Poll: Bush Getting Even More Unpopular Out Of Office

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that former President Bush's popularity has dropped since he left office.

When he left office in January, 31 percent of American's viewed him positively. That number has now dropped to 26 percent.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is more popular than the past two presidents at this point during their first terms.

According to the poll, 61 percent approve of Obama's job -- that's compared with George W. Bush's 56 percent and Bill Clinton's 52 percent at this same juncture in their presidencies.

Also, 64 percent view Obama favorably versus 23 percent who see him in a negative light -- once again, higher than Bush's and Clinton's scores on this question.

Additionally, 64 percent of Americans also "feel more hopeful about the direction of the country with Obama in office," and a full 59 percent feel he has accomplished a "great deal" or a "fair amount."

Read the full poll here.

Comments

[fireW]

08:16 AM on 05/03/2009

Given that it takes some time to assess the full measure of the Bu$h debacle, it stands to reason that at least a few more people would wake up to reality in the process. As we start to take account of the mismanagement & corruption (and it can't be hidden anymore by the Administration), even *some* of the 30 percenters can no longer deny the outrageous behavior of BushCo. Nonetheless, the damage is done and the ranks of the apologists and mass denial enthusiasts are large enough to prevent accountability. They'll manage not to learn from history this time, either.

[VivaZapata]

07:11 AM on 05/03/2009

when next he appears, they'll throw boots at him. after that, combat boots.

[Chip W]

02:53 AM on 05/03/2009

Maybe Bush is less popular now because, in comparison to the new guy, Bush looks even worse.

[mudshark12]

01:15 AM on 05/03/2009

I didn't know one could stack sh*t that tall until I saw Dubya, now I know better.

[ChicagoBob]

01:01 AM on 05/03/2009

Actually, this is a very revealing poll.

Maybe something does 'trickle down' after all. As more people come to understand the extent of the damage done by bush and the gop, they, the people, are realizing bush was not a good president, that it takes more than being anti-choice and anti-gay marriage to make an effective presidency.

And for the few of you who posted earlier, the few who still can't understand the reality of the moment, it is bush's fault. He was the 'decider'-in-chief when everything went to hell in a hand basket. In fact, he helped pack the basket.

[Chip W]

03:05 AM on 05/03/2009

It's not fair to say Bush was just anti-choice and anti-gay marriage.
He was also anti-science, anti-environment, anti-future.
And he was for a lot of things too. He was pro-imperial-presidency, pro-war, pro-big-business, pro-torture.
I mean, give the guy some credit.
Also, and I might be taking a risk in saying this, but I liked the way he combed his hair.

[hotbytes]

12:34 AM on 05/03/2009

At the end of B.ush's miserable presidency, only a couple of countries where he's "popular". One of them was Is.rael. Wonder why. It's the Iraq war that costs American people over $500 billion was done, in most part, as a "favor" to Isra.el. That's why Bu$h found "friends" in Is.rael.

[hotbytes]

12:27 AM on 05/03/2009

Beside the fact that Bu.sh's face can cause many children to have nightmares, the guy is a total lo.ser! His presidency will be know in history as the worst. The trouble is the mor0n doesn't know it because he lives in the bubble. And soon the bubble will burst.

There are still a few lo.sers who continue to root for Bu.sh. They continue to spin more lies mixed with illusion. In fact, that's what the Republican party is all about today: lies and illusion.

2010 is when American people clean houses: All Republicans must be boosted.

[Jond0]

10:59 PM on 05/02/2009

But, but, we won WW2!

[Vance1]

09:04 PM on 05/02/2009

The Bush presidency was a successful one and will be viewed so over time.

The primary responsibility of the president is to keep American citizens safe. By that standard alone, President Bush has achieved success.

He guided us through turbulent waters. He is also a man of grace and good character. Like Harry Truman before him, Bush will be honored in history.

[tweedy54]

09:35 PM on 05/02/2009

???????????????????????????????????...PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wastelander]

10:04 PM on 05/02/2009

You forgot the /s sarcasm tag.

[SillyMee]

02:16 PM on 05/02/2009

I say we rename this website . . . BlameBush.com
I'd feel so much better knowing that everything bad in the world can be blamed on a single entity.
It makes life so much easier to understand.
But then again . . . I'm just silly.

[FourSordidRms]

08:57 PM on 05/02/2009

It's just a story reporting a poll result, and conducted, partially, by the WSJ, which I assume you know, is a conservative paper.

[Thisguy1313]

02:20 AM on 05/03/2009

Hey, it worked for the right when they got so passionate on blaming everything under the son on Bill Clinton after his presidency... What's the matter, you right-wing cheerleader? Does the taste of your own medicine have a bitter burn when you swallow it? I hope that one day you truly see the depth of your own hypocrisy, because if I were Dubya, I think i'd have a hard time sleeping at night knowing i sent close to 4000 American Service people to their deaths so that my corporate buddies could have a fatter bottom line. You bush apologists make my genuinely sick to my core. Thank the constitution you have the right to spew your hate freely..

[littleblackcat]

07:49 PM on 05/03/2009

Yes, and remember that shrub dismissed the Constitution as "nothing but a goddamned piece of paper!" So much for the rethug representatives of our country.

[azbird]

10:44 AM on 05/02/2009

Sorry folks it was Clinton who let Bin Laden go. By the way, Texas is in America.

[littleblackcat]

07:54 PM on 05/03/2009

Sorry, azbird, but it was the bush watch who flew bin Laden's family safely out of the country when the rest of the nation was in lockdown, and the bush family tentacles have known from the get-go where he is. bin Laden is not, in all probability, responsible for 9/11, any more than there was any connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. cheney and the carlyle group wanted Iraq's oil and they didn't give a damn how they twisted the truth to get it.

[EminemsRevenge]

10:29 AM on 05/02/2009

I WAS missing GW's constant foot-in-mouth gaffes, thank god for Joe Biden:)

http://forumnyc.com/index.php?showtopic=28967

[tressie22]

09:50 AM on 05/02/2009

I am reminded that one must be careful of what they ask for. Bush wanted this Presidency AT ALL COSTS, and it looks like that is about what it is going to be charged to him. You can steal what isn't yours, but it will never bring you what you want. Here, I think he wanted to be memorialized and revered and redeemed. Instead history will show him to be a disappointment.

[Professor73]

09:27 AM on 05/02/2009

For those of us that have spent a lifetime studying history, it is far too early to make any judgment about the George W. Bush presidency. There were a lot of people that hated Abraham Lincoln during and after his presidency. While I do not believe any present day President will be in the classification of Lincoln, to judge President Bush right now is more an expression of emotion than historical fact.

[jerrypenguin]

10:41 AM on 05/02/2009

The point is valid. However, the Bush family has been powerful for generations. Their time in positions of power should be adequate to provide some insight. If the family, past and present, is considered as an aggregate; The insights are very unsettling. It is not necessary to apply the word "hate" to arrive at these insights.

[mooler14]

03:48 PM on 05/02/2009

No WMD's have been found in Iraq; we are still fighting in Iraq 6 years after Bush said "mission accomplished"! Sunnies and Shias have hated each other for 1400 years, guess what? Bush did not know that! We are in worst economic situation since great depression, thanks to Bush deregulating the banking system. None of these are emotions but solid bitter facts. If Bush was popular, would you or he himself said, we have to wait longer in order to objectively judge his legacy? I bet you not! For all the rhetoric that Bush has kept us safe: he became president Jan 2001, not Sep 12!! Beside following the WTC bombing in 1993, there was no attack in U.S by Al Queida up to the end of Clinton's term. Does this mean that Clinton kept us safe?!! When Al Queida was under no threat from U.S., it took them 8 years to plan the 2-nd attack on WTC. So, you have to think twice before giving Bush any credit for that. Add to these, the katrina debacle and you can reach to the conclusion that Bush was an incompetent person who got appointed president by the Supreme Court. He got an opportunity to legitimize his tenure when the whole world was with us after 9/11, and he blew it by his cowboy diplomacy. Wait as long as you want; one fact will not change: Bush got a big F as a president.

[tiotom77]

09:19 AM on 05/02/2009

And he should care? He's enjoying life in Texas with his wife as a citizen. He's no longer President but liberals can't let go.

[MossyOak]

10:28 AM on 05/02/2009

Liberals can't "let go?" I would nothing better than to "let go" but unfortunately I'm a citizen of the country he plundered and r@ped.

[Jond0]

10:39 PM on 05/02/2009

Sour grapes. We're still number one!!

j/k!!!!

[gypsysailor]

10:36 AM on 05/02/2009

Definately sounds like more cheap conservative whine. I will remind you that conservatives are still after President Clinton on almost a daily basis. What else would you like to dispute?

[tweedy54]

09:37 PM on 05/02/2009

Actually, when I think about it... YOU ARE RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!