One not very happy nation

Some results from the WSJ/NBC News poll (13-17 January).  Ruy Teixeira has more on this one as well as LA Times poll and CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, but here are a few questions he is not mentioning.  As he says, a nation of unhappy campers...

1. Rate your feelings towards Bush:
Very positive - 32
Somewhat positive -19
Neutral - 9
Somewhat negative -15
Very negative - 25

(Looks to me like Republicans were over-represented in the sample...with very positive being that high compared to negative.)

2. Approve/disapprove of the job that Bush is doing:
Approve - 50
Disapprove - 44

(Still pretty low for the guy who just got re-elected.  And it is even worse if it is coming from a sample that is somewhat heavy on Republicans.)

More below the fold...

3. Country headed in the right direction:
Right direction - 40
Wrong direction - 47

(Why the hell did they vote for him if they think he moves country in the wrong direction?  I will never understand...)

4.  Do you feel Bush has a clean slate and a fresh start or will you evaluate him mostly on the way you have felt about him over the past couple years?
Clean slate and fresh start - 20
Will evaluate based on past feelings - 69
Some of both - 10
Not sure - 1

(I can't imagine that any of those 20% who give him a clean slate are Democrats. Probably Repubs who were disappointed with Bush's 1st term, but voted for him anyway and hoped for the best.  Fooled once and ready to be fooled again...)

5.  What should be a greater domestic priority - promoting economic growth or promoting moral and family values?
Promoting economic growth - 44
Promoting moral and family values - 45

(Ugh...no comment)

Read Ruy's analysis...it is good as always.  A nation of unhappy campers indeed.