Will you be sad or glad to see Bush go? - Page 3

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As George W. Bush spends his final days in office, a national poll suggests that two-thirds of Americans see his presidency as a failure.

Sixty-eight percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Sunday said that Bush's eight years in the White House were a failure, with 44 percent saying this was because of his personal shortcomings and 22 percent blaming the failure on circumstances beyond his control.

Thirty-one percent said they consider Bush's presidency a success.

Half of those polled say the United States could be better off today if Al Gore had been elected president in 2000 rather than Bush, with 27 percent saying the country would be worse off if Gore had won. Twenty-two percent say things would be about the same.

"Due to the Florida recount, Bush had the misfortune of coming into office under controversial circumstances," CNN polling director Keating Holland said. "A lot of Americans apparently remember those circumstances and now wish things had gone a little differently."

Only 3 percent of those questioned say Bush was one of the greatest presidents in the nation's history. Forty-six percent rate him a poor president.

"That's three times higher than the number who gave a failing grade to his father or Ronald Reagan when they left office, and it's 27 points higher than Bill Clinton in 2001," Holland said.

Thirty-one percent approve of Bush's performance in the White House, his final approval rating as president.

"The good news for Bush: That 31 percent figure is 7 points higher than it was in November, a typical 'nostalgia bump' that most outgoing presidents get," Holland added. "The bad news is that except for the rating Richard Nixon has when he resigned, that's the lowest approval rating an outgoing president has received in the six decades of scientific public opinion polling."

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted from January 12 to 15, with 1,245 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for some questions and 4.5 percentage points for others.

well even though i live in america im still happy that bush is going!!! but i also have high hopes that obama will change those thing that bush has done!!! i woudnt say that bush was a horrible present but he did those thing that sort of did affect the us!

It was such a nice image as The Obamas and the Bidens were seeing off Bushs on a helicopter after the inaugration....Bye bye Bushy, definitely not gonna miss u...I'm celebrating this day as a competent President steps in the shoes of incompentent one!

Originally posted by: anon

I am not American either so can see your P.O.V but world cares what America thinks as it is the Super Power. Its politics dictate what the rest of the world will do. If you don't have US support your screwed. Whoever is the President does affect the world. When America is sick the rest of the world catches colds😉

Was same for the World Wars - American joining on Allies side was another main reason why allies won - So Whoever is president indirectly affects all.

Right now it may be in decline but i honestly doubt it will no longer be the World Power. 😳

Originally posted by: Dark Love

Will you be happy or disappointed to see George W Bush finally go. 😊
Happy Happy Happyyy!! As soon as Obama took the Oath of Office, I let out a whoop of joy (shocking my classmates I'm sure 😆), change has come to America. WOOT!!

Or do you just not care? I care all right. I've been stalking politics for a while now 😆 The new government will affect everyone, and especially me since I'm a student who will be affected by the new financial aid opportunities and tax credits.

I mean all around the world we associate America with Bush and it will take some getting used to with having Obama as president.

I feel like we, especially Americans, are already used to it. It doesn't take long to to get used to positive change :)

i think bush have to gone because he completed his two terms he is not compelled to leave or removed from the office he is going because this the law.

so for me it is not a matter of joy that he is leaving the office.

Originally posted by: gursharan

Frankly i don't care who the president of America is since I am not American. I don't like why the entire world gives so much attention to American Politics?

I don't think there will be any change coming in the U.S once Obama becomes a President, but one thing for sure is that America is on it's way down now, in few years it will no longer be the world power.

america is a superpower country in this world and despite being hated by many countries in this world american's politics affect the international politics greatly and significantly. every decisions that america takes will affect the world greatly not only in politics but also in economics therefore the entire world gives many attention to american politics.

no matter who the president is american's presidents always think about themselves and their interests first. they do not care about the world and other countries, other nation-states. if they show interests towards other countries it's only because those countries can give benefits to strengthening american's international political power and its economics.