Public ranks best and worst of last ten presidents

[Spence]

President George W. Bush ranks as the least popular and most bellicose of the last ten U.S. presidents, according to a new survey.

Only nine percent of the 662 people polled picked Bush as their favorite among the last 10 presidents. John F. Kennedy topped that part of the survey, with 26 percent, closely followed by Bill Clinton (25 percent) and Ronald Reagan (23 percent).

Bush was also viewed as the most warlike president (43 percent), the worst for the economy (42 percent) and the least effective (33 percent). But he was rated most highly in response to a question on who would do the right thing even if it were unpopular.Source (http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=10617012&src=rss/ElectionCoverage)

[BurgundyNGold]

Yep, it's official. He sucks.

[Ibleedburgundy]

Those are some funny numbers. If 9% of people chose Bush as their favorite out of the last 10 Presidents, how could he score the least popular when Kennedy got 26%, Clinton got 25% and Reagan got 23%? So the remaining 6 Presidents would split the 17% right?

[swheeler]

Those are some funny numbers. If 9% of people chose Bush as their favorite out of the last 10 Presidents, how could he score the least popular when Kennedy got 26%, Clinton got 25% and Reagan got 23%? So the remaining 6 Presidents would split the 17% right?
I think it means he doesn't have the least #1 picks, but on average ranks lowest. For examply he might have a lot of 10's when the other guys are mostly iin the 3-6 range or something.

[Spence]

Those are some funny numbers. If 9% of people chose Bush as their favorite out of the last 10 Presidents, how could he score the least popular when Kennedy got 26%, Clinton got 25% and Reagan got 23%? So the remaining 6 Presidents would split the 17% right?There would also be unpopular ratings. I take it to mean Bush has the highest rate of unpopularity of any president in the last ten. Clearly, though, he's going to have more people approving of him than approve of Carter or Ford, for example. However, Bush would also have more people disapproving of him than Carter or Ford.

[SkinsKY]

There's also the recency effect, which means that their feelings for Bush are stronger because he's around now. People also tend to remember the past as better than it actually was. If they interviewed anyone who was not of voting age when Kennedy was around, you can't really make much of an accurate conclusion. That said, I think Bush is a goober.

[Ibleedburgundy]

There would also be unpopular ratings. I take it to mean Bush has the highest rate of unpopularity of any president in the last ten. Clearly, though, he's going to have more people approving of him than approve of Carter or Ford, for example. However, Bush would also have more people disapproving of him than Carter or Ford.

Being unpopular and being the least favorite ought to have some sort of correlation. Clearly, Bush was not the least favorite. I see what you are saying though.

If they are going to make the assertion that he is the most unpopular President they should show the numbers to back it up.

[Keino]

Being unpopular and being the least favorite ought to have some sort of correlation. Clearly, Bush was not the least favorite. I see what you are saying though.

If they are going to make the assertion that he is the most unpopular President they should show the numbers to back it up.

2 wholly seperate statements. #1 He ranks as THE most unpopular. #2 Only 9 percent said he was their favorite.

The article is simply a summary of the components of the survey as they relate to Bush. Teh above statements are 2 seperate components of the survey It would've been nice to actually see the survey, but there was no obligation to back anything up, since the articel wasn't making claims or assertions one way or the other, only telling us that what the survey revealed from the 662 people polled.

[Spence]

People interested in this story should be on the look out for more. What I came across is a short wire story. There is probably a lengthier story out there with more explanation of the numbers.

[Paintedbird]

I'm surprised Bush did as well as he did.

[Spence]

I'm not. Bush has a very solid core of people who are with him through thick and thin. He can count on those people no matter what and it helps to sustain him through the tough months, which he has been seeing more of lately.

[Axegrinder]

Bush's selection can viewed as a "no-brainer"!