CNN/ORC poll: W more popular than O

I'm not sure that it's fair to compare a former president's approval to a current one. Approval ratings become less relevant as time goes by because past emotions and attachments are replaced with the emotions attached to current issues. For the last 7 years, Bush has completely removed himself from the political spotlight and Republicans haven't tied themselves to him when campaigning. The fact that Bush's unfavorable score is still higher than the Republican's favorable score proves that people still have negative feelings towards his actions/policies and the Republicans missed the boat on the policy blunders of Democrats over the last 7 years.

A better comparison would be to compare Bush to former presidents.
Rank 1: Tied between Clinton and Bush Sr. (64%)
Rank 2: Jimmy Carter (56%)
Rank 3: GWB (52%)

He's below Jimmy freakin' Carter... cmon basso!

 

People have short memories.....lol. 6 years after obama leaves office......he will be EASILY more popular than Bush. Hell, if u just remind people of the **** Bush/Cheney did to this country....that popular rating would disappear.

 

It takes a new level of incompetence to make former incompetent president look good. Obama has provided that for Bush.....maybe the next president will do the same for Obama.

 

And Dancing With the Stars is the highest rated show on TV.

smh America

 

Answer me this: do you think the country was in better shape when Bush left office than it currently is?

 

Yep, Bush is starting from one of the lowest points ever and is cresting right about now. Obama's floor = Bush's ceiling.

 

Hmm... I wonder what past presidents' favorability ratings were at this same time in office (source: Gallup):

Ike: 63%
Clinton: 59%
Reagan: 50%
LBJ: 48%
Obama: 47% (just for comparison)
GWB: 32%
Truman: 25%

btw, that 47% is also the average favorability rating for Presidents at this time in their presidency.

Source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx

 

The other funny thing is that I largely approve of George W's performance post-presidency insofar he has some sense of tact and humility, having graciously kept his mouth shut and largely receded from public debate.

Not so unfortunately for most of his henchmen like Cheney, Bolton, Rove etc - there is no camera those guys won't hunt down (unless it threatens to have somebody asking uncomfortable questions...)

 

Of course not, Congress was controlled by Democrats then.

Now was Iraq in better shape when Bush left office than it currently is? Of course.

Was Ukraine in better shape when Bush left office than it currently is? Of course.

I know some people ideologically support Obama, but he's been an incredibly inept president, especially but not limited to when it comes to foreign policy. If I were to name things the Obama administration has done well it wouldn't take very long, the list might begin and conclude with normalizing relations with Cuba.

I'm trying to think of something else, but that might be the sole positive accomplishment of Obama's 8 years that he actually had something to do with. I guess we can give him credit for making the call on OBL, but I'm not sure that wasn't just something that pretty much any president would have done if given the opportunity. Either way, true accomplishments are few and far between so let's give it to him.

 

If only there were some sort of phenomenon to explain bias amidst recency...

 

LOL... touche. :grin:

 

... and meanwhile, five months into a GOP majority, Congress favorability is 19%.

 

This line alone tells me that there is no point in even trying to have a rational discussion with you. (Shocking, I know) Thanks for the response though.

 

"It was a very gutsy call."

-Robert Gates

When you make comments like the one in bold above, you really lose credibility when deeming "true accomplishments" of anyone.

 

"I've worked for a lot of these guys and this is one of the most courageous calls -- decisions -- that I think I've ever seen a president make"

-Robert Gates

 

Awesome, so I was correct to give him credit for it meaning a grand total of 2 positive accomplishments in 2 terms.

 

I'd say not completely destroying the economy is a pretty big accomplishment.