Presidential Approval Ratings Sweep

As George W. Bush readies his State of the Union address and starts the second half of his first (last?) term as POTUS, The Gallup Organization notes that Dubya enjoyed a 71 percent average approval rating for his second year in office (Jan. 20, 2002-Jan. 20, 2003). That's up from 67 percent for his first year.

Seventy-one percent is good enough for a No. 8 ranking on Gallup's hit chart, which dates back to 1945 and is online here.

Political handicappers will note that George W. Bush's most recent approval rating was but 61 percent. And that his pappy managed to chart at the nine, 12, and 13 spots on the list while still being a one-termer.