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Presidential Job Performance Approval At New Lows

According to new polling figures, more Americans still disapprove, rather than approve, of how President George W. Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the U.S. Congress are doing their jobs, while a majority approves of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. President Bush`s approval hit a record low of 33 percent this week, clearly damaged by sinking support among conservative Republicans who see him more as a liability than a boon. This number is, obviously, down from the 36 percent Bush received two weeks ago, and a rating of 39 percent in mid-March, 2006.

According to a national poll, public opinion is sharply divided on whether Rumsfeld should resign as Secretary of Defense, especially following what has become known as the "Revolt of the Generals", a bunch of retired military leaders extremely critical of how the war in Iraq was carried out and is now still being fought. There seems to be a consensus on President Bush?s job approval rating, which as stated before now stands at a new low of 33 percent.

A notable drop in approval for Bush comes from among Republicans. Sixty-six percent of Republicans approve of the president`s job performance today, down almost 20 percentage points from this time last year - when 84 percent of Republicans approved. Republicans usually rallied behind the president, but a series of events - a sluggish federal response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, CIA name release scandals, the failed Dubai Ports World deal and secrecy surrounding Vice President Cheney`s shooting incident - reflected negatively on the White House. This has since led to some "house cleaning" in the run-up to mid-term elections this coming November.