Bush Approval Ratings Lowest Ever

A note to pundits who still refer to the president as a "popular" leader: Please stop. President Bush's approval rating has now "plunged to the lowest level of any president since World War II at this point in his second term," Gallup reported on Tuesday. President Bush's current rating – just 45 percent – is 14 points lower than President Clinton, 11 lower than President Reagan, and a whopping 24 lower than President Johnson, relative to corresponding points in their second terms. "More bad signs for the president: Gallup's survey now finds only 38% expressing satisfaction with the 'state of the country' while 59% are 'dissatisfied.' The Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that even a third of the president's base wants Congress to prevent the White House and conservative leaders "from going to far in pushing their agenda." Forty-one percent oppose Sen. Bill Frist's plan to "go nuclear" and eliminate filibusters against President Bush's judicial nominees, citing their concern for "checks and balances." And clear majorities of conservatives, independents, and evangelicals opposed the unprecedented federal intrusion into the Schiavo family's private medical affairs, which was backed (very publicly) by President Bush, Sen. Frist, and Rep. Tom DeLay. [more]