[kenberg]

PassedOut, on Apr 23 2008, 06:04 AM, said:

whereagles, on Apr 23 2008, 05:31 AM, said:

leaders in times of war usually get huge approvals.

I consider George W. Bush a clear casting error.

During the Vietnam War Johnson and Nixon weren't hugely popular.

Nor was Truman during the Korean War, at least not by 1952. The twenty-second amendment didn't apply to him (it was passed while he was in office and applied to future presidents) but there was no way he could have won re-election. Of course the same thing was said in 1948, but lightning rarely strikes twice.

If a president wants wartime popularity, he damn well better be seen as winning it. You don't become popular by getting a bunch of people killed in what appears to be a hopeless cause.

[whereagles]

i said "usually", not "always"

[Winstonm]

kenberg, on Apr 23 2008, 07:07 AM, said:

PassedOut, on Apr 23 2008, 06:04 AM, said:

whereagles, on Apr 23 2008, 05:31 AM, said:

leaders in times of war usually get huge approvals.

I consider George W. Bush a clear casting error.

During the Vietnam War Johnson and Nixon weren't hugely popular.

Nor was Truman during the Korean War, at least not by 1952. The twenty-second amendment didn't apply to him (it was passed while he was in office and applied to future presidents) but there was no way he could have won re-election. Of course the same thing was said in 1948, but lightning rarely strikes twice.

If a president wants wartime popularity, he damn well better be seen as winning it. You don't become popular by getting a bunch of people killed in what appears to be a hopeless cause.

Correct - Truman held the old disapproval record at 67%.

[han]

DId Bush really have an approval rating of 90% at some point? When was that?

[jdonn]

han, on Apr 23 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

DId Bush really have an approval rating of 90% at some point? When was that?

I think they added together the approval ratings for the entire family. 90% was the official Bush approval rating!

[Winstonm]

han, on Apr 23 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

DId Bush really have an approval rating of 90% at some point? When was that?

Shortly after 9-11.

[cherdano]

I didn't believe it either, but it seems Winston is right.
http://www.hist.umn....es/Approval.htm

I guess the 90% approval seemed so silly at the time that I forgot as quickly as possible.

[Winstonm]

cherdano, on Apr 23 2008, 07:54 PM, said:

I didn't believe it either, but it seems Winston is right.
http://www.hist.umn....es/Approval.htm

I guess the 90% approval seemed so silly at the time that I forgot as quickly as possible.

I think it was more of a "gut" reaction to 9-11 than a true approval for Bush - more like rallying round the flag sort of thing than genuine support for the president.

[Al_U_Card]

I can't help but be reminded of that scene where the secret service agent whispers in Dubya's ear that the country is under attack and he finishes off the session with the kids!!!! Like he was too stupid to realize that he wasn't needed to deal with the situation....or that he already knew it and had been told to "remain calm".