There’s only one aspect of the Bush presidency that renders me full of shock and awe – and it is a testament to why Bush must keep Karl Rove by his side. I’m continually amazed how, despite the lies and incompetence that led us into war where hundreds of thousands have been killed and wounded, an anemic economy and his own bitter, inarticulate and pathologically indifferent personality, George Bush remains in good odor with nearly half of the Americans who take these polls.

In the new poll from Gallup, a whopping 47.4 percent of Americans gave him a positive job review. These people are obviously very easily led:

A Gallup poll analysis released today finds President Bush’s job approval rating at the lowest of his presidency and, at 47.4 percent, below 50 percent for only the second time.

This compares to the following at the same point in their time in office: Eisenhower 63.6 percent, Reagan 58.7 percent, Clinton 56.3 percent, Truman 48.7 percent Nixon 44 percent (during Watergate) and Johnson 42 percent (at a low point in the Vietnam war).

By Gallup’s chart, Bush’s current rating is 171st out of 236 for any quarter of a year, going back to Truman in the White House.

“Broadly speaking,” Gallup comments, “presidents who have had similar quarterly averages to Bush’s most recent one did not show much improvement going forward…

“Clearly, Bush is off to an inauspicious start to his second term in office. He had average a 62 percent approval rating during his first term in office.”

All I can say is, way to go, Karl! You apparently can fool half the people all the time.

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