CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll

Interesting numbers concerning Bush, judicial nominees, and the filibuster debate from a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll:

Bush-

"On domestic issues, the president's approval ratings are at an all-time low -- 40 percent of respondents approve of his work on the economy and 33 percent approve of his plans for Social Security changes.

On the Iraq war, the president's approval mark remained low -- just 40 percent of those agreed with the way he is handling the situation.

Many said they differ on the issues that matter most to them -- 57 percent disagreed with the president, while 40 percent said they agreed.

Bush fared best among respondents when they were asked if they approved or disapproved how how he was handling terrorism. But while 55 percent of the people taking part in the poll approved, that figure was down 2 percentage points from a poll taken in April."

Congress-

"When asked to choose, 58 percent of respondents ... said Republican leaders were behaving like 'spoiled children' on the matter (filibuster debate) while 31 percent picked 'responsible adults.' Democratic leaders were viewed almost in the same light, with 54 percent of respondents disapproving and 36 percent approving.

All respondents were also given a choice of whether they would change the filibuster and/or preserve it. Thirty-five percent sided with changing Senate rules, 19 percent agreed on keeping the filibuster and 34 percent wanted filibuster rules to remain intact but for nominees to receive a full Senate vote.

On the federal judiciary itself, 29 percent of all respondents said judges were too liberal, 19 percent said they were too conservative and 44 percent said they were 'about right.'

The poll also indicated Americans might want a change in Congress, with 47 percent of all respondents saying the country would be better off if Democrats were in control, compared with 36 percent who favored Republicans."