Bush, Congress Sink to New Lows in Poll

Both President Bush and Congress remain at historic lows in the eyes of the American public, with Bush finding himself only slightly less despised than Richard Nixon and Congress finding itself only slightly less despised than Bush, according to results from a Newsweek poll released Thursday.

Just 26 percent of Americans believe Bush is doing a good job while some 65 percent disapprove, which Newsweek says is a record for its poll. The numbers place Bush below former President Jimmy Carter's low-water mark of 28 percent in a June 1979 Gallup poll, and Richard Nixon's 23 percent, which came seven months before the Watergate scandal forced him to resign.

But Americans aren't just mad at Bush, according to Newsweek.

Democrats looking to keep their hold of Congress and unseat the eight-year hold the Republicans have had on the Oval Office will have an uphill struggle if the Newsweek numbers are to be believed. The poll found just 27 percent of Americans approving of the job Congress is doing, with an identical percentage of Democrats saying the same thing. Nearly two-thirds - 63 percent - of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing, with disapproval breaking down as 60 percent among Democrats, 67 percent among Republicans, and 64 percent of Independents saying the legislative branch is just as bad as the executive.

Bush's primary problem remains the Iraq War, with 73 percent of Americans disapproving of the way Bush has handled the situation, with just 23 percent offering approval.

But he's got other problems.

Only 34 percent approve of how he has handled the economy, 28 percent approve regarding health care, and just 23 percent back his immigration stance, which has angered his fellow Republicans as the president continues to back compromise guest worker legislation that some in Congress are working to rejuvenate after it appeared dead.

Finally, Bush doesn't even score well on terrorism, with only a 43 percent approval rating, which Newsweek links to trouble ahead for the Republican contenders vying to succeed Bush in next year's election.

A week ago, the Wall Street Journal found numbers similar to Newsweek's, with that poll, done in conjunction with NBC, pegging the president's approval rating at 29 percent.

On The Stump, an AOL election blog, "Scott" writes, "Immigration is the one issue that is destroying Bush at this point. Republicans are against the current bill as a bloc and Democrats are none too happy either. Bush has chosen to fight against those who support him and we are not rolling over."

Sources:
MSNBC, Newsweek poll: How low can Bush go?, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19352087/site/newsweek