CNN polls on living ex-presidents

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

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http://www.wibw.com/home/nationalnews/headlines/CNN_Poll_George_W_Bush_Only_Living_Ex-President_Under_50_157860335.html

[Associate Justice PiT]

     All of these guys are doing better now than when they finished their tenures in office.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

And I'd like to see where the others finished within the first 3 1/2 years of leaving.

[tmthforu94]

Without looking at the crosstabs, my guess is most of Carter's support comes from younger generations who weren't around during his Presidency. Those who were are probably more split on him.

Just an educated guess.

[tpfkaw]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

[k-onmmunist]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

Me too... I thought he was near universally seen as some spineless guy who came before Reagan (not that I agree)

[Donerail]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

Not really surprising; what was the last partisan thing Jimmy Carter did for the last 30+ years? All he's been doing is his Carter Center international elections thing, mostly staying out of the domestic landscape (this is also why Hillary has such relatively high approval ratings).

[tpfkaw]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

Not really surprising; what was the last partisan thing Jimmy Carter did for the last 30+ years? All he's been doing is his Carter Center international elections thing, mostly staying out of the domestic landscape (this is also why Hillary has such relatively high approval ratings).

Palestine:  Peace Not Apartheid was quite controversial.

[Donerail]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

Not really surprising; what was the last partisan thing Jimmy Carter did for the last 30+ years? All he's been doing is his Carter Center international elections thing, mostly staying out of the domestic landscape (this is also why Hillary has such relatively high approval ratings).

Palestine:  Peace Not Apartheid was quite controversial.

But the kind of people who read stuff like Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid for fun don't make up a big chunk of the population; certainly a smaller chunk than the people who think "Hey, that's the guy who owned the peanut farm, does peace-keepy/humanitarian type stuff, and won some kinda Peace Prize. Sure, I like him." (For the record, I do fall into the former category).

[tpfkaw]

Surprised Carter has a substantial positive spread.

Not really surprising; what was the last partisan thing Jimmy Carter did for the last 30+ years? All he's been doing is his Carter Center international elections thing, mostly staying out of the domestic landscape (this is also why Hillary has such relatively high approval ratings).

Palestine:  Peace Not Apartheid was quite controversial.

But the kind of people who read stuff like Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid for fun don't make up a big chunk of the population; certainly a smaller chunk than the people who think "Hey, that's the guy who owned the peanut farm, does peace-keepy/humanitarian type stuff, and won some kinda Peace Prize. Sure, I like him." (For the record, I do fall into the former category).

Well that's the point; lots of people who didn't read the book got angry about it because of the title.

[Bacon King]

Carter is probably viewed so favorably due to his active involvement with Habitat for Humanity and such; that's the only thing most people know him for these days.

[Phony Moderate]

Carter - Elder Statesman Effect.
H. W. Bush - Viewed as being better than his son.
Clinton - Presided over happier times.
W. Bush - The Previous Dude Effect (Kevin Rudd in Australia is probably the best example of this).

[BaldEagle1991]

Eh, most recently outed Presidents don't get too favorable as soon as they get out. I'd say wait til GWB gets as old as 80 if he ever is lucky enough to get that far, he'll be where Carter is now.

[Joe Republic]

Indeed, look at Truman and Eisenhower.  The former was hated when he left office, and the latter's approvals were mediocre at best, but both are viewed fondly today.

[BaldEagle1991]

Indeed, look at Truman and Eisenhower.  The former was hated when he left office, and the latter's approvals were mediocre at best, but both are viewed fondly today.

That's because they're deceased now. It changes a lot once you're dead.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

43-54 isn't bad for someone who's only 3 years into retirement after leaving with a much worse rating.

Although I will admit that this poll asks about favorable/unfavorable opinions, not approval.