New Gallup poll numbers are in. They show Bush with a 38 percent job approval rating, versus 60 percent disapproval. The president’s disapproval rating has hit 60 percent once before in the Gallup poll, in November 2005, just before Bush began answering his critics on Iraq. Now, it’s back to 60 percent,.

On specific issues, 47 percent approve the job Bush is doing fighting terrorism, while 49 percent disapprove. Forty percent approve of Bush on the economy, while 57 percent disapprove. Thirty-five percent approve of Bush on Iraq, while 64 percent disapprove. And 30 percent approve of Bush on health care, while 63 percent disapprove.

On Bush’s characteristics, 52 percent say he is a strong and decisive leader, while 47 percent say he is not. Forty-seven percent say he is honest and trustworthy, while 52 percent say he is not. Forty-five percent say he shares their values, while 52 percent say he does not. And 40 percent say he can manage the government effectively, while 59 percent say he can’t.

On the political parties, 45 percent say the Republican party will do a better job of protecting the country from international terrorism and military threats in the next few years, while 40 percent say Democrats. That five-point difference is significantly smaller than in September 2005, when 48 percent chose Republicans and 37 percent chose Democrats. In September 2003 (this has apparently been a September 11 anniversary question for Gallup), the numbers were 51 percent Republican versus 36 percent Democrat.

On the ports deal, 66 percent oppose, while 17 percent favor. The poll also suggests that people make commonsense distinctions between foreign countries in considering who should be allowed to run port operations. When asked whether the federal government should allow companies from various countries to run port operations, 71 percent say yes to British companies, while 40 percent say yes to companies from Arab countries that are friendly to the U.S. and 31 percent say yes to companies from China.