Zogby: Bush job approval dips

NEW YORK — Pres. George W. Bush’s approval rating dropped last week to 37 percent in a national live telephone survey conducted by Zogby International.

Bush’s approval rating has been as high as 42 percent just three weeks ago. The drop puts him back where he was in early September, according to the polling firm in a news release.

Bush held steady among Republicans in this latest survey with 72 percent saying they give him positive marks for his work. However, independent voters abandoned him, with just 24 percent giving positive marks, down from 36 percent just three weeks ago.

Married respondents, part of Bush's political base, remained supportive at 42 percent, but a past group of supporters — weekly Wal-Mart shoppers — turned negative. Just 43 percent gave him positive marks in this latest poll, down from 55 percent three weeks ago. Among those shoppers, 57 percent gave him negative job marks, according to the poll’s results.

The survey shows likely voters nationwide weren't happy with what they've seen coming out of Washington in recent weeks — during which the scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley, R-FL, came to full bloom and as North Korea tested what it claims was a nuclear bomb.

On the heels of the Foley uproar, the Republican-controlled Congress took a real hit to its reputation, the poll found. Just 18 percent of likely voters nationwide approved of their work, down from 24 percent three weeks ago. Among Republicans, 31 percent approved of their work, while 66 percent gave them negative marks. Among Democrats, 9 percent gave them positive marks, while 85 percent gave them a negative job rating. Among independents, 12 percent gave them positive marks, while 87 percent gave them a negative rating.

Loyalists remain proud of their own party, the poll found, however. Of those polled, 74 percent of Republicans said they were proud of their party, while 13 percent said they were ashamed. Among Democrats, 66 percent said they were proud of their party, compared to 11 percent who were ashamed.

The generally negative attitude of likely voters nationwide was also reflected in their view toward the war in Iraq, the poll shows. Just 34 percent said they thought the war has been worth the loss of U.S. lives, down from 40 percent two weeks ago. Among Republicans, 59 percent said it has been worth it, while just 15 percent of Democrats agreed. Among independents, 25 percent said it has been worth it, while 65 percent said it has not been worth the loss of U.S. lives.

Vermont to host secessionist convention

BURLINGTON — The Middlebury Institute will host the first-ever North American Secessionist Convention just prior to the Nov. 7 elections.

The convention will be held Nov. 3 and 4 at the Wyndham Hotel in Burlington.

According to convention organizer Kirkpatrick Sale, the purpose of the meeting is to “provide a forum where people with a serious interest in secession from throughout North America can present information on what each organization is doing, learn the policies and tactics of other organizations, trade ideas on organizing, strategizing, and politicking, assess the strength of the secession movement, and figure out ways to make it stronger and more effective.”

Invited delegates are expected from Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Canada, and elsewhere.

An informal gathering will occur on Nov. 3, but the featured event will be a daylong roundtable presentation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 4.

Although the roundtable discussions are open to the press, it is possible that delegates may opt to designate some topics as “off the record,” Sale said.

The Middlebury Institute is an international think tank committed to the study of political independence and secession worldwide. It works closely with its sister organization the Second Vermont Republic.

For additional information, e-mail director@Middleburyinstitute.net.

Posted October 18, 2006

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