Bush's Unpopularity Topped Only By Nixon's
The Washington Post reports that President Bush is the most unpopular president "in the history of modern polling" with the exception of Richard Nixon.
Bush's disapproval rating is now at 65%. Nixon's, 4 days before his resignation, was 66%.
The historic depth of Bush's public standing has whipsawed his White House, sapped his clout, drained his advisers, encouraged his enemies and jeopardized his legacy. Around the White House, aides make gallows-humor jokes about how they can alienate their remaining supporters -- at least those aides not heading for the door. Outside the White House, many former aides privately express anger and bitterness at their erstwhile colleagues, Bush and the fate of his presidency.
As for his plans for the rest of his term:
With his immigration overhaul proposal dead, Bush's principal legislative hopes are to save his No Child Left Behind education program and to fend off attempts to force him to change course in Iraq. The emerging strategy is to play off a Congress that is also deeply unpopular and to look strong by vetoing spending bills.
If you're wondering about Clinton's approval ratings:
His public support, though, never fell as far as Bush's. Clinton's worst disapproval rating, 51 percent, came during his first term, and he soared to his highest approval rating days after the Lewinsky scandal broke.
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