Bush thinks polls about him are wrong

The president's popularity rating is at an all-time low -- 23% of all registered voters, according to the latest Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll, discussed here last week. Those numbers are down from February, when he had an approval rating of 35%, and contrast with November 2001, just after the 9/11 terror attacks, when his popularity rating among registered voters was at 85%.

But President Bush senses less hostility out on the road lately, according to U.S. News & World Report, and has told aides he senses an uptick in popularity that is not yet reflected in the polls. One senior advisor, saying the president feels less "antipathy" from crowds along motorcade routes, put it this way: "He feels there has been a shift in attitudes out there that's not reflected in polling data."

The White House also believes that the president's recent use of the veto pen -- on legislation such as the farm bill -- has given him some leverage with Congress. "It's a mistake to underestimate the institutional power of the president and he has utilized that power intelligently," the aide told the magazine.

As if to prove that the administration is not playing like a lame duck, White House press secretary Dana Perino urged Congress today to approve more of Bush's judicial appointments after it returns from the Fourth of July recess. In her daily briefing with reporters, she said:

This Congress has really dragged its feet. And they said that they would be able to confirm a certain number of judges a month and they really fell behind on that. And I don't know if they'll be able to make up for lost time, but we certainly think that our judges need to be confirmed, especially because people who are out in America and want their day in court are, in many places, waiting for months, if not years, in order to actually get that day.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo credit: Leslie Kossoff / AFP

Comments

[DVS]

"President Bush... has told aides he senses an uptick in popularity..."

It was probably a tomato whizzing by his head.

[DFC102]

He also believes in the Easter Bunny.

[the problemwithcaring]

Only A c-stuident like W. would fail to understand that many of the people who hate him no longer have the time, will or inclination to (so violently) protest a lame duck presidency.

[Jim Jones]

George Bush, our deluded, lazy idiot in chief thinks that the polls are all wrong. Before my fellow Americans elected him to our highest elected office I had faith in this country and it's inherent strength of character. That character is now all but gone, replaced with a cowardly fearful populace that embraceds torture and no longer values the rule of law. George Bush is but a reflection of our collective failure to fight for a country that was admired across the globe.

You did a bang up job Georgie!

[You have got to be kidding]

This guy is plain delusional! Of course there's no hostility towards him when he's out on the campaign trail. A) Americans respect the office of the president, B) Americans don't want to be arrested by his Secret Service detail if they yell epithets at him, and C) He's campaigning at McCain places, not for Obama.

It's that arrogance that he knows better, or is smarter, than the populace that got us into this mess in the first place. The country is in the worst funk I've seen since 1974. And if McCain somehow wins I will weep for this country. It will literally be the death of hope.

[Marissa]

I have a cousin who lives in Switzerland. She and her husband told me they wouldn't come visit the U.S., despite the low dollar, while Bush is still President. I bet a lot of people worldwide feel the same.

[gahammer]

Bush's rating at 23 percent, I don't believe it. We all know that's to high.

[Dennis]

Why should he have any idea about how people view him when he is so obviously clueless about everything else.

[nymec]

How funny/sad. The truth of the matter is that he is a lame, lame duck and nobody cares a diddly about him any more. You go, George. As far away as possible.

[James Sullivan]

Since when has Dubya ever had a clue? The best thing that can be said about him is nothing.

[jim]

Once again...he is out of touch. We are already talking about him in the past tense. Good bye... not worth discussing his administration anymore... we are looking forward to relief...and hopefully an honest new administration.

My only regret is... they didnt get to impeach him.

[Valerie]

The "uptick" in mood could well be attributed to his impending departure from the White House. Just a thought...

[RB-Chicago]

Let's see...up is really down...the earth is still flat...black is white...my IQ is 277..Condi bought me some new shoes (really true)... and everybody in Dallas is gonna love me being down there..

This man is SO STUPID he believes he can make this up too Along with the rest og the BS he has been READING (phonically) for years..A M F !!!

[Kathy]

Why does the White House release this kind of information? Do they really believe it will influence anyone? Maybe they are just following some mandatory exercise, delivering their propaganda. They need Baghdad Bob at this point, not Dana Perino.

[gs]

What world does he live in? Are you serious? Motorcade routs? That's how he evaluates whether we think he is doing a good job? Why is he telling us now? That information would have been valuable one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven years ago. We could have put together a motorcade from Miami to Seattle to show him just how we feel about his inept presidency.

[Alann Baadrain]

Wrong yet again, Bush. We still hate you.

[Maggie Knowles]

I wonder, could it be that people have better attitudes toward him because they know it's just a few more months before he and his administration are out of the White House?.... hmmmm...

[Pam]

Of course he doesn't believe the polls! He only believes what he wants to belive...for instance, that the war in Iraq was justified! He's an idiot and I'm only afraid that he'll do something even worse before he gets out of office. The worst president ever. He probably thinks the economy is in good shape too.

[Amazing_Happens]

They're less hostile to W because they know he will be out of office soon.

[Wesley Cole]

"But President Bush senses less hostility out on the road lately"? Of course he does, who can afford gas to go out on the road unless they have a government gas card?

[gabriel]

So Bush is saying, 'When I'm out in public in my limo motorcade, I feel less animosity from the people on the streets than I used to." Truly he is a man of the people.

[Ule]

Yeah, we feel different about him because we realize that in a few months he's finally going to be gone.

Approve, disapprove? Whatever, as long as he leaves.

[Jay Davis]

so since it's been a couple of years since someone threw a live grenade near his stage at an event in eastern europe things are looking up.

[Good grief]

It doesn't matter what GW Bush thinks because he is completely arrogant, delusional, and about as sharp as a bag of rocks. He will go down in history as one of the worst presidents (if not The Worst) we have endured.

[Burton Helms]

Bush has ruined the United States. The beneficiaries of stolen elections feel no obligation to represent the people, and he represents the oil companies that are squeezing us for every last penny they can get. The upcoming election is Constitutional Democracy vs oil companies.