# GWB's approval ratings now at lowest point of his presidency. Is he done in '04? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 6, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007 "2003-09-06T23:27:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/61 "2003-09-09T03:39:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > \*\*It is not just guns. It is any Right. > > If any presidential candidate advocated an end(or a huge restriction) to ANY!!! one of the Bill of Rights, eg. if the candidate advocated an end to ownership of guns, and end to freedom of religion, and end to requiring the police to need search warrents, and end to trial by jury, etc, then that candidate is automatically out of consideration, out of contention, regardless of anything else he says or wants to do.\*\* Well, I appreciate your comment that it’s NOT ALL ABOUT GUNS, since we most of us understand that it’s NOT ALL ABOUT GUNS. Herewith, all potential candidates shall consider themselves immediately disqualified if they advocate the positions on your list. And so, it Shall Be. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/62 "2003-09-09T03:52:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2sense \* > \*\*I just don’t understand single issue voters. Especially when it is such a wishy washy issue as gun control. Not to disparage anyones view of the importance of guns or anything, I mean “wishy washy” as a description of the policy alternatives. It isn’t a question of “Guns or No Guns” after all. What is the worse likely outcome for the NRA from a president that is “soft” on guns? A new requirement that private individuals perform a background check before a sale at a gun show? I guess that would be inconvenient and all but to base your vote on it? I don’t get it. \*\* Why did women I work with vote for Gore _solely_ because he’s pro-choice? They asked me why I voted for Bush so I gave them my list, and their own list was " I’m afraid Bush would over turn Roe vs. Wade" period. Seems odd to me to pick one thing as most important, but if it works for them… ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/63 "2003-09-09T05:02:57Z")
The Democrats are going to lose because they are going to put the wrong candidate against an otherwise beatable President. Party’s lose when they do this. ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/64 "2003-09-09T05:29:39Z")
Don’t be silly. Bush is going to beat himself. ANY DEM could beat him in 2004. Even Lieberman. Only the most foolish members of Bush’s base will still be behind him in '04 because his committment to their issues is entirely rhetorical, and that sort of thing just can’t be hidden forever. Many of them have already figured it out, and they are gone for good as far as Bush is concerned. And as for the Dem’s, they will literally vote for a yellow dog if that’s what it takes to get Bush out of office. A dead man could beat Bush in '04. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/65 "2003-09-09T05:53:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > \*\*Don’t be silly. Bush is going to beat himself. ANY DEM could beat him in 2004. Even Lieberman. > … > A dead man could beat Bush in '04. \*\* So far, the polling data wouldn’t support those statements. First off, [Gallup](http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr030905.asp) places Bush’s ‘Overall Job Approval’ rating at 59%. Then we have, “…The latest poll shows 51% of registered voters saying Bush, and 39% saying the Democrat.” (From the Gallup cite.) And according to a [FNC/OD poll](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,94766,00.html), Bush/Cheney would handily beat a hypothetical ‘dream team’ ticket of H.Clinton\A.Gore, much less one of the much-lesser known actual candidates. I realise that there is much (misguided) dislike of GW here. But many of you are allowing your personal feeling about Bush taint your reason and judgement about who will be elected in '04. And right now, the data strongly supports GW. ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/66 "2003-09-09T06:01:58Z")
And his “definitely would vote for” number is 29%, vs 40% for “definitely will vote against”. Bottom line. “overall job approval” don’t mean shit when the day comes to decide whether or not he gets to keep the job. This has always been true. My guess is that because a good 20% of respondants will ALWAYS say that they approve of the PRESIDENT, even if they don’t really like the guy who currently has the title. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/67 "2003-09-09T13:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > **Only the most foolish members of Bush’s base will still be behind him in '04 because his committment to their issues is entirely rhetorical, and that sort of thing just can’t be hidden forever. Many of them have already figured it out, and they are gone for good as far as Bush is concerned.** Someone already mentioned that it appears that your dislike for Bush is tainting your view of the future. There is a large group of voters that would no sooner vote for a Democrat as they would vote for a chicken, regardless of who is the Republican candidate. Unless a Dem was to meet the criteria I mentioned in an earlier post, I would be in that group. There is a large group of voters who feel exactly the opposite as well. Even if Jesus Christ himself was running as a Republican, they wouldn’t vote for him. As always it is those who ride somewhere in the middle who will eventually make the final decision. Guns were the deciding factor in last presidential election. Clinton admitted it as did everyone else. Gore threatened gun owners rights, Bush paid lip service. After three years, no new gun control legislation has been passed, so I am happy about that. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/68 "2003-09-10T23:27:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JXJohns \* > \*\* > Guns were the deciding factor in last presidential election. \*\* :rolleyes: Man, I hate it when people make me use the rolleyes smiley! ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/69 "2003-09-10T23:55:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > \*\* My guess is that because a good 20% of respondants will ALWAYS say that they approve of the PRESIDENT, even if they don’t really like the guy who currently has the title. \*\* Actually it only tends to happen during wartime. Regan and Clinton for example had about a 42-44% approval rating. George Bush Sr had like a 60% approval rating. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/70 "2003-09-11T18:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*:rolleyes: > > Man, I hate it when people make me use the rolleyes smiley! \*\* Keep on giving me the rolleyes on that issue. It’s the best way for it to happen again in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/71 "2003-09-11T19:17:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JXJohns \* > \*\*Guns were the deciding factor in last presidential election. Clinton admitted it as did everyone else. \*\* Cite, please? I’ve heard about a bajillion things blamed for the last election, but this is the first time I’ve heard guns blamed for it. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/72 "2003-09-11T19:31:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JXJohns \* > \*\*Someone already mentioned that it appears that your dislike for Bush is tainting your view of the future. There is a large group of voters that would no sooner vote for a Democrat as they would vote for a chicken, regardless of who is the Republican candidate. \*\* Good point. However, if Bush were to drop out of the race tomorrow, and the GOP nod went to this [Chicken](http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/1106/boo.html) I might vote for the chicken. He’s a supporter of gun rights, and has had military experience (though during the civil war) so that would earn him some points, right? [sub] I hope you know I’m joking, I wouldn’t really vote for a cartoon chicken instead of a democrat. Unless that democrat is Gore. And besides, if I was going to elect a non-human, I’d rather have Space Ghost for president than anyone running, including Bush or Chicken Boo. Now I’m getting confused, is the chicken actually running or not? [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/73 "2003-09-11T19:47:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DanielWithrow \* > \*\*Cite, please? I’ve heard about a bajillion things blamed for the last election, but this is the first time I’ve heard guns blamed for it. > > Daniel \*\* If Gore would have won his home state, Florida would not have been an issue. Here are 6 cites 1. [http://www.timesfreepress.com/2000/dec/14dec00/webtngoreloss.html](http://www.timesfreepress.com/2000/dec/14dec00/webtngoreloss.html) 2. [http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/FoodRur/Pub3792.pdf](http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/FoodRur/Pub3792.pdf) 3. [http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/9/10/125357.shtml](http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/9/10/125357.shtml) 4. [http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/05.17/08-gunlobby.html](http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/05.17/08-gunlobby.html) 5. [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0428-05.htm](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0428-05.htm) 6. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0510/p02s02-uspo.html](http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0510/p02s02-uspo.html) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/74 "2003-09-11T21:31:32Z")
I dunno – I seem to recall 1995-6 polls showing a majority of respondents saying that they would vote for an unnamed Republican over Clinton. Such poll results are misleading: hypothetical opponents have no specific negative traits, and when people are asked to compare an incumbent to such a hypothetical, they tend to overstate their dissatisfaction with the incumbent. IMO, Bush’s performance has been less than stellar, but I’m not satisfied with any of the Democrats who’ve declared either. OTOH, Wesley Clark could be quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Tejota](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Tejota](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tejota)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/75 "2003-09-11T23:21:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JXJohns \* > If Gore would have won his home state, Florida would not have been an issue. Um. Gore did win his home state. His home was in DC. Tennesee is just where he grew up. Or if you prefer to define home state as ‘where you were born and spend your childhood’. Then W lost his home state too - Maine. For a complete list of states that would have given Gore the election without Florida, see the list of all Bush states. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/76 "2003-09-11T23:42:39Z")
[quote] …Bush’s performance has been less than stellar…\*\* You have a genius for droll understatement. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/77 "2003-09-11T23:44:29Z")
Too old to rock 'n roll, too young to die, too dumb to code. Sheeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Rayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/78 "2003-09-12T00:18:31Z")
Odd, personally I was of the mind-set that Bush winning in '04 was a foregone conclusion. I see no strong candidates on the Democratic side, and without one, I highly doubt that an incumbant will be taken out of office, especially with the Iraq re-construction going on, and our foreign policy on the shitter. I’m not a fan of Bush, but you have to hand it to the Republicans, they pulled off a major coup. Personally, I hope that the overall flavor of this thread is representative of the majority opinion of the American public, but I would highly doubt it. Bush is going to win unless there is a strong Democratic candidate, and the issues actually get addressed (economy, Iraq, terrorists, etc.) It seems that more and more, the goldfish-like memory of the American public is playing into the hands of the government and their media outlets. _sigh_ I’m such a cynic. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/79 "2003-09-12T02:58:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tejota \* > \*\*Um. Gore did win his home state. His home was in DC. Tennesee is just where he grew up. And where he served as a US Rep and Senator. Most of the links I posted mentioned that Tenn was considered his home state and it was shocking that he did not win it. > [@](#): > > Or if you prefer to define home state as ‘where you were born and spend your childhood’. Then W lost his home state too - Maine. Who cares? The issue at hand is that Gore couldnt pull his own state. Bush won without Maine. > [@](#): > > For a complete list of states that would have given Gore the election without Florida, see the list of all Bush states. \*\* If Gore would have simply won what most consider his “home” state, he would be the President today. The links I provided each mention that one of the deciding factors in his loss of Tn (home state) Ar, and WV was due to his stand on gun issues. ---
**Author:** ![Deep\_Throat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@Deep\_Throat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deep_Throat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007/80 "2003-09-12T03:23:59Z")
History tells us he will be re-elected. He is a wartime president, however, this isn’t the same war that other presidents have fought. It should be interesting to see what goes down. Bush is a very ‘politcal’ politician. Notice all his speaches either have troops behind him, or very expensive graphics…that I’m sure we all paid for too. Plus, he is a money raising mo-fo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwbs-approval-ratings-now-at-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-is-he-done-in-04/200007.md?page=5)