Bush struggling to regain political footing

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03188466.htm

WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush is struggling to regain his footing after a tough period in which he failed to generate international momentum for his Iraq plans, the U.S. economy continues to struggle and the White House has come under investigation.

Bush's popularity among Americans -- which skyrocketed after his handling of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- remains reasonably high, but it has slipped to pre-Sept. 11 levels in recent weeks.

The most recent CBS/New York Times poll put Bush's approval rating at just above 50 percent, and found voters split 44 percent to 44 percent between Bush and an unnamed Democratic opponent.

The last two weeks have been brutal for Bush, leaving the message-conscious White House on the defensive and faced with having to ride out the storm. Republicans are nervous with Election Day 13 months away and Democrats finding a voice.

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[MaineDem]

1. More more more

I want to see more of this news all over the "liberal media".

Maybe people are starting to wake up to this administration after all.

[Lindacooks]

2. And isn't it interesting

that the Treasongate story broke in July, but the media is just now covering it, when Bush's numbers are down?

[Chico Man]

25. We're building momentum.

This is a strong, steady, push. Good strategy.

[Spazito]

3. I believe that the outing of Plame...

is the "tipping point" that we have all been waiting for! Everyone can understand how wrong it is, it doesn't take graphs or Powerpoint bullets to see how wrong it is. I honestly believe that it has opened many people's eyes that were shut tight before!

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. Having Israel bomb Syria will be a popular move with his political base

I believe the destruction of Damascus is one of the widely believed preludes to the Rapture and the arrival of Jesus, after which most of the Jews are to be hurled into a lake of fire.

[tabasco]

15. Ahh yess, the ol' Lake of Fire.

Gotta love that merciful god.

[NWHarkness]

5. "popularity remains reasonably high"

If Bill Clinton's number tanked like Bush's are, they would be measuring him for his political coffin.

[diplomats]

8. I thought that, too

51 percent is not "reasonably high," and just as important, his disapproval rating is now consistently well above 40 percent. When his ratings were in the low 50s before 9/11, his disapproval was still in the 30s. The undecided category was relatively high.

[thinkingwoman]

12. reasonably high?

Actually, they are UNreasonably high. Maybe that's what the person actually meant? ;-)

You're right to note the disapprovals. Those of us who watch the polls know they are puffed up and yet, somebody is forgetting to suppress those disapprovals.

[cliss]

6. What are their alternatives now?

Somewhere in Washington, someone is discussing this very issue. We can look at it from Bushco's point of view: they need to get the numbers up, and they need to get them up FAST. Trends have a way of running on their own steam, and they want to be able to run with some good news, rather than a week before the election next year.

So what are their alternatives? 1) Jobs = this is Bush sore spot #1. How can they create enough jobs to make a difference? 3 million jobs have been lost, and about 1.4 million jobs will be transported to India. So I don't see any progress here, unless they start up some works-type programs like in the 1930's, but our treasury is drained.

2) The economy = Bush vulnerable spot #2. Are there any "fast fixes" they can do here, to jump start some numbers? I guess they could print lots more currency, to give people the illusion that they've got more money, but that will probably fizzle by election time.

3) The War in Iraq = we're stuck and we won't be going anywhere soon. The bills have got to be paid. No changes seen here.

4) The Armed Forces = I believe this is a huge issue that Bush is ignoring, at his peril. I think he has managed to piss off the very people who are carrying out his plans. He's cut their benefits, soldiers only make $225/ month in combat, they don't get enough to eat, they have to pay for things out of their own pocket. I've heard they have to pay for certain medical expenses.

5) Foreign policy = the worst imaginable. Pride and arrogance are difficult things to dislodge, so I don't see any changes coming here.

In conclsion, I can't see any real changes happening, because there's nothing they can do at this point. Their only real alternative is to get out there and blab, spin, look happy, have banners hanging that proclaim everything's awesome, go on TV shows and look confident. I really think that's all they have left at this point.

[hyphenate]

23. Mass Distraction

They always seem to have some sort of ploy available to distract people when the going gets tough for them. Many of us thought/still think seriously that somehow or another the sleazy regime was behind 9/11 as a "weapon of mass distraction" in order to foment sympathy behind the government, and against the middle east. It's difficult to get support for that theory, horrendous as it might be, but it sure came at a time when the chimp needed it, didn't it?

In addition, the reactions of the major ones in charge was all wrong. and still is wrong to this day. The chimp stayed with the school kids well over half an hour when he should have been more in charge of the situation, and Dickhead Cheney went into hiding a little too quickly.

Regardless, this administration is expert at finding ways out of impossible situations, feeding the public lies upon lies, and is quite knowledgable of ways to hiding their scheming ways.

[Skittles]

7. MORE THAN 50% STILL APPROVE OF THIS F***WIT ?????

I DO NO F***ING BELIEVE THAT.

[TankLV]

9. Just love the spin.

"Bush's popularity among Americans -- remains reasonably high"

Davis/Bustamante/No On Recall have/had levels growing to over 50% and it's "dissapointing" or "unpopular" or some other such negative crap comment - while bunkerboy's numbers have been PLUMMETING to under 50% and they're "reasonably high" and he's "very popular", etc.

Don't you just LOVE "fair and balanced" - from ALL the mainstream media"?!

[BuckeFushe]

10. The popularity is the result of a 'lemming" mentality by the public

who would rather watch reality TV than address the issues that will bite them in the ass.

[jokerman93]

11. My cynicsm tells me

that the white house bushcult needs something like another domestic crisis to get our minds off the facts for during this coming election year. I tremble.

[lovedems]

13. yeah,

Wouldn't that be a kicker. That sounds like something Saddam would do. Didn't they go on and on about how he used WMD's on his own people!!! I don't doubt for a minute that this administration would ignore signs of an upcoming terror attack for their own political gain. It would be stupid but this administration is chock full of stupidity. I tremble with you.

[reprobate]

17. Another terra attack here would be the doom of the administration

The only thing that they have going for them is the aura of safety they claim to have braught us. Another failure to stop a terror attack here would kill their only claim to fame, and rather than bring them sympathy, it would turn the rest of the people against them.

Remember what the philosopher said: Hell hath no fury like a defrauded citizenry. Can't remember what philosopher that was. Maybe it was me?

[lovedems]

18. Yeah but, I don't think they care. They have their 1% who are happy

and they are all the ones who would be protected in the event of another attack I suppose. I really don't think they care about the majority in this country. Look at Rummy, it's just part of the war that our kids are dying over there on a daily basis. He could give a shit less.

[2cents]

22. I also don't think they care

Bushco, their friends and the top precentage folks have been well served by taking us from surplus to deficits as far as the eye can see.

They don't need another attack. Even if they lose the election it will still be - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi jokerman2004!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leftchick]

24. naw, they still have their ace in the hole....

the repuke owned and programed voting machines with NO voter verified paper trail....

[realFedUp]

14. They've shot themselves so many times in the feet

and they have no more legs to stand on.

I'd call them strawmen. Scary around this time of year.

[et in Arcadia ego...]

19. I don't buy the author's premise that Bush is struggling.

Maybe Cheney and Rove are struggling, and others in "THEIR" administration, but not Bush. He's never struggled for a thing in his life (well, maybe to get the lid off a bottle).

[Gingersnap]

26. LOL, welcome to DU october suprise

maybe he has also struggled to seem sober in front of the cameras? Struggled to reach the toilet in time to vomit during a bender?

:toast:

[central scrutinizer]

20. "handling" ?

Give me a fucking break - they didn't handle diddly squat - they exploited it to the max and rammed through a totally unrelated agenda, but of course the corporate stenographers (laughingly termed the "media") are too busy polishing *'s Teflon to do any actual journalism.

[are_we_united_yet]

21. "....-- remains reasonably high, ...."

WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Mikimouse]

27. What the heck is THIS?

"...his handling of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks..." What is this BS? Someone please explain to me exactly what he did? As far as I can tell, he didn't do squat.

[lovedems]

28. He did an excellent job running around the country in Air Force 1

running from all of the terrorist out to get him! We were able to see just how brave these hawks are. Instead of returning to the WH, Bush and Cheney both went in hiding during the middle of the worst national crisis since Pearl Harbor!