Thread: Bush addresses drop in approval ratings

Bush addresses drop in approval ratings
In hourlong interview with Florida reporters, president says Americans suffer from 'battle fatigue' over gas prices, Iraq war
By Jim Stratton
ORLANDO SENTINEL

ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bush, his approval ratings at a record low, acknowledged Wednesday that war in Iraq and rising gas prices have created "battle fatigue" among many Americans.

That anxiety, Bush said, has settled over much of the nation as people worry about whether the United States will succeed in Iraq and how they will afford to fill up their tanks.

"There's a sense of disquiet because of the war in Iraq," said Bush, in an hour-long interview with the Orlando Sentinel and six other Florida newspapers.

Deepening concerns about the war, as well as the current standoff with Iran over its nuclear ambitions and high gas prices at home "have caused Americans to really take a look at the future and wonder whether or not it's as good as they want it to be. I understand that."

But the president insisted his Iraq strategy will work, saying "there's a deep desire by the Iraqi people to live in a democracy." He also urged Americans to be patient as his administration looks for ways to help ease the pain at the pump.

"You can't wave a magic wand," Bush said of soaring worldwide oil prices. "We've got to diversify away from crude. That's not going to happen overnight."

In the meantime, Bush said, he supports research into alternative fuels such as ethanol and more domestic production of crude oil.

He does not, however, support drilling for oil and gas within 100 miles of Florida's coastline, saying he shares Floridians' "deep concerns" about protecting the state's environment.

Bush also said he did not like the idea of U.S. companies paying for the right to drill in Cuban waters.

"I think the money would go to -- I know the money would go to support a government that is suppressing the rights of its people," he said.

Bush made his comments in a meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in south Orange County before traveling to east Orlando. His visit was part of a three-day swing to raise money for U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and urge people to sign up for the new Medicare prescription-drug plan before Monday's deadline.

The president's interview with the state press came on the same day that a New York Times/CBS News poll found that just 31 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing. That is a new low for Bush and the third lowest of any president in 50 years.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they agreed with the decision to go to war in Iraq -- down eight points in the last four months -- and only 13 percent approved of the administration's handling of gas prices.

With midterm elections six months away, Republicans worry the president's slumping poll numbers will trickle down and hurt them in congressional races.

Despite his party's worries, Bush predicted Republicans would maintain control of Congress.

"We have a very strong and positive agenda," he said. "I'm convinced we will continue to hold the majorities in both the House and the Senate."

One of the highest profile races in the country is the Senate campaign pitting incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson against U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris.

In recent weeks, GOP leaders -- including Gov. Jeb Bush -- have expressed serious concerns about Harris, who they say has little chance of winning.

Many Republicans tried to persuade Florida House Speaker Allan Bense to enter the race.

Wednesday, Bense announced he would not run.

The president would not be drawn into a discussion about Harris and Bense, saying only that he would "support the nominee of the party."

Arriving for the 8 a.m. meeting, Bush looked tired but acted upbeat. He settled into a leather, high-backed chair, asking the collection of reporters if anyone wanted coffee.

With him were White House Counsel Dan Bartlett and outgoing Press Secretary Scott McClellan. During the interview, neither said a word.

In recent months, Bush has tried to engage the press more frequently after being criticized for avoiding the media during much of his first term.

Though Bush spent much of his time talking about the Iraq war and gas prices, he also addressed a handful of other issues. Among them:

Immigration. As the Senate resumes work on immigration reform, Bush repeated his support for a guest worker program. "Hopefully we can get a bill out that reflects the principles that I've espoused, which is a strong border security measure, coupled with interior enforcement, measures that will be effective, coupled with a temporary worker program." One of the prerequisites to citizenship, he said, should be to learn English.

Iran's development of nuclear technology. In response to a letter this week from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bush said: "It did not answer the main question that the world is asking and that is, 'when will you get rid of your nuclear program?'"

Bush said the United States and other Western nations "have all agreed that the Iranians should not have a weapon, or the capacity to make a weapon."

Iran insists it is not developing such a weapon.

The upcoming hurricane season. Bush said he worried about the thousands of Gulf Coast residents now living in trailers. "Let's just pray," he said, "there is no hurricane heading that way."

Genocide and starvation in Darfur. Bush said the European Union needs to provide more food aid and NATO needs to provide a military presence to bring the situation under control.

Bush called the rest of the world's response to the crisis "anemic."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/cctimes/ne ... times_news

Stupid hasn't figured it out yet that he wasn't elected to be the savior of Iraq, the President of Mexico, the Trade Minister of China, or the caretaker of the third world giving away hard earned US taxpayer dollars like candy to corrupt and degenerate regimes thereby bankrupting America for a hundred years.

However, the 8 million pound gorilla of illegal immigration, never referenced by Dumya, his lapdogs, or the liberal media that supports it, goes without one word. How stupid do those jerks think we are? The President's approval rock bottom ratings are of his own making, no one else's and they are based almost 100% on his ongoing deliberate failure to do his job and secure the borders.

Bush's credibility is so low that when he now wants to raise the alarm about the serious threat from Iran, no one is going to believe him. For the sake of the cheap labor lobby, Jorge may have put us all in imminent peril from not only massive illegal immigration and wide open borders, but a real and present danger from a bona fide, nuclear armed terrorist state.

All things Foreign, thats all that matters to Bush

Last night thats what our local news said it was due to as well. Not one mention on illegal aliens being a huge reason.....

We are fighting the battle against our own president and our government with the illegal aliens issue, that is what we are tired of

Was simply amazing reading about Senator Bill Frists interview on the cnn website (only was there looking at Lou Dobb's web site - don't wory). The very first words from his mouth when stating who the compromise legislation would benefit was business, followed by trade partners, illegal aliens then last but not least Americans, which does not surprise me. Once again this is further indicative of where the government's mind is (I use that term loosely in this context), who their first concern lies with and the huge disconnect between the government and the American's who in every poll have said no amnesty.
First Frist says grant them guest worker status with no amnesty but then he suggests providing a path to citizenship. Talk about speaking with a forked tongue. We all know what the eventual outcome of this farce of a bill which will be rammed down the taxpayers throats (or is it up our posteriors?).
The latest raids are just this impotent administration's way to placate we who say no amnesty and have major concerns about this administration's will to enforce the provisions contained within the new bill. They will come to a screeching halt even before the ink from El Presidente Vincente Bush's signature is dry. Even if this administration attempts to show a farcical attempt to strengthen the border it would take years, and with the current rate of 2,000,000 a year crossing our border be prepared for many millions more. El Bushez will probably provide the absolute minimum of funding if none at all for border and internal security needs.
This administration has engaged in deceit before and continues to do so. The security and welfare of the American people has taken a back seat to corporations, foreign potentates, and illegal aliens. It is selling out the American people and I don't trust this administration as far as I can throw them. An administration who conspires with another country to villify the efforts of it's own citizens who are legally protesting the government's failure to secure our borders has shown they are as corrupt as the narco empires and fortune 500 entities that they support.

One thing Bush is not is stupid. He's smart enough to have people continue to underestimate him.

He's smart enough to know what he wants and what DEALS TO MAKE in order to get it. Moving Frist this week is a prime example.

He's smart like a fox. It's best to know the enemy.

When Bush's term is up. He may want to consider moving to the far end of Mexico.

Bush, simply does not care about the polls one way or another! he is going to cram this down our throat and try to make us like it. He is the most stubborn fool I have ever run across and right behind him is our congress senate and house. Tell me what happens if he is impeached, who then will be in charge? Chenny? I can feel myself falling into a deep depression, I have only been that way one time in my life when my 24 yr old son was killed logging, that lasted many yrs, I simply don't want to go through that again, honest to god, I am not being melodramatic , I feel as if my country is dying right before my eyes, does anyone else feel the same as I do?

Maybe Bush should run a poll in Mexico or on the FR forum.