Bush leaves presidency with 'lowest in history' 22 percent approval ratings

New York, Jan 17 (ANI): Only 22 percent of Americans have said they approved President George W Bush's performance over the last eight years, as he prepares to leave office, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The public opinion toward him shows no softening in stance with 73 percent respondents disapproved of his performance over the course of his two terms.

Disapproval cut across party lines, with Democrats, independents and even 34 percent of Republicans critical of Bush's performance, The NYT reported.

In contrast, Bush's most recent predecessors left office with approval ratings ranging from 68 percent, for both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, to 44 percent, for Jimmy Carter. Bush's father left with 54 percent approval ratings.

When asked to assess Bush's presidency more precisely, just 17 percent of those surveyed rated it very good or good, while 83 percent said it had been average or poor.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans regarded Clinton's presidency as very good or good when he left office, and 40 percent viewed the presidency of the elder Mr. Bush the same way.

The public's assessment of the president's handling of both the economy and the war in Iraq was markedly negative. Seventy-seven percent disapproved of Bush's management of the economy, and 71 percent faulted his handling of the war.

In surveys that began with Gallup polling in the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bush has the distinction of being the president with both the highest and lowest approval ratings. The highest, 90 percent, was recorded shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The campaign against terrorism is one area in which he continues to win a measure of support from the public, with 47 percent approving of his handling of the issue and 48 percent disapproving.

Republicans were particularly supportive of him on the subject of terrorism: 87 percent approved of his administration's actions to fight it. (ANI)