Via the AP: Bush’s Approval Rating Falls to New Low

The survey, conducted Monday through Wednesday of 1,000 people, found that just 37 percent approve of his overall performance. That is the lowest of his presidency.

Bush’s job approval among Republicans plummeted from 82 percent in February to 74 percent, a dangerous sign in a midterm election year when parties rely on enthusiasm from their most loyal voters. The biggest losses were among white males.

On issues, Bush’s approval rating declined from 39 percent to 36 percent for his handling of domestic affairs and from 47 percent to 43 percent on foreign policy and terrorism. His approval ratings for dealing with the economy and Iraq held steady, but still hovered around 40 percent.

Ironically, I saw this headline just after reading an e-mail pointing me to the following at Ankle Biting Pundits:

But more that a couple friends of mine on hand in Memphis are considering using the straw poll as a device to show consistent and strong support for President George W. Bush. If just enough people write in the name of George W. Bush on their straw poll ballots, their thinking goes, maybe they can show the snarky media that Republicans are unfazed by its relentless and dishonest negative assaults on the President and his administration.

I think this is a fine idea, and I hope it catches on in Memphis

First off: it’s a straw poll,and is meaningless. Need I remind the audience that Alan Keyes won a Republican straw poll in Alabama in late 1999/early 2024?

As they used to say in Marvel Comics: ‘nuf said.

Really, a write-in to show the media what-for is plain silly.

Second: when a president hits 37% in the polls, that president has far more problems than simply negative press coverage.

Consider the following list of policy items: Iraq, Katrina, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, NSA wiretaps, Dubai Ports World, federal spending, the prescription drug benefit, or social security reform and tell me precisely where one would truly approves of the job that the president has done in the given policy area. Certainly there are divergent views on any single one of those items, but none of them has been a smashing success, and several could be deemed utter failures without much debate.

In terms of Bush’s base, the only areas that one could likely say that Bush probably has truly high, and deep, approval is tax policy and the Supreme Court. Even there there is some debate over taxes in some quarters because of the spending issue and even though the base no doubt is pleased with Roberts and Alito, there is still the lingering bad taste of Harriet Miers for many.

As such, it is ridiculous to place Bush’s political woes at the feet of the press.

Update: James Joyner comments on the poll and notes that Bush’s numbers are bad regardless of which poll one consults.