Harris Poll: President's Job Ratings Fall to Lowest Point of Presidency

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

President's Job Ratings Fall to Lowest Point of His Presidency



Social Security seen as the top issue to address by U.S. adults



The last month has not been a good one for President Bush and the Republicans. Most people have opposed the President's proposals for reforming Social Security and most were unhappy with the positions taken by Republicans in the Terri Schiavo case. The result is that the president's job ratings have fallen to 44 percent positive, 56 percent negative, the worst numbers of his presidency, and a drop from 48 percent positive, 51 percent negative in February (and 50% positive, 49% negative last November).



This is one of the results of a new Harris Poll of 1,010 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive® between April 5 and 10, 2005.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=557

Note: Contrast with Clinton's second term numbers.

[still_one]

1. does that mean * isn't the president anymore?

polls don't mean crap, the neocons are fully in control

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Perhaps not, but...

Polls are indicators. We can learn from them.

[still_one]

5. They don't mean a thing if people don't vote

50% of the people that could vote in 2004 didn't bother to register

two years before the 2004 election the democrats, DNC, and the Kerry camp said they knew about the potential for voting problems, and they had everything in control, where were they when it counted?

Several months before the election the DNCasked for donations for possible recounts. within in a few hours Kerry conceded the election. I wrote to the DNC asking for a refund because they didn't request a refund, still haven't heard from them

[FreedomAngel82]

3. Yep

They don't care about the polls or anything we say unless you agree with their agenda. I still remember on the first press conference Bush gave after the election he would work with those who share his goals which obviously mean not democrats or the people but his rich buddies and rank-in-file politicans.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Keep something in mind:

These negative polls, growing worse every release, mean that the mood towards Chimpy and his party are darkening. Yes, the Dems are getting hit bad, too, but the elections are not here and I think that they are playing it correctly over the long term. If, when it comes time to start swinging, they swing hard and swing true, they will be able to successfully frame the repukes.

But no, this is not a time for either complacency or celebration. Truly, there is nothing to celebrate. That said, Chimpy is consistantly polling negatively and going lower every time.

It's easy to be angry and bitter. I do it myself a lot, these days. But there are things to learn in this poll.

[imenja]

9. Congressional Dems poll lower than Republicans

in that same poll. The Congressional Republicans have 36% approval ratings and the Democrats 34%. People are unhappy with government generally.

[iconoclastic cat]

22. "they swing hard and swing true"

I dispute that one.

[radfringe]

19. it means

bush* is overdrawn on his Political Capital Account

If these numbers hold at current levels or worsen by this time next year it will have many incumbent Repug Senators and Representatives changing their tune.

We are still a little more than a year away from mid-term (s)elections - alot could still happen between now and then. Another terra-ttack would definitely boost bush*'s numbers as would invading Iran. Or on the other side -- economy could continue to sink and/or gas prices rise futher eroding Joe six-pack's "disposable income"

The public mood is slowly moving towards one of anti-incumbent, whether this continues or not will depend on what happens next.

repugs are busy wrapping themselves in the flag, the bible, god and "values" -- dems are scrambling to figure out how to counter this

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- "VALUES" is just a warm fuzzy word - but what does it really mean? Repugs have not defined it.

Dems need to get the repugs to define their terms. Specifically - what are the repug values and how do their actions "help" support those values? Are the repug values the same as yours? Do we want to live under a theocracy - a christian version of the Taliban? What happened to freedom of Religion? Which version of Christianity will we be subjected to? What's next on their agenda - mandatory chruch attendance? Should the repugs be allowed to dictate how, where, when, if or which religious doctrines we will be mandated to observe?

[autorank]

4. Well it's probably about 38%. He's approaching "unacceptable"

...must be "resigned." OK, hang in there with me...a recent poll showed 55% of American's believe in the Rapture (mind numbing isn't it). Well, if that's the case (which it probably isn't) then with a 56% negative, that means that at least 10 points of that Rapture approval group(which I assume to be almost all Republican)has swung negative. What a delightful turn of events. We're making inroads with the "Rapture voters." It's too late...

[imenja]

10. which poll?

I find that difficult to believe. I wonder if 55% have even heard of the Rapture.

[autorank]

11. Blew my mind too! I'll find it for you. As they say, "hold on"

:hi:

[autorank]

13. imenja, as they say "Read it and weep"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=7&u=/chitribts/20050413/ts_chicagotrib/apocalypsehow

We are so screwed, I mean totally!

[imenja]

15. original poll

That article makes a passing reference to a poll done in Newsweek. It doesn't produce the results. I searched the Newsweek archives and couldn't find it by a keyword search using poll and rapture. I did find the following poll which surveys various beliefs in Christianity. Only 52% of Americans believe Jesus Christ will return to earth. It would therefore seem impossible for 55% to believe in the Rapture. 55% say they believe every word of the Bible is true (somehow 3% haven't heard of Revelations).

Here is the story with the poll results.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6650997/site/newsweek/

[autorank]

25. Apples & Oranges. The Newsweek and Yahoo polls are different

populations. Nevertheless, any figure above25-30% is depressing. These people must have barren lives, devoid of any hope on earth. Why else would they yearn to be pulled away to some 'special place.' Then of course, there is the uniquely, IMHO unChristian attitude that goes with the Rapture; those left behind will suffer an eternity of suffering. Wow, they really 'love' us, don't they?

[Blue Topaz]

6. Yeah, I had a big shit-eating grin on my face reading this

until I came to the part where the Republicans in Congress got higher approvals than the Democrats. :wtf: So Republican leaders are tanking and the Democrats have the more popular positions on Social Security, Iraq and Terri Schiavo, but Congressional Dems get lower approvals than Repukes? This is unacceptable. The Republicans control EVERYTHING: all 3 branches and making a power grab for more. They need to be the ones tarred for the bad shit happening now. How can we start separating out Congressional Dems from their evil counterparts?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. That is the job...

Of the Dem Congressional & Senate Leadership and The DNC. I would suggest they get started now.

Remember also: We have the media in the mix. That ain't a huge help.

[autorank]

14. Blue Topaz, Welcome to DU!!! Take a look and cheer up.

Democracy Corps Poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D). March 15-21, 2005. N=1,002 likely voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

"I know it is far ahead, but thinking about next year's elections, if the election for U.S. Congress were held today, would you be voting for the Democratic candidate or the Republican candidate in your district where you live?"

.........Republican.....Democrat
3/15-21/05..45.............46
2/13-17/05..44.............46
1/16-20/05..43.............48

I think the lower disapproval of the Democrats has a positive explanation. Aobut a month ago over 50% of Americans polled said that they wanted the Democrats to offer a real opposition. While Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi have done so, as have our members of Congress, this hasn't gotten out largely due to CM (corporate media).

The head to head poll on PollingReport.Com is the best one to look at. They're in charge, they're defending home turf, and we're ahead even before the campaigning really starts. Wait until DeLay goes, that will have a big impact on the head to head poll.

:hi:

[ClintonTyree]

20. They keep voting like republicans..........

it's very hard to differentiate between the two lately. With few exceptions, they've rubber stamped everything the bush baby has put in front of them.
Maybe, if we had a real opposition party, the voters would have a more clear choice.

[Nay]

21. I suggest the Dems STOP voting with the Repubs on any issue.

That would be the first step in separating the Dems from the Repubs. Let's cut out all the across-the-aisle bullshit and be a real opposition party.

Having said that, nothing will really help until citizens feel that at least some of their representatives will do what needs to be done for the citizenry, rather than the richest among us. NO dem should have voted for the bankruptcy bill or the estate tax bill, for example.

[snippy]

24. Dems need to emphasize your point that "Republicans control EVERYTHING."

Even though democrats have very little power in Washington, the republicans continue to blame democrats for everything. Democrats should start mocking republicans for this and stress that republicans control the government. Democrats also should start saying that it is time to end corrupt one party control.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. 44 % STILL see him as a great president!!!

Even with the media manipulation, that number really makes me wonder about the mental capacity of the American public. Yes, half of all people have below-average intelligence, but still...

A quote for the occasion:

"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives." -- John Stuart Mill

[mikelewis]

17. Favorable Opinion and Great are two compleeeetly different things

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. yes, of course you're right. and we need to give them an ALTERNATIVE

to Bush. There is also the natural tendency to try to be loyal to the leader of the country. It's the office, not the man. If some stranger calls you up and asks if you think the president is doing a good job, many people are likely to be more flattering than they would be with their close friends in private, I think.

Lots of reasons to feel that 44% shows a lot more erosion than is immediately apparent. Plus the fact that most polls are subject to their own biases and errors. I got called in a phone poll on reproductive rights a couple of months back. There subtle but definite cues in the tone of the woman's recorded voice as she described the two choices. That was bad enough, but when I chose the pro-Choice option, the recorded voice grew very warm and friendly and thanked me for voting pro-Life!!! Shades of those Bush-only voting machines! And yes, I am absolutely certain I pushed the right button.

So I shouldn't be as concerned as all that about that 44% number. Lots of work to be done, but it's not an insurmountable obstacle the way they would like us to think it is.

[mikelewis]

16. The Delay/Frist Fuck You Godless Heathens Bill

I haven't seen the poll myself so that means it must not be an important poll. Besides, you have to look at the questions and how they manipulate them to get the answers they want. Appearantly, more people who didn't like the President responded to the poll where as the people who do love him which is well over 96.3% of the country don't feel comfortable answering polls. In fact, I don't even pay attention to polls because they don't actually represent America, it's only a few people's opinion and they can select which opinions they want. And look down at the bottom question, which is of course the most telling. See here, "If you had a choice between supporting the President and repeatedly striking your testicles with a ball peen hammer, which would you prefer?" Overwhelmingly, the people choose the President 51% to 3%. The remaining 46% got disconnected after this question but clearly they would have and in fact do, support the President and hate liberals.

So don't place too much stock in these poll numbers, Congress will soon be enacting legislation that forbids manipulating public opinion with the opinions of other people. It's called the Delay/Frist Fuck You Godless Heathens Bill. We expect it to be signed by President Bush tomorrow after 3 minutes of of open debate. He's flying back to the White House for the historic signing and then quickly returning home to suckle on the tit of the Lord. And yes, Barbara Boxer will not be invited to this hearing so you can expect little opposition to this in the Senate from this Godless Heathen. Our polls show true Americans despise this woman and thing she's a bitch.

If you want to see how a poll is done... look to Michael Medved, nationally syndicated right-wing religious talk show host for Salem Communitcations. {Note, this is not the same Salem that is famous for the Witch Hunts but those Puritans, they were a great generation of Christians. Give it up for the Puritans folks, come on. Can I get an Aman!}

Here's the Poll
http://www.michaelmedved.com/site

Today's Poll
Michael Medved's approach to movies qualifies him as:
Hitler
an Idiot
Satan
a Stooge for Hollywood
an American Hero

Now, don't get concerned if you should accidentally click the wrong circle. Our software is specially engineered by Yang Enterpirses to correct user errors.

Now the actual lesson on how to correctly engineer a poll is offered in Tongues. This is the most effective and pure way of communication and has not been tainted by the Liberal media. Also note that some words are offensive to God and so have no translation in God speak. So pour out a glass of God Juice and read on.

Homina Homina Boobo Shabibi Looloo Da Da Da Clinton. Yeo Yei Yei oh ha ho ha bo vloi capo capo shwing bop, Liberal Elite. Wieko Weiko Whann A, Boxer is a Bitch.

As you can see, this is the way to get a real reprentation of the opinions of all Americans. This concludes todays programming. I hope you enjoyed learning how to defeat the liberal bias and please remeber, God does hate some people, Jesus said so.

[radfringe]

23. realclearpolitics.com summary

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls.html

President George W. Bush - Job Approval Ratings
RCP Average:
Poll Date 4/4 - 4/16

Approve 47.0%
Disapprove 51.0%
Spread -4.0%

Dear Mr. Bush:

We regret to inform you that the check we received from your Politcal Capital account has been returned for insufficient funds....