How quickly Americans forget! Bush limped out of Washington last January as the most unpopular President in history according to polls by CBS News and the New York Times. Bush easily topped Harry Truman in the unpopular category. "Give 'em hell Harry" left D.C. beloved by 32 percent of Americans. Bush's final approval rating was 22 percent, meaning twice that percentage now wants him back in the saddle. What a turnaround!
The PPP poll has a margin of error of 2.8 percent, which could almost put Bush on top of Obama. Only 50 percent of respondents want Obama in charge. Six percent are not sure whom they want. The Raleigh-based polling outfit says 47 percent of respondents voted for Obama last year. Forty-five percent voted for John McCain with the rest either saying "someone else" or "don't remember." Women made up 53 percent of the national poll.
Obama could be in for his own surge. The PPP poll was taken before his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in which he adopted the never-ending war strategy of his predecessor. Our new tough guy President’s speech won accolades from politicos Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich. Obama's speech rocked and shocked the editorial page writers of the Wall Street Journal, a group that relishes the role as Obama’s chief tormentor. Today’s WSJ editorial began:
“President Obama gave a gracious speech yesterday accepting his Nobel Peace Prize, starting with the humble note that he has yet to earn it. If his Oslo hosts expected a woolly-headed address about peace in our time, they also didn’t get it. He stated clearly that sometimes war is necessary to defend the peaceable and to serve justice and liberty. He even hit the George W. Bush note that ‘evil does exist in the world. Congratulations, Mr. President.”
Conservatives and moderates comprised the bulk of respondents to PPP's survey. Each accounted for 41 percent of the poll. They certainly won’t get their wish of restoring Bush to the Oval Office.
The alternative, for them, is not too shabby: reincarnation of Dubya in the form of Obama as repackaged hawk.
Many Obama supporters are scratching their heads these days. They wonder where in the world is the guy they voted for last November.
(Photo: White House)