Presidential popularity comparisons
Above are some low points in popularity of past Presidents, via Newsweek. Note some of the low points. Truman was at 22% in February 1952, contending with the Korean war stalemate, peaking wholesale inflation and price controls, a revolt by southern Democrats, the red scare, various scandals and a loss to Estes Kefauver in the New Hampshire primary, among other things. !n June of 1979, Jimmy Carter was at 28% approval. He had his dithering over the Shah, an 11% inflation rate, a doubling of OPEC prices, and the so-called “sellout” of SALT-II to contend with, among other matters. Here’s the current result for the current president:
President Bush’s approval is 26%, midway between Carter’s and Truman’s at their low points. Today, the US economy is in terrific shape on an absolute basis, and certainly when compared to 1952 and 1979. Imagine how low President Bush’s ratings might be if he had a bad economy to contend with.
July 1st, 2007 at 11:55 pm
It’s just been one fiasco after the next for Bush. I wonder if anything will get done by the government until after the next election. It seems that we will be in gridlock for the next 525 days.
July 14th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Gridlock is not a bad thing.
July 14th, 2007 at 10:21 am
I agree with Busterdog: the less Congress does the better off we all are! The only thing that really gets them excited, the Democrats anyway, is taking a stab at reinstituting the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”, in an attempt to shut-up voices of dissent. I say let’s have MORE gridlock and get on with our individual pursuits!
February 8th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
My problems with President Bush is that he has not done enough to defeat Islam. His less than desirable Supreme Court nominee along with his support of allowing illegal aliens into the country also trouble me. People have laughed at me when I stated that Bush was a Liberal. Looking at some of his actions I’ve now been proven correct. As time goes by after he leaves office his rating will rise although not to the heights of Truman.