Belief in Bush: Bush's rating not just wartime bounce

USA Today ^ | May 2, 2002 | Richard Benedetto

[DrDeb]

There is more to President Bush's relatively high approval ratings than just the patriotic, rally-round-the-flag effect of his leadership in the war on terrorism, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll suggests.

Built on the faith Americans showed in him following his response to terror attacks on Sept. 11, the poll shows that almost eight months later Bush has developed an image among most Americans as a strong, competent, leader who shares their values and has elevated respect for presidency.

[DrDeb]

COMMENT: Two thumbs up for President Bush. His 77% approval rating represents an INCREASE over his two most recent Gallup ratings, debunking claims by politically motivated critics that his popularity has decreased recently. NOTE: Gallup also discovered that the president's FAVORABILITY ratings -- at 79% -- are even higher than his approval ratings [USA Today reveals this rating in a separate article discussing the Catholic church]!!

[Dialup Llama]

>Only Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, the first year of World War II, and Kennedy in 1961, his first year in office, have maintained job approvals above 70% for longer than Bush has.

They've got to go to Roosevelt and Kennedy to 'dis' Bush.

[america-rules]

[anniegetyourgun]

Nah, they've only got to go to FR to find the dissing of Bush.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Here's a way to grow his coattails: In talking to friends leaning towards supporting Dems in other races, try to get them to expain why. Likely within their answer will be something that has been spun by the press, and a negative characterization(he doesn't represent the common man, he doesn't respect women, he doesn't...). Then remind them how the media keep telling them that Bush was a light-weight, an idiot, and how he didn't understand us and didn't share our values. Then ask. "If the media lied to us about Bush, perhaps they are lying about Issue X and Candidate Y?" At the very least, it might them to do some research and get to know the candidate's actual background and stances, rather than just the media portrayal.

[Dog]

Thanks for posting this!

[kayak]

*grins*

[Diddle E. Squat]

I think you are on to something with the Kennedy comparison. Yet this Camelot isn't media driven, instead Americans have educated themselves to him in spite of the media.

[Savage Beast]

George W. Bush towers over Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy.

[terilyn]

Great post and surprisingly positive commentary from USA Today. It really sums up why the average person supports our President. Trust.

[My2Cents]

Of course, FDR and JFK are part of the American Presidential Pantheon, so W is in an honored group.

As much as we'd all like Bill Clinton to go away, I think the more he shows his bulbous nose in public, the more the public winces in disgust and offers their prayers of thanks to God that George W. Bush is President.

[Dog]

They have ....

I got guys at work telling me Bush has earned another term and these were not Bush supporters before...on the strength of his handling the war..

[yoe]

President Bush is just that, a President and a leader. Bill Clinton is trying to muscle in with his media hyped comments, watch out for the propaganda coming from the rapist! If there were ever to be a Clinton talk show, and I doubt it will ever come to pass, I would NEVER watch it. The major news media is trying so hard to bring us more Clinton BS and after eight years of it - Americans are sick of the failed, impeached and shameful man.

Americans are for character and the decency it brings. Go George!

[america-rules]

Shouldn't the headline here be "Bush approval go up" ?

[hawaiian]

Shouldn't the headline here be "Bush approval go up" ?

Actually, I like the headline. "Belief in Bush" is a strong statement about how America feels about their president.

[SunStar]

Only Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, the first year of World War II, and Kennedy in 1961, his first year in office, have maintained job approvals above 70% for longer than Bush has.

This is spin.

Neither Roosevelt or Kennedy held the job approval over 70% as long as President Bush has -- SUSTAINABLY. Their total length of time at the high levels, in separate timeframes during their respective presidencies, is being added together by this newspaper. Bush has the longest approval rating over 70% in a single, non-interrupted period of time.

This is just more media bias, the intent of which is to minimize this achievement on the part of President Bush.

[My2Cents]

"President Bush has done an excellent job in the war on terrorism, but on kitchen table issues such as health care and education, the public trusts Democrats," Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe.

He wishes!...Actually, Republicans, and the White House in particular, are ahead of the Demogogues on a bunch of domestic issues -- at least those that most people give priority to: tax cuts, education, even Social Security reform. The Dems are left with nothing to offer but their tired old hatred and race-baiting. I'm reading LINCOLN'S VIRTUES by William Lee Miller, and he wrote at one point, "moralistic older Whigs objected to the Jacksonians [i.e., the Democrats]...making unabashed appeals to class and region..." Some things never change, and the Democrats have been the party of divisiveness and emotional appeals since Old Hickory.

[SunStar]

They've got to go to Roosevelt and Kennedy to 'dis' Bush.

Yeah, and it's not even true, unless you add together separate instances of high ratings, each on the part of Roosevelt and Kennedy.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"There is more to President Bush's relatively high approval ratings than just the patriotic, rally-round-the-flag effect of his leadership...."

A 77% approval rating " relatively" high??? ----Relative to who ---- GOD ????

The (attempted) spin in this article is a classic example of liberal insanity.

[VRWC_minion]

USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results

1. If the elections for Congress were being held today, which party's candidate would you vote for in your Congressional district — the Democratic Party's candidate or the Republican Party's candidate? 

	Democratic candidate	Republican candidate	Undecided/ other
2002 Apr 29-May 1	47	43	10
2002 Apr 5-7	50	40	10
2002 Mar 22-24	45	43	12
2002 Feb 8-10	42	44	14

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	77	20	3
2002 Apr 22-24	77	17	6
2002 Mar 8-9	80	14	6
2001 Dec 14-16	86	11	3
2001 Sep 21-22	90	6	4

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in the Middle East?

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	72	23	5
2002 Apr 5-7	67	27	6
2002 Mar 22-24	72	23	5

4. If George W. Bush runs for re-election in 2004, in general are you more likely to vote for Bush or for the Democratic party's candidate for president?

	Bush	Democratic candidate	Other (vol.)	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	56	31	3	10
2001 Oct 5-6	54	29	2	15

5. Please tell me whether you think George W. Bush deserves to be reelected, or not.  

	Yes, deserves	No, does not	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	70	25	5

6. Do you think leaders of other countries around the world have respect for George W. Bush, or do you think they don't have much respect for him?

	Respect him	Don’t have much respect for him	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	63	31	6
2002 Feb 4-6	75	21	4
2001 Jul 19-22	45	47	8
2001 Jun 8-10	40	46	14
2001 Feb 1-4	49	38	13

7. Would you say President Bush is in touch or out of touch with the problems ordinary Americans face in their daily lives?

	In touch	Out of touch	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	62	36	2
2001 Jul 10-11	47	50	3

8. Do you think President Bush’s economic policies have done more to — help the country get out of the recession or have they done more to keep the country in recession?     

	Help get out of recession	Keep in recession	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	55	34	11

9. Do you think the Bush administration has a clear and well-thought out policy on the situation in the Middle East, or not?

	Yes, does have	No, does not	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	43	50	7
2002 Apr 5-7	48	47	5

10. Since he took office, do you think President Bush has — or has not — increased respect for the presidency?

	Yes, has increased	No, has not increased	Has not affected (vol.)	Has decreased (vol.)	No opinion
2002 Apr 29-May 1	79	17	1	1	2

11. Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think it applies or doesn't apply to George W. Bush.

2002 Apr 29-May 1	Applies	Doesn’t apply
	%	%
Provides good moral leadership	84	15
Is a strong and decisive leader	77	21
Is honest and trustworthy	77	20
Is sincere in what he says	76	21
Can manage the government effectively	75	21
Works well with both parties to get things done in Washington	73	23
Puts the country’s interests ahead of his own political interests	72	22
Understands complex issues	68	27
Shares your values	67	30
Cares about the needs of people like you	66	31
Is a person you admire	64	33
Generally agrees with you on issues you care about (other than terrorism)	64	33
Is not a typical politician	54	41

Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,002 adults, aged 18 and over. The interviews were conducted April 29-May 1, 2002. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points.