Americans already rethinking George W. Bush; his poll numbers now but one point below Obama's

Good thing President Obama fled overseas after the disastrous Democratic outcomes in the midterm election.

He wouldn't want to see Tuesday's new poll numbers.

Gallup just announced that Americans' favorable opinions of George W. Bush have risen. This comes as the Obama presidency ages, and now their favorable views of the Republican nearly match their feelings about the Democrat.

Gallup now finds that 44% of Americans have a favorable view of the 43rd president, up about 10%, or four points since the end of his second term in January 2009. Obviously, the former chief executive no longer has a job approval rating.

According to the authoritative RealClearPolitics average of polls, 45.4% of Americans now approve of Obama's job performance, while 49.6% disapprove, compared with 53% Bush disapproval. Obama's approval is down from the 70% range at his inauguration.

Additionally, the same RCP compilation finds 63.8% of Americans feel the country is on the wrong track under the current president, while 31.2% feel it's on the right track.

During his 22 months in office, Obama and his VP, Joe Biden, have sought to blame much of the country's lingering problems, including jobs, on eight years of failed you-know-whats by you-know-who from Texas.

The controversial Bush is emerging from the same period of relative seclusion to promote his new book, "Decision Points," which has surprisingly become an instant best-seller with long lines forming to buy the book on Tuesday's publication day (See photo above).

In recent interviews, Bush says the presidency is difficult enough and he has no intention of criticizing his successor.

Ticket readers had an advance look here at Bush's conversation Tuesday night with the Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity (6 PST, 9 EST). The former Texas governor says he enjoys his post-White House life and is at peace with the many controversial decisions he made and describes in the memoir.

Though improved in recent months, Bush's current approval is barely half of his highest approval, which was 87% in late 2001, just one point below the highest Gallup has ever found among public figures. (Tiger Woods' and Colin Powell's 88%.)

That approval carried over to 2002 when Bush joined Franklin Roosevelt as the only two presidents whose parties gained seats in their first midterm elections. A week ago Obama and his Democrats lost a half-dozen Senate seats and five dozen House seats, the most in a half-century.

 When Gallup first began polling on Bush in early 1999, his favorable rating stood at 69%. After the contentious Florida vote recount of late 2000, it was at 67%.

At this point in Bill Clinton's post-presidential period, his rating was slightly higher than Bush's, 47%.

Related Item:

George W. Bush makes surprise visit to U.S. troops

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos, from top: Bush signs a copy of 'Decision Points' (credit: Matt Nager / Bloomberg News); long lines form to buy his memoir outside a Dallas bookstore (Tom Pennington / Getty Images).

Comments

[Jamal]

Who cares about polls? What does a poll do for us? what? You people are crazy.
The hatred of Obama is disturbing.

Sure let the GOP take over .. lets see what they can do - yearh right.

[Wall Street Baller]

LOL this is the most ridiculous article i have read this week. Bush is the number worst president of all time.

I hope all you tea partiers get exactly what you have coming to you.

[JR]

Ha...ha...Jamal. Polls with the right sample size give you sentiment. Having a hard time dealing with facts and numbers Jamal? The hatred of the GOP is disturbing.

And, yes, Mr. Wall Street; it would be fantastic if the tea partiers get what they have coming.

[Jason Glynn]

and the Democrats had what was coming to them last tuesday; and Obama's response we didn't get our message out and he's been out there more than any other President in history; I read it as this American people wanted jobs Obama jammed his liberal agenda down America's throat

[Nick]

"Hey, let's compare this apple to this orange!" Big difference between favorable/unfavorable and job approval/disapproval. Look at the difference between Sarah Palin's favorable ratings and her support for a presidential run. It's much more relevant to look at Bush's job approval at the end of his term - around 25%.

But in your gloating you miss a larger point.

Look, there's a reason why about 45% of Americans have a favorable view of George W. Bush and why about 45% of Americans have a favorable view of Barack Obama - we're a politically divided nation with a bad economy in a period of near-irreversible decline. The overlap between people who like Bush and dislike Obama is assuredly overwhelmingly high, and vice versa. Obama gets very little support from moderates because the economy is bad, deriving most of his support from the 45% semi-solid Democrat voters, while Bush gets a rosy retrospection from the 45% semi-solid Republican voters.

There's also a reason why Bush's approval ratings were the lowest in modern history while he was actually president: it was clear to nearly everyone that he totally mismanaged the country, doing severe damage to our economy, our global grand strategy, our politics, and our democracy. People may look back more fondly on the Bush years now, especially as our politics continues to be torn asunder and the economy continues to stagnate, but it does not mean that people have really absolved Bush of their disapproval. Memories of a booming economy in 2005 may make one more fond of Bush, but it's still true that the economy began crashing in 2007, fully on Bush's watch.

[Alex]

Its funny how some of you dis W just because u want to be haters but then again what has ur so called "Messiah(Obama)" done for us? Nothing but divide Americans more.
When he came on the scene if u didn't vote for him "you were called a racist" I don't think so! I didn't vote for him NOT because he was black, but because he was the wrong and unqualified person for the job in my opinion!
And what is Disturbing is not the hatred for Obama but Obama's erregance to think that he is always right!
This is not about Republicans or Dems but about that we need someone who will takes us forward and not look back to blame the past 8 years with Bush. Bro i don't care what happened 8 years ago, i care about what r we doing to get out of this instead of talking smack!

[Dave]

Sorry. There is no President worse in my lifetime than Jimmy Carter. High inflation, and a failed rescue attempt of the hostages because of years of military spending cuts plus gas lines are what many will remember of those years.

President Bush had his flaws and made mistakes. But he stuck to his principles and didn't give a damn about what the polls said, which in turn means he didn't make decisions to get votes.

History will show his administration in a much better light than what MSNBC and the whacked out women on The View would have you believe.

[George]

Can we put Bush on trial yet?

[Jeff Rogers]

Polls reveal that most Americans believe the 9/11 killers were Iraqis, too. Watching the mid-term election returns I couldn't help but be amused with the breathless commentary on political races. No analysis, just who's winning or losing. It reminded me of running for class offices in high school.

[Stupid is as Stupid Does]

Only an idiot would give W a second thought. The nightmare is finaly over. There has never before been such an inept/corrupt/moronic president. Let us hope it never happens again.