Fed Response on Katrina Gets Hands Down - Rasmussen

September 4, 2005--Just 28% of Americans give say that the federal government has done a good or an excellent job responding to Hurricane Katrina. Another 25% say the government has done a fair job while 45% say poor.

Interest in the story is extraordinarily high. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Americans say they are closely following news stories about the tragedy, including 59% who are following it "very closely."

Forty-seven percent (47%) have made a financial contribution to help the victims of the disaster. Seventy-eight percent (78%) have said a prayer for them.

Eighty-five percent (85%) say that the "disaster in New Orleans and surrounding areas have a major impact on the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years.

An ABC poll had said something like 46% thought the feds handled the crisis well.

which was the day after Bush was in the area pretending to give a rip. That probably halted his slide temporarily.

That's the problem (and I just did a post on it). When asked if the Feds fucked up, basically everybody says "yep, they fucked up" (only 28% approve). But put Bush's face on it, and by christ, they are not holding this shithead responsible. Damn it. It's right back to old divide. In fact at 46%, that is in essence a few point rise from his last approval ratings.

So much so that despite the fact that the GOP controls the White House, both houses of Congress, the majority of Governorships and State Legislatures, not to mention most of the Federal Courts, people don't think of them as the Government. They still associate the Dems with that. The propaganda has succeeded, folks. People no longer believe the President is responsible for the federal government.

which was the day after Bush's visit. That makes a major difference.

the ABC question was more specific to Bush. 46% approve to 47% disapprove. When you think about it, those numbers are bad. A president should have a 90%+ approval rating for a national crisis.

eom