22 percent

Fitting.

President Bush will leave office as one of the most unpopular departing presidents in history, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll showing Mr. Bush's final approval rating at 22 percent.

Seventy-three percent say they disapprove of the way Mr. Bush has handled his job as president over the last eight years.

Mr. Bush’s final approval rating is the lowest final rating for an outgoing president since Gallup began asking about presidential approval more than 70 years ago.

That’s worse than Richard Nixon’s 24 percent approval rating when he left office – and Nixon resigned in disgrace.

The only difference is that Bush isn’t resigning. The disgrace part is the same. And on Monday, we’ll find out if Bush and Nixon have something else in common: a pardon.

Pariah

It’s a good thing George Bush finds life inside the bubble so comfortable because it looks like he’s going to have to spend the rest of his life there, as many people want nothing to do with him.

Methodists opposed to a George W. Bush Presidential Library, museum and policy institute at Southern Methodist University here are mounting a last-ditch effort to block a nearly completed deal by throwing the decision to a regional church conference in July.

Frankly, being unwelcome in all but the smallest, most ignorant social circles is a small price for Bush to pay for his administration’s crimes. He deserves prison, but it appears shunning will have to do.

It was just a matter of time

But I’m surprised it took this long.

Meanwhile, Bush reached an unwelcome record. By 64%-31%, Americans disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they "strongly disapprove" of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.

Wow, less popular than the most disgraced president in American history. And we’re not talking some John Quincy Adams-era flop. Anyone can take on a ghost after the anger over its failures become ancient history, but Bush beat out a guy that many Americans can compare him with based on direct experience.

Yet another new low

Not the first new low for Bush, not the last.

Bush's job approval rating fell to 24 percent from last month's record low for a Zogby poll of 29 percent. A paltry 11 percent gave Congress a positive grade, tying last month's record low.

"There is a real question among Americans now about how relevant this government is to them," pollster John Zogby said. "They tell us they want action on health care, education, the war and immigration, but they don't believe they are going to get it."

That's it, Congress, keep hitching your wagon to that sinking ship in the White House. How's that working out for you?

Bring ’em home

The people of Redsoxville have spoken.

Massachusetts residents made it rather clear this past election through the "Home from Iraq Now" nonbinding resolution - they want to bring our troops home from Iraq.

More than 60 percent of Massachusetts voters in 36 state representative districts voted in favor of the resolution that calls on Congress and the president to end the Iraq War immediately and bring all U.S. military forces home.

Too bad the administration thinks admitting a mistake is worse than letting more people die.