More than 1,340 Machinists clicked through IAM's online survey on President George W. Bush. The 25 questions captured both high expectations and low-level anxieties.

IAM members offered very calibrated opinions in rating the new president. Their answers seem to reflect a "hope for the best, but get ready for the rest" attitude. 

By wide margins, IAM members felt that President Bush would do an excellent job of improving the quality of our schools and deploying a National Missile Defense. They also thought he would succeed in pushing through fast track legislation.

Machinists were narrowly split on whether or not President Bush could prevent a recession from occurring, expand Medicare coverage for prescription drugs, enforce existing civil rights laws or unify the country.

On job-related issues, most members lowered their expectations. President Bush's lowest ratings were on stopping the transfer of jobs and technologies and protecting the safety and health of workers. He also received low marks for reforming the way campaigns are financed and achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Recent media surveys place President Bush's job approval rating in the high 50's. The IAM survey confirms those numbers, but it provides a more in-depth look at how our members assess the president's performance.
 
 

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