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GOP banking on Bush getting more popular

The president’s abysmal poll numbers aren’t worth noting anymore; there’s just no point. He’s extraordinarily unpopular; he’s reviled around the world; and his would-be Republican successors are embarrassed to say his name in public. It’s hardly worth mentioning anymore.

But U.S. News noted this week, however, that the White House is eyeing a Bush comeback.

He’s a poll cellar-dweller whom even GOP presidential candidates sneer at, but George W. Bush and some congressional backers see happy days for the prez this year. His fans have dubbed it his “legacy year,” when they hope to lock in his achievements on the domestic front.

Among the items Bush’s GOP congressional allies want to work on this month: continuing his tax cuts and extending the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. As for the war, they say, the news has been good, and Bushies believe that their guy will eventually get credit for opening the war on terrorism. But more immediately, they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45 percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year.

“Legacy year”? It seems unlikely. He’s the lamest of lame-ducks — rock-bottom public support, Democratic Congress, and the absence of a policy agenda. I was especially amused by the notion that the White House is anxious to work with his “GOP congressional allies” on “continuing his tax cuts.” They do know the Dems are in the majority in both chambers, don’t they?

As for the notion of a “remarkable poll shift” to 45%, I suppose anything’s possible, but this seems like wishful thinking gone horribly awry.

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Will America Survive Itself's picture

Bill Frist

WashStateBlue's picture

Hope springs eternal?

He's delusional, that's the sad truth of it.....

milquetoast's picture

"But more immediately, they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45 percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year."

yahhhh
also, Monkeys might fly outta my butt.

David Hawes's picture

Dreeeeem,Dream,Dream,Dream.

P.D.'s picture

Yeah Right! These people are down right crazy. Here we have the worst president in our history. And they honestly believe we, the American people are going to swallow this tripe? Jesus help us. The only thing we can do is vote Democratic and let this madness end.

AllanTBG's picture

A dramatic poll shift in his favor is wishful thinking on a galactic scale. But there are those among his 23% who will believe that canard having heard it only once. And many of these intellectually challenged people have a 24/7 audience on Faux News.

Will America Survive Itself's picture

This IS Bush's Legacy Time ...

War against the wrong country.
Osama Bin Ladin Still running free.
Pakistan is turning into a nightmare.
Iran is turning into a nightmare.
Korea ... another nightmare.
Failed Economy.
Ethics scandals up the ying-yang.
America's good name ruined.
Technology lagging to 30th in the world.
I don't have enough time to mention all the Legacy he has built.

And there is still 355 days left?

getalife's picture

The unity with the Dems and the gop in Congress keep him from the lame duck status.

His ME peace tour is a joke along with the spin of Iraq.

Afghanistan is another loser.

drunk bryan's picture

I'm sure they will thaw out Osama's body and prop him up somewhere in the mountains of Pakistan and then claim; "We got 'em!" Nothing those republicans like better than a dead muslim.

P.D.'s picture

The fact that they don't even poll American's anymore is very telling. I believe Georgie's numbers are down in the 20s, maybe even lower. When economic pressures rise, the people will vote Demcratic.

VoiceFromTheWilderness's picture

Lets hope the Bush white house, and their 'Congressional Allies' are as wrong about this as they are about everything else. What this needs to be is the year when Bush, and his 'allies' get what's coming to them, in a big way. If they don't, in my view the odds of ever 'undoing' what has been done to the American political system, and the world political structure are extremely low.

Lets hope this is the year where Congress finally starts to fight back meaningfully, effectively.

QB's picture

Instead of that ridiculous article, how about checking out a clip that Fox Noise decided was too risky to show twice.

http://www.digg.com/2008_us_elections/Cut_from_re_air_What_Fox_News_does...

darrelplant's picture

It's a SURGE in popularity!

Kyuzo's picture

Jon Stewart summed it up beautifully last night:

"Today former president Bush visited Israel..."

"What? He's still...?"

"How much longer?"

"A year?!"

Moon's picture

..........and they think those nine dead soldiers in one day over in Iraq is going to help him in his popularity contest. Thank God my nextdoor neighbor finished his tour in Diyala before Christmas and is back in the U S for a year. That is unless Junyah decides to invade Persia.

pepper's picture

What nonsnese. It's interesting that they mix the word "goal" with "accomplishment". If Bush, during war and in huge debt, wants to pass a tax cut it would be a goal of his but an "accomplishment"? I hate the press. If Bush wanted to positively effect his legacy he has one choice, make this mess less horrible. He has no means to do so and the press deserves a lot of the blame for us being at this point as well. Yuk.

Chip's picture

A legend in their own minds

Lauren's picture

They are counting the people who misunderstand the question and feel favorably that he is leaving.

Carl Gordon's picture

Sheesh! Talk about levels of detachment from current reality shells!

It gets worse when you think about the following. It was recently revealed in some ersatz "Poll" that Repubs have more sex on a weekly (or weakly) basis them Dems. Not if you eliminate farm animals!

kman's picture

Hardly a lame duck. Democratic majority in both houses? If this past year is any indication, that Democratic majority means just nearly nothing. Why shouldn't Bush be optimistic? Exactly what has he had to compromise on this past year????

mudshark's picture

LOL...maybe he meant Legos..... see.

Ron's picture

This is a joke right? Right?

driftglass's picture

"Operation Pityfuck"

BoiseNick's picture

Sure , no Bush!t legacy on tax cuts et. al. , EXCEPT that we have a Spineless and Round-heels Democratic Congress working for America . And we all know what that's worth . BUPKISS !

guido santa's picture

He'll eventually get credit for "opening" the war on terrorism? Did I read that correctly? "Opening" the war on terrorism? He might as well get credit for finding his way to the Oval Office. Or how about "opening" his eyes in the morning? Could they set the bar any lower for this jerk?

JTM's picture

Will America Survive Itself @ 7:

And there is still 355 days left?

355? Nonsense! He has to resign before the end so Cheney can pardon him after he pardons Cheney.

spaceman56's picture

get credit for opening the war on terror!?!?!?! How? By ignoring a CIA PDB that said bin laden determined to strike inside US? He'll be remembered as the guy who let 9/11 happen on his watch and then made things worse! The murderer and thief in chief - nice deficits - nice money for corporate and war profiteers and cheats and people are supposed to forget that?!

Don't think so. Most sociopathic president ever!

Ron's picture

QB @ 12:

Instead of that ridiculous article, how about checking out a clip that Fox Noise decided was too risky to show twice.

http://www.digg.com/2008_us_elections/Cut_from_re_air_What_Fox_News_doesn_t_want_you_too_see

I watched that and when they came back, they were on a different subject altogether. They don't want anyone to hear the truth.

Shame On U.S.'s picture

http://www.lies.com/images/first_year.gif

3,921 dead with six alone over the past 48 hours.

Bush's legacy in numbers and the central issue facing a failed nation that Democrat candidates refuse to address.

rcca's picture

What drugs are they taking now? They need to go into rendition. Sorry, I mean rehabilitation. A little water boarding will straighten them right up.

myiq2xu's picture

Well, he's got nowhere to go but up.

DoktorN's picture

We're nowhere near rock bottom yet. 45%? He'll be in single digits by the summer.

dadams's picture

bush legacy-

the largest pile of steaming hot shit by one president

a come back for bush--we all can not wait until he is gone !!!!

dadams's picture

milquetoast @ 3:

"But more immediately, they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45 percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year."

yahhhh
also, Monkeys might fly outta my butt.

is that grand canyon we see?

jimt's picture

These guys been smoking the _good_ dope. Only explanation i can think of.

StirFry's picture

He's got big numbers alright. 89% of us want to impeach him. Congress needs to take this poll.

Truly Equal's picture

Well he did start a war on terrorism alright... all by his fucking self.

"Happy days" for Bush means he either is crazy or someone is giving him a couple of more beers for breakfast. This is spin at its bullshit best.

Ron's picture

K.O. just used someone elses post. His numbers will rise because people will be so happy he's leaving.

Will America Survive Itself's picture

milquetoast @ 3:

"But more immediately, they are predicting a remarkable poll shift to about 45 percent favorable by the time he leaves office next year."

yahhhh
also, Monkeys might fly outta my butt.

Hey, that would almost hurt as much as if his numbers did go up.
If his numbers go up it will be because people are just so happy he's finally leaving.

Will America Survive Itself's picture

Ron @ 37:

K.O. just used someone elses post. His numbers will rise because people will be so happy he's leaving.

hey ... so did I just below on #38

SoulCatcher's picture

Remember what Cheney (I think) said...we create our own reality...and they most certainly will...by paying some company to poll his biggest fans and then touting the results as proof of this...

peepeeray's picture

Bushy may not get his fantasy legacy poll numbers, but he's "Mission Accomplished" virtually everything else he and his puppet masters have sought out during his Presidency. I take no solace in his not having a Congressional majority. He hasn't had one for awhile and still does as he pleases. Congress is still doubled over, cluelessly in the corner over the Bushy "surge" tactic that not only bought him more time in Iraq but has amazingly halted all pull-out talk for the rest of his term with endless funds to flow there as needed.

fwacbar's picture

George's numbers up? Less IS more you know...

Straight Shooter's picture

They've given up all false hope that he'll be considered successful in the so-called "War on Terror," and lowered the bar to the ridiculous-sounding, "opened the War on Terror."

george w. bush couldn't even open a box of Crackerjacks without destroying the hidden toy.

P.D.'s picture

I don't know about you guy's, but I popping a bottle of (as Zap Branigan would say) champagin. Just think on Tuesday 20th of January 2009 this man will be gone and sanity restored.

Hawkeye's picture

Given the Administrations track record on predictions, I'd take this one with a ton of salt.

tr's picture

you shouldn't use gop and banking in the same sentence. it scares people.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Keep dreaming pubs, it's not going to happen.

gee dumbya bush = Worst President Ever! That is a fact.

mudshark's picture

JTM @ 26:

Will America Survive Itself @ 7:

And there is still 355 days left?

355? Nonsense! He has to resign before the end so Cheney can pardon him after he pardons Cheney.

No.....there is 374 days left until the next Prez is sworn in.......but I'm all for getting rid of him anyway we can......short of ....the nitwit getting himself ..........ummmm....how should I put this?

Nobody for President's picture

As long as he ends up in prison, I'm OK with 45%.

yogi-one's picture

I can't even think of anything to write about Bush.
Everything about him is so completely dead.
His political suicide is complete.

It's over. He's just a propped up Zombie.

MarktheSpark's picture

As at least 3 folks note above, you should not misunderestimate the solidarity of the ruling class (a) corporate media & (b) faux Demo "opposition" to rally 'round & protect the boy King.
Expect (a) to do elegies for all his great accomplishments on his departure. Katrina will be down the memory-hole (to them) & we'll be told that the surge worked, Iraq's on the mend, etc. (Anybody recall that farewell pic. of St. Ronnie or the Death Squads & Fancy Nancy on the cover of Time w/ the cheery heading "We're outta Here!" It'll be similar panegyrics all over . . .
And the Demo political core wants to continue the endless MidEast wars, redistribution of wealth to the richest & away from the Middle Class, outsourcing, etc. (Hi Bill n' Hill!) Even when they have 70% majorities in Congress & 60+ in the Senate they'll just make new rules to help the "minority" obstruct change & preserve the status quo.
On the plus side the 'Murikan people may be dumb, but few seem to be buying the MSM lies anymore. Until there's a third-- oops, make that 2nd party the political system is broken & can't be fixed.
But President PissyPants' historical "legacy" will be nothing but utter failure & destruction. Sure some of the peasants can be hoodwinked & drugged w/ lies (there are undoubtedly Germans alive today who consider Hitler a great leader, or Spaniards for Franco) but eventually truth will out.

Wes's picture

"You can't polish a turd Beevis." - Butthead

Lauren's picture

Carl Gordon @ 19:

Sheesh! Talk about levels of detachment from current reality shells!

It gets worse when you think about the following. It was recently revealed in some ersatz "Poll" that Repubs have more sex on a weekly (or weakly) basis them Dems. Not if you eliminate farm animals!

Mr. Gordon, you misunderstood the poll. Republicans have more sex IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS than Democrats do.

gempei's picture

Kyuzo @ 14:

Jon Stewart summed it up beautifully last night:

"Today former president Bush visited Israel..."

"What? He's still...?"

"How much longer?"

"A year?!"

I still like what he said to David Frum, the day before: "we HAVE President Homer!"

miss_kitty's picture

Wes @ 53:

"You can't polish a turd Beevis." - Butthead

That doesn't stop some people from trying...

gempei's picture

miss_kitty @ 56:

Wes @ 53:

"You can't polish a turd Beevis." - Butthead

That doesn't stop some people from trying...

That was hilarious! Thank You!!

GonzoD's picture

I've been banking on winning the lottery for years, probably not gonna happen.........

GonzoD's picture

Ignorance must truly be bliss!
Oh the things you'll believe when you create your own reality.

Lauralu's picture

Keith Olbermann quipped that his approval rating will go up because we're all so happy he's leaving office!

RichStraightWhiteAmericanMale's picture

The GOP owns the media, the White House and the congressional Democrats. They can do whatever they want.

moniker's picture

He has increased popularity among al-Qaeda for helping to vastly increase their numbers.

Jones's picture

I for one am worried - the standard GOP play for raising poll numbers is to bomb the shit out of somewhere. If they're predicting a bump in W's numbers, it's probably because Crazy Ol' Dick has his finger hovering over a bright red button labelled "Iran". Still, it is amusing that even in their wildest pie-in-the-sky fantasies they still can't envision a future in which less than half of America knows Chimpface for the useless fuckwad he is. To go from a reality of 90% approval to a distant dream of 45% in six short years is a major accomplishment in the annals of incompetence.

Tequila's picture

So even if he gets 45%, that would still make him one of the least popular Presidents in history. So much for the "liberal" media's take on the situation, though.

Medford Tim's picture

"They do know the Dems are in the majority in both chambers, don’t they?"

Oh yeah? Prove it!

c. atrox's picture

Bush would be more popular if he were to spontaneously combust.

Cats r Flyfishn's picture

As the saying goes "elections have consequences" and the Republicans do not control Congress so how are they going to push through Bush's domestic agenda. As the song goes "dream on". Bush's legacy year. We have 7 year of boy Bush legacy bushit and we don't need any more. Pack it up, boy Bush. You're a lame duck. Quack.

Zlad!'s picture

Si! He will be very poluar in Paraguay...in 374 days!

The Oracle's picture

The only one who will leave the Bush White House with a 45 percent approval rating will be Barney.

VegasRage's picture

YES , YES, pLEAse keep banking on Bush getting more popular, I couldn't ask for more.

americangoy's picture

bush presidential library, circa 2012, a faded, scratched plaque on a wall:

"...but his biggest achievement was getting 45% approval rating as he left the office of president, as shown by the PNAC polling group".

Bruce's picture

Probably a typo. They're actually hoping he'll break a 4.5% approval rating

Chip's picture

They're a legacy in their own minds.

Chip's picture

As they put the spin on all their accomplishments we'll be paying for their disasters for years to come.

jr's picture

more rapture bunnyism from the party of hoover

CoIntelPro's picture

leave it to chrissie. he'll make boosch the aKKKwa vulva man.

JJohnson's picture

Bush is just slightly more popular than anal rape with a power drill.

CoIntelPro's picture

Bruce @ 75:

Probably a typo. They're actually hoping he'll break a 4.5% approval rating

yeah, they're SO good in mathmetics and spelllinf too!

CoIntelPro's picture

Cats r Flyfishn @ 68:

As the saying goes "elections have consequences" and the Republicans do not control Congress so how are they going to push through Bush's domestic agenda. As the song goes "dream on". Bush's legacy year. We have 7 year of boy Bush legacy bushit and we don't need any more. Pack it up, boy Bush. You're a lame duck. Quack.

don't think the dems haven't been trying to give boosch whatever he wanted.

CoIntelPro's picture

P.D. @ 5:

Yeah Right! These people are down right crazy. Here we have the worst president in our history. And they honestly believe we, the American people are going to swallow this tripe? Jesus help us. The only thing we can do is vote Democratic and let this madness end.

new hampshire has proven that you can only vote for who they want you to vote for.

CoIntelPro's picture

VoiceFromTheWilderness @ 11:

Lets hope the Bush white house, and their 'Congressional Allies' are as wrong about this as they are about everything else. What this needs to be is the year when Bush, and his 'allies' get what's coming to them, in a big way. If they don't, in my view the odds of ever 'undoing' what has been done to the American political system, and the world political structure are extremely low.

Lets hope this is the year where Congress finally starts to fight back meaningfully, effectively.

please don't go holding your breath until you turn blue.

whizkid's picture

Take this guy out.
Mellencamp for President till 1/20/09.

Fritz's picture

George W. Bush will go down in history as the worst president in American history - the president that nearly destroyed the world. A few more years of this idiot and the universe would go to hell and fall apart too. I'm amazed that he hasn't been impeached yet.

watchdog's picture

C&L proud to bring you another fine installment of the republicant's war on reality.

Marc's picture

ENOUGH INSANITY.

bigs's picture

Bush is still under the tumcumsum curse. He is a walking dead man. He will never finish his term. He is so fucked. Maybe the Gaza boys will take him out while he over in Israel!!

StCyrlyMe2's picture

His new poll numbers are now at 2%

Loonie's picture

They're crazy if they think he's coming back again.
They're crazy if they think he's coming back again.
They're crazy if they think he's coming back again.
They're crazy anyway.

IN THEIR DREAMS's picture

IN THEIR DREAMS!!!

Preacher Boob's picture

He'll probably get a boost when we start impeachment proceedings.

He'll probably kick up to double digits.

JerryO's picture

Maybe if we all close our eyes, cross our fingers and repeat "I do believe, I do believe.....", the WarPigs will be the first former Administration to have charges of treason brought against them by a sitting Administration. That would do wonders for our standing in the world and be a fitting legacy. Cheney and his butt-boy George must be held accountable for the unbelievable damage done to our country, completely destroying another country and the soldiers he has sent needlessly to early graves. Not to forget the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis that have died since the occupation.

Preacher Boob's picture

Now listen kids, I'm gonna level with you. I know you've been working hard, and studying, and you've been getting excellent grades.

But lets be pragmatic. If you want to be president some day, you're going to have to lower your sights. You don't want to appear over-qualified for the job, if folks know you're smart, they won't vote for you.

Get those grades down. A's are great if you want to be a plumber, or a lawyer, but politicians need C's and D's, and presidents need F's.

So fu*k off, have fun, and some day you can live in the White House. And don't talk too good, neither.

JustSickOfIt's picture

This is the only way they can effect change, in their own minds. This will happen when chimpy and stinky dick resign. Then they will get the poll numbers the cons want. Hell, I would even give them credit for turning themselves in to the authorities. That would be the only manly act either of these should be abortions have ever committed.

Oh well, I guess 24% isn't so bad a legacy. Considering your Daddy bought you into the job. Sick piece of shit...

bubba's picture

45%, eh? Guess they are banking that that the secret GOP cure for baldness/penile ehancement will finally yield results. Theyve got their best young republicans holed up in a secret lab working on that ultimate October surprise.

Targa's picture

This is the same type of hope/banking that got us mired in Iraq!

He had 8 years to build his legacy on domestic issues. I think he F*d that up along with his Mideast debacle.
Man, I can't wait until he's out of office.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

goodluck with that neocons. The world does not buy your B.S. anymore, and neither does the American Public!!!

Bush Approval in the Single Digits across European Nations

Europe blasts Bush's 'arrogant bunker mentality'
Posted January 12, 2008
Frank Lockwood
A new poll, cited on the McLaughlin Group this week, shows President Bush's approval ratings in single digits in five different European countries. He does worst in France, where 3 percent approve of the job he's doing.
Majorities of 5500 polled in all five countries say the U.S. poses a threat to world peace.

Arran's picture

no chance in hell his numbers will improve. The military are still waiting for that help the Chimp promised them, and 99% of Europeans think Chimpy is verruckt (crazy).

Daisy Zimmerly's picture

LOL! These folks are certifiably insane. Bush will make a comeback when hell freezes over, preferably with him in it.

Daisy Zimmerly's picture

Poll numbers to match his IQ.

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