NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2007

Poll: Bush Approval Rating At New Low

On Eve Of State Of Union, President's Approval Rating Falls To 28%, A New Low

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  • Video State of the Union

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     (AP / CBS)

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  • Interactive Presidential Approval Ratings

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(CBS)  President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night to a nation that's strongly opposed to his plan for increasing troops in Iraq and deeply unhappy with his performance as president, according to a CBS News poll.

Mr. Bush’s overall approval rating has fallen to just 28 percent, a new low, while more than twice as many (64 percent) disapprove of the way he's handling his job.

Two-thirds of Americans remain opposed to the president's plan for sending more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq — roughly the same number as after Mr. Bush announced the plan. And 72 percent believe he should seek congressional approval for the troop increase.

However, the poll finds more Americans might back the president's plan if they were convinced it would assure U.S. success in Iraq.

SHOULD U.S. SEND 20,000 MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ?

Favor
29%
Oppose
66%


…if it increased U.S.’ chances for success?

Favor
53%
Oppose
38%

However, Americans aren't convinced the U.S. needs a troop increase to achieve its goals in Iraq. Just 26 percent think that's needed, about the same number that think those goals can be reached without sending in more troops.

Forty-one percent think the U.S. can't achieve its goals regardless of troop levels.

Read the complete CBS News poll results.
The president's nationally televised message to Congress may not even reach many of those whose minds he would like to change. Less than half the public says it's very likely to watch the speech — and that answer comes more from those who already support him.

There's still more troubling news for the president: By a more than 2-to-1 margin, Americans think Mr. Bush does not share their priorities. Just 28 percent think he does, while 69 percent think he does not.

More than two-thirds of Americans also think the country has gotten off on the wrong track, while just 26 percent think it is headed in the right direction.

DOES BUSH SHARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

Yes
28%
No
69%

Mr. Bush's approval rating is much lower than it was one year ago, when 42 percent of Americans approved, and far lower than the ratings he received in polls prior to his previous State of the Union addresses. Those ratings have fallen steadily since a high of 82 percent in January 2002, shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

His job approval is also far below those of other modern two-term presidents at this point in their second terms.

In January 1999, for example, just after his impeachment by the House of Representatives, President Bill Clinton's job approval rating was 65 percent. In January 1987, President Ronald Reagan's was 52 percent. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson received a 47 percent approval rating, even as debate about the Vietnam War raged.

The war in Iraq remains the most important problem facing the country, cited by 33 percent of Americans, far more than mentioned the next top issues, the economy and jobs (8 percent) and health care (7 percent).

Only one in four believes the war is going even somewhat well, while three-quarters say it's going badly — something the president himself acknowledged earlier this month and the highest number since the war began.

MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM

War in Iraq
33%
Economy and jobs
8%
Health care
7%

Americans are split on whether Congress, now under Democratic control, should offer a non-binding resolution against the troop increase: 42 percent say yes and 42 percent say no. But more than half of Americans — including most Democrats — want Congress to cut off the money for the troop buildup, including a small number who want to cut funds for the entire war.

Mr. Bush is expected to talk mostly about domestic concerns in Tuesday's address — and that is what most Americans want to hear; just one in four wants to hear mostly about foreign policy and Iraq. Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution says, "He's already invested in a national speech on the subject, which was not well received in the country or in the Congress. My guess is he will talk more about the War on Terrorism, and link Iraq to that broader initiative."

On the domestic front, Americans think the economy is in good shape, but a majority says the Social Security system needs to be fixed now.

The public is split on whether the 2001 tax cuts should be made permanent. More than half think the issue of illegal immigration is very serious, but are divided on whether Congress will actually pass immigration reform.

Americans continue to see global warming as a serious problem. Seven in 10 say it is a problem that is having a serious impact right now. A quarter disagrees.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.


This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,168 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 18-21, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. An oversample of African-Americans was also conducted for this poll, for a total of 221 interviews among this group. The results were then weighted in proportion to the racial composition of the adult population in the U.S. Census. The margin of error for African-Americans is plus or minus seven points.


© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 359 Comments
by susanhelit January 22, 2007 7:13 PM PST
Wonder what the number would have been if on the list of our Most Important problems, President Bush was an option. I'd pick that!

At the very least, he's taught some people that picking our President is very important - you can't just say they're all the same, picking the one that seems the most approachable, the most like a buddy or whatever has a real serious cost, if that leads you to the wrong guy.
Reply to this comment
by patriotic9 January 22, 2007 7:15 PM PST
Death to the enemies of United States who support that BUSH who is giving American Tax payed money on the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and American Weapons on the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an Islamic Radical "MALIKI"for the killing of US troops in Iraq.
Reply to this comment
by jimfinster January 22, 2007 7:18 PM PST
please please please GO BACK TO TEXAS
Reply to this comment
by dmotte January 22, 2007 7:30 PM PST
Screw all of you republican ***. The idiot Bush stole the election the first time. How could the american public be so stupid the secind time.His *** should go over to Iraq with the troops for a few days and then he would have a different perspective on the situation.What an idiot.He should keep looking over his shoulder.
Reply to this comment
by lieberman18 January 22, 2007 7:35 PM PST
Al Qaeda and the Neo-Fascist Democratic Party - A Perfect Match, especially Osama and Botox girl.
Reply to this comment
by lieberman18 January 22, 2007 7:37 PM PST
In a perfect world, we'd nuke Iran - fight in Iraq without restraint, and take out North Korea's nuclear capability, given to them by Pervert Bill and Coward and Bigot Carter.

And become REAL Americans again, not blame us losers and clowns.
Reply to this comment
by myopinion34 January 22, 2007 7:55 PM PST
This is crazy...every president gets the same thing. No one is ever going to agree on everything any president does. No matter who is in there, Rep. or Dem., they are going to upset people. It's life, it's the way it is.
Reply to this comment
by kstrisha January 22, 2007 7:57 PM PST
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20051230.html

Quote:

There can be no serious question that warrantless wiretapping, in violation of the law, is impeachable. After all, Nixon was charged in Article II of his bill of impeachment with illegal wiretapping for what he, too, claimed were national security reasons.

=========

If this congress doesn't hold this administration accountable, then Democracy in America has failed.
Reply to this comment
by kstrisha January 22, 2007 8:08 PM PST
Another reason not to trust Bush's judgements:

Quote:

Ex-Church Official Jailed For Child Porn
Former Music Director Served At Connecticut Church Attended By President George H.W. Bush.
Reply to this comment
by kstrisha January 22, 2007 8:11 PM PST
Bush hangs with the gay prostitute/child porn Evangelists.
Reply to this comment
by orthotox January 22, 2007 8:14 PM PST
Perfect world, lieberman? Most of us would settle for a little civility and sanity toward fellow humans and former presidents alike.
Reply to this comment
by middleman8 January 22, 2007 8:15 PM PST
It is true "you an't judge a book by its cover"

But you sure can judge a commenter by I D name.
Reply to this comment
by lieberman18 January 22, 2007 8:21 PM PST
Orthotox,

Please tell that to the Neo-Fascists, the Osama apologists, and the Bush haters that post here.

If you don't like that, and you don't mind the "Blame America" mentality, then tough...
Reply to this comment
by goldesprit January 22, 2007 8:37 PM PST
Not only is Bush's slip showing, but he can't exactly fall back on his glowing record with Katrina, either.
Just watch out for some cooked up reason to declair marshall law before the election--(perhaps Iran)because in the past, this guy went around making sure the polls were closed "on time" --to help him win the election (established fact).
That's another good (actions louder than words)indicator of what he thinks of the voting public--and the American people.
The nation, the government, and the military is now rather obviously certain by majority that this "President" does not represent the will of the people, in very, very large measure.
Reversing that new clarity we have gained at great cost--is like turning a gold bar into a cow pie.
"Not 'gonna do."
Reply to this comment
by chadb19 January 22, 2007 8:40 PM PST
Bush doesnt care about approval ratings, congress, polls, or the people's desires. Shame on all of you who voted for him in 2004 but- your getting what you asked for!! Never have I seen this nation so split and so much in international crisis...2008 cant come fast enough!!!
Reply to this comment
by billion2005 January 22, 2007 8:50 PM PST
28%? Seems a little high, don't you think?
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 8:56 PM PST
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken in the 1920s

How prophetic! Not just once did the voters elect a moron, but they elected the same moron twice, even after he proved during the first four years he really was a moron.

If not for Andy Card and Carl Rove, Bush would be just another 'unknown' failure, instead of the 'world renown' failure that he is.

Reply to this comment
by arthurcl1 January 22, 2007 9:03 PM PST
Yes I believe in the polls. Why do you think he lost House and Senate? Bush is a Moron!

SHOULD U.S. SEND 20,000 MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ?

Favor
29%
Oppose
66%

Reply to this comment
by billion2005 January 22, 2007 9:03 PM PST
Correction, We elected the moron once... but we don't have to get into the 2000 elections mess. *sigh*
Reply to this comment
by dzdncnfsd2 January 22, 2007 9:07 PM PST
The majority of the people I know personally do not approve of the handling of the war in Iraq, so yes, I believe the poll is an accurate reflection of the opinions in this country. I think it is obvious that the president is out of touch with the citizens, and has no clue what is important to the average American. No big surprise there! It's like expecting the elephant to know how the ant feels.
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 9:11 PM PST


Bush has always been an incompetent lier. It's just that he had to go out and really prove it before a lot of people would come to understand. Now, all but the brain-dead do.

Reply to this comment
by themartyred January 22, 2007 9:14 PM PST
"If Bush was so truly unpopular as these Kerry Whitehouse predicting polls would like you to believe, Bush would have lost more than the average number of Congressional seats in the midterm election...

Posted by badaxmofo at 09:08 PM : Jan 22, 2007"

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Drink the kool aid often, doncha?

NOT ONE, NADA, ZILCH, ZERO! What am I referring to? A democratic incumbent in the house or senate who lost their seat in Nov.

The republicans lost the house AND the senate. That's pretty *** bad if you ask me.

And heck, if you add in all the votes the right wing nutjobs nullified by despicable reasons, the margin would've been higher. Bush is a joke, no one likes him, he's uncaring about finding Osama, he's said it, he has no clue that the entire WORLD and that includes US, do not want his false war that makes his buddies billions at the defense contractors. For all we know YOU ARE one of the profiteers!

cafepress.com/warisprofitable found the find osama sticker there!
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:18 PM PST
"Conservatism is a morally bankrupt belief system centered on self-interest. What conservatives seek is not to protect America (or the sanctity of America as they often claim) but rather the positions and the possessions of the most affluent Americans."

One doesn't have to look very far to see the truth in those statements. With Iran and N. Korea as the 'axis of evil' with the real power to harm us, Bush chose to attack Iraq. He had been planning this attack since the first few days in office in 2001. Due to the numerous lies, the reason was cloudy at first. First it was to avenge Saddam's attempt to kill Bush 41; then it was WMD; then it was nation building; or was it democracy building. It's very obvious the middle east can't handle democracy as we know it. Middle easterners can't separate theocracy from democracy; can't separate the church from the state.

The real reason for the war is the 'oil' stupid! And to protect the interests of the wealthy oil companies that run this country. Think about what it would mean to the oil companies if we suddenly found a substitute for oil.

%u201CConservatism is a ploy to get you (the middle class and non-wealthy) to help the wealthy and super wealthy in this country protect their positions and possessions."
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:22 PM PST
"Do any women here endorse or practice Hillary Clinton's 'ok for hubby to cheat of me doctrine'?

If your hubby cheated on you in the same manner as Bill did/does on Hillary, wouldn't you leave him, kick him out, immediately???"
Posted by badaxmofo

What Clinton did to 'that woman' Bush is doing to all of us. And you will be paying for a very long time, whether you want to admit it or not. The Bush deficit can't be ignored for very long. Anyone with a 'white collar' job should be able to figure that out. Even you, badaxmofo.


Reply to this comment
by rsoxfan1123 January 22, 2007 9:23 PM PST
badaxmofo- The Clinton marital problems should be the least of your worries (and none of anyone's business but their own). We are wrapping up a republican presidency in which we have been lied into a war that cost us $400 billion tax payer dollars and over 3000 American lives. Wake up.
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:24 PM PST
"dirty, when you understand global politics pop off, until then, the 'Bush attacked the wrong country' rhetoric is just that."
Posted by badaxmofo

Well then, tell me, white collar man, what is the reason. Anything else that you can come up with was already dispelled by the 9/11 commission.
Reply to this comment
by nativewoman January 22, 2007 9:25 PM PST
Posted by badaxmofo at 09:14 PM : Jan 22, 2007
Bush "cheated on" all of us.
Too bad we can't kick him out immediately.
Reply to this comment
by rsoxfan1123 January 22, 2007 9:27 PM PST
history will remember Bush much the same as nixon (similar poll numbers). let's pray that in this next election people have learned their lesson with this little "republican experiment" and get a democrat back in there.
Reply to this comment
by January 22, 2007 9:29 PM PST
arthurcl1,

Did you bother to look at the political affiliation or racial composition of the respondents to this poll?

Perhaps it's wishful thinking on the part of CBS, but this country is NOT 36% Democrat and 25% Republican as this poll was weighted, and the black vote is nowhere near commensurate with their population.

Bush's true approval rating is ~40% as per the LA Times and Rasmussen; hardly a ringing endorsement by the American electorate. When MSM fixtures like CBS and Newsweek deliberately skew data to effect an adverse impact on Bush's presidency, it is the media, not President Bush, that is ultimately rendered less credible.

Reply to this comment
by vancouverboo January 22, 2007 9:30 PM PST
Who are those 28%?

No one can be that stupid.
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 9:30 PM PST


badaxmofo

Please tell us how Iraq and 9/11 are connected?

Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:33 PM PST
"Newsman just asked Hillary if she be this far had she not been with Bill?"
Posted by badaxmofo

Probably not, but you make a big deal of a rhetorical question that can't be answered. Would you be in your cozy white collar job if you hadn't met a particular person or made a particular decision? Or was that vocation decided for you at birth? If you are one of those wealthy conservatives I referred to, it's quite possible that decision was made for your before birth.


Reply to this comment
by losgatoshill January 22, 2007 9:36 PM PST
It time to bring our Troops home from this immoral war in Iraq. Way too many have been killed and way too many are returning home wounded both physically and mentally. And for what, lies and oil...not sure how this administration sleeps at night or looks at themselves in the mirror.

Reply to this comment
by losgatoshill January 22, 2007 9:36 PM PST
Its time to bring our Troops home from this immoral war in Iraq. Way too many have been killed and way too many are returning home wounded both physically and mentally. And for what, lies and oil...not sure how this administration sleeps at night or looks at themselves in the mirror.

Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:40 PM PST
"Oh, I know, Bush's *** of America happened with those tax cuts - yet the IRS collected more in tax revenue last year than it has ever before?"
Posted by badaxmofo

You should know as well as anyone posting here that Bush had nothing to do with that. The IRS simply got more agressive in collecting back taxes from tax cheats.
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:42 PM PST
"Bush's cheating on us - was that the time when unemployment dropped to an all-time low or when the stock market hit an all-time high?"
Posted by badaxmofo

Even a moron can get lucky once in a while.

Come on, 'mofo, you can do better than that...
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:46 PM PST
It's late and this 'varigated collar' worker must leave this misguided discourse and do some real work...later dogs...
Reply to this comment
by January 22, 2007 9:46 PM PST
badaxmofo:

If you're so supportive of Bush and his Iraq policies along with his War on Iraq, then why aren't you over there doing the fighting?

Why is it that you and other Republicanazis and Neo-Cons don't have the b*lls to go and fight for what you believe in?

Are you of military age? Are you fat and mentally deficient? Or are you just a coward?

Maybe all of the above?
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 9:48 PM PST
badaxmofo

How was Sadam connected to 9/11 and Al Qaeda?

What was the threat?

Reply to this comment
by memerider January 22, 2007 9:49 PM PST
What frightens me more than what Bush might do are the People of the U.S. It's obvious that they vote based solely on feelings rather than facts (we all do to an extent, but it's crossed a line).

It's time to top using legislation and law enforcement to solve all our problems. Making more things illegal and putting more people in jail isn't working. Wake up, people!

Prohibition doesn't work--and we haven't tried anything else. We just reinvent prohibition--or prohibit something different. Meanwhile, our courts are clogged with endless cases that shouldn't be there in the first place.

Bush is just a symptom of the sickness in the minds of the American people.
Reply to this comment
by canyongear January 22, 2007 9:51 PM PST
What does the phrase - 63% disapprove of Bush's plan to send additional troups to Iraq really mean?! It means (according to CNN polling techniques here http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/02/opinion/main299401.shtml ) that less that 1000 people per year actually are polled. 1000 people per year out of 200,000,000 people are actually polled. And how many polls are there. Care to take a guess? Many more than one I can assure. So to arrive at the statement that 63% disapprove of President Bush's plan to add more troups is a farce. care to guess which party CNN sides with?! Anyone?!
Reply to this comment
by canyongear January 22, 2007 9:53 PM PST
What does the phrase - 63% disapprove of Bush's plan to send additional troups to Iraq really mean?! It means (according to CNN polling techniques here http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/02/opinion/main299401.shtml ) that less that 1000 people per year actually are polled. 1000 people per year out of 200,000,000 people are actually polled. And how many polls are there. Care to take a guess? Many more than one I can assure. So to arrive at the statement that 63% disapprove of President Bush's plan to add more troups is a farce. care to guess which party CNN sides with?! Anyone?!
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:54 PM PST
re: 'mofo: "Are you of military age? Are you fat and mentally deficient? Or are you just a coward? Maybe all of the above?" Posted by mcdazz

Possibly... But I think he's one of those over-paid wealthy conservatives who's not about to do anything 'courageous' and risk it all. Like I said, "Conservativism is about protecting the wealthy..." But the wealthy conservatives aren't the ones doin' the protectin'.
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 9:55 PM PST
canyongear

It's called a sample of the population. And yes, it's an effective statistical method when done correctly. Are you suggesting that because they didn't poll all 300 million Americans that the poll isn't acurate? Did you ever take statistics?

Reply to this comment
by lieberman18 January 22, 2007 9:58 PM PST
I LOVE IT....

"Bush hater gets tossed from jet"

www.newsmax.com

Attn: Neo-Fat Bozos - who's next?? g
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 9:58 PM PST
badaxmofo

Please tell us how was Sadam connected to 9/11 and Al Qaeda?

What was the threat?
Reply to this comment
by rsoxfan1123 January 22, 2007 9:58 PM PST
badaxemofo-what those unemployment numbers don't show is the record setting disparity between the extremely wealthy and the desperately poor. Those new jobs that have been created are mainly minimum wage level jobs that have replaced the decent wage jobs that existed before Bush. Also, part of the unemployment rate is caused by the system they use to determine unemployment. If people stop looking for work, they disappear off the statistics. that does not mean they are employed. people were laid off in record numbers during the first few years of Bush's presidency. we haven't even bounced back to the Clinton era. And, don't forget, he turned a surplus into the largest deficit in the history of our nation in just two years.
Reply to this comment
by dirtydog55 January 22, 2007 9:58 PM PST
"What does the phrase - 63% disapprove of Bush's plan to send additional troups to Iraq really mean?!" Posted by canyongear

It doesn't mean *****, canyongear, if you didn't believe the polls prior to the November election. However, with poll numbers like that, the law of averages isn't favoring your or Bush's side.
Reply to this comment
by lieberman18 January 22, 2007 9:59 PM PST
frankly6,

I know you're gonna spew...but if you have the common sense to read Stephen Hayes and Yossef Bodansky without referring to the usual Fascist Neo-Con BS, the evidence is there, especially in Hayes' book on the Saddam-Al Qaida connection.
Reply to this comment
by frankly6 January 22, 2007 10:01 PM PST
lieberman18

Ok will you please tell us how Sadam was connected to 9/11 and Al Qaeda?

What was the threat?
Reply to this comment
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