Disapproval Ratings From The Right
Gerry Daly has more news on President Bush's falling approval ratings. In the latest CNN poll, his worst numbers actually came on the issue of Social Security. Most analysis I've read on Presidential polling in general says that high disapproval ratings are a reaction to the President's policies. So, in other words, they'll claim that this latest poll shows that Americans disagree with the President's plans on Social Security.
But I'd like to offer another explanation. I disapprove of the President's job on Social Security. Not necessarily because I don't want Americans to have access to private accounts, but rather because he's given up on the issue lately. Same thing with Iraq. I disapprove of the way the President has wavered at times. I think he's in danger of going soft on the War on Terror. That's not why I voted for him.
Why do pollsters assume that Americans would disapprove of the President over the very policies they just elected him for, rather than disapprove of the fact that, even though he's been given a Republican Congress to work with, he's done damn little? Isn't it likely that some of the new folks that are ticked at the President come from the right?
The administration should realize that if they want the President's ratings to rebound they don't need to move to the left. They don't need to abandon the things he ran on. They don't even really need to articulate their vision better. They just need to do something. A few good deeds would go a long way.
Posted by at June 28, 2005 12:40 PM
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| # June 28th, 2005 3:23 PM vanhelsing |
| Good point. There have been times when I would have been tempted to answer "no" if someone asked whether I approve of Bush's performance — like when I've spent too much time thinking about the border situation and his refusal to fire Norman Mineta. Usually a move to the right would put Bush more in line with the voters who elected him. |