect but either am I or any of you. But to disrespect Preisdent Bush isn't going to make it any better. Look at what this administarion has been through and tell me how you would deal with all of the man made and natural disasters???

Well, I think that is about it. I probably left out a few things that have happened since President Bush took office but maybe somebody else can contribute.

Semper Fidelis

[junker316]

I did vote. I wanted the President to do something besides send riddled messages and then act like he didn't know. As I posted earlier in this " POST " I don't blame him for everything. But he is the " one in charge " and the Commander in Chief. So what happens when a big company loses out in profits...the President of that Company finds out where the problem is and corrects it. President Bush hasn't corrected JACK SH%$ but instead announced that he is willing to have future Presidents finish off what he started. That comes from a Presidential Speech, televised. Since when does a President openly admit that he starts the problem for other to finish with no end in sight for those doing thier jobs. President Bush could also stop this Immigration problem but instead turns a blind eye to this problem as well. Instead of enforcing our borders he is willing to " LEGALIZE " every freaking Illegal alien in this Country. Also allowing future Presidents to deal with this issue. President Bush has sytematicly changed America to please every
Fu%$ing nation's people but Americans. he also expects us to foot the bill for all these Fu#$ing Illegals and yet still pay for the deficeit that he has caused to be extremely high. He has also allowed Veterans Rights and Benefits to be sh#$ on and down graded but still wishes to spend millions of American dollars on sh$% that America won't benefit from. How is America to benefit from paying off a Law suit from another country dealing with thier people being here Illegally and yet when Americans are there living and trying to find work they are treated like dirt and chased out?

GySgtRet you are right that it is hard being a Marine carring out the Commander in Chief's orders. But even history shows that power of such also go to the head and if that person in that office can't do what is needed for the country that they are supposed to be in charge of then they need to step down and allow those " FUTURE " leaders to step up before it's to late. Voting has nothing to do with this but the concerns of our Nation that our fore-fathers have died for does. President Bush acts like he is only a puppet in the office and not trying to run a nation of FREEDOM. We need a strong President that doesn't allow other countries to push us around. Today's President, President Bush, has allowed us to be kicked and beaten by other nations when it was opprotune to him. We have rules adn regulations changing to please other than Americans in our very Country to please every-one else yet the same problems that our President is helping with in these other countries we have right here in America.

[GySgtRet]

I agree with everything that you have stated. I would like to see more done as a president. The imigration thing will leave a negative on his record and many other things that have gone wrong or have been slaughtered by other in the administration in both of the parties. Even though the Republications are a mjority the lobbyists seem to have strong holds no matter who is in the presidency. Iw ould seem and it is written in history that minorites seem to have more say so in what out country does than the majority. What do I mean by minority or majority. I mean this in the sense that what most people would like or the majority would vote on, in some cases things that make perfect sense to me may not mean the same to you. I would not like to be sucker punched either as we both know the American people have been sucker punched. The Iraq work and Afghanistan are both examples and I wish we could get out tomorrow, but that will not happen. The pressure the way I see it is if there is a pullout then what happens to the inocent Iraqi people? If we stay the course as the prsident has stated he isn't going to win any votes either. Of course he doesn't have to win any votes for himself. I don't really have any of the answers I don't think anybody does. It seems to me that when any politician is put into office there is always promise and expectations from the newly voted in administration. Then it usually goes down from there. By the way I am not attacking you or anybody else here. I have a right to my opinion and that is what I stated in my closing remarks.

And thank you for your service...!!!

Semper Fidelis

[sgt tony]

As a Marine you do as your are told when and where. You can have an opion on the job that he is doing but as a Marine he is the Big Guy. You do not have to like or love him but you do the Corps.

[OLE SARG]

When he secures the Southern border I'll give him all kinds of points. He's dropping the ball on that and dealing with the oil companies. Also, he needs to throw the UN into the toilet - what a bunch of loonies and nuts, the only things they do good is not paying their parking tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEMPER FI,

[runninmt]

One thing for certain, Marines. We're better off with the Honorable Mr. Bush than our other option at the polling place. I'd hate to think where the war on terrorism and everything else in this country would be with a mind changing, poll taking, liberal at the reigns. Semper Fi, and Carry On!

[jryanjack]

Runninmt, I'd have to agree with you there - GW is better then the alternatives that we were presented with - in either election, and that's the only reason that I voted for him. My vote was more of a no to Kerry then a yes to Bush.

[ggyoung]

runninmt========Is he really doing a great job with the Marines, Army and so on? I don't think so. Look at what he is doing to the VA. In 2 or 3 years there will be no VA at the presant rate he is going. Look at all the promese that was made to you when enlisted in the Marines like free medical for life that has long gone by. Now they are on try-care and have to pay. The VA is in shambles, I know as I'm over 70% from Vietnam. I hate to think my 2 youngest sons are going to have when they get older. They will have nothing. It is very sad. S/F

[lucien2]

Gore would have been better.......................?

[OLE SARG]

It is kinda scary - how many of us voted for Bush because we couldn't vote for mrs john fonda kerry. Bush has done pretty good but he lost my confidence when he declared el crook O fox was his friend (president of mexico - one of the most corrupt governments (and I use that word loosely) in the world). You are judged by the friends you have!!!! AND since I'm on that subject, I'm tired of the U. S. kissing everyone's arse and worrying about WHAT THEY THINK OF US. THAT IS BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do the job you were elected to do and DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WANT A SECURE SOUTHERN BORDER, IT'S SIMPLE - DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEMPER FI,