He's Battered, but His Agenda Isn't Beaten (the media loves Bush)

[ProSense]

The NYT is quoting Grover Norquist, it's lumping Dems support of tax cuts for low-income workers with Bush's tax cuts, and it goes on like this on everything from the environment to no child left behind. That 34% approval fooled me.

“Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?” CBS News Poll, Feb. 22-26, 2006.


Hanging In

He's Battered, but His Agenda Isn't Beaten

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: March 5, 2006

PRESIDENT BUSH has survived rough scrapes before, bouncing back after the reports of torture by American troops at Abu Ghraib, for example, and later the furor over his Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers and the slow response to Hurricane Katrina.

But last week there were signs that Mr. Bush's once limitless supply of political capital had few reserves left, an extraordinary turn of events so early in the second term of a president whose party controls both wings of Congress. A poll released last week showed his job approval rating had fallen to 34 percent, returning to around the low mark reached after the storms last fall. It had recovered to 40 percent in December.

But more worrisome was the open rebellion of his own party in Congress at almost every turn: forcing the White House to accept changes in the Patriot Act; challenging the administration's domestic wiretapping program; and moving quickly to overturn the approval of an Arab company's takeover of terminals at major American ports. The Republicans are openly attacking the president in the area of his greatest strength with the public — national security.

Their tone has changed sharply. Several Republican senators talked of the president like a wayward friend who had fallen down on his luck, suggesting he needed some new staff or should get out more. "Look, this is a great guy," said Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. "He ought to talk to us more. At least we are going home every weekend."

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/weekinreview/05kirkpatrick.html

[gekeeley]

1. It's nice to see that even Republicans in Congress recognize this problem.

It looks like the days of Bush's self-imposed domestic and political isolationism are coming to an end. Either that, or his presidency is.

[BlueManDude]

2. the problem is

despite his incomptetence, the failure, the fuck ups , the lies, the criminality - the agenda just rolls on. some say he's a lame duck. he'll continue to slowly implement the agenda until jan 20 2009.

as for the gopers in congress - many are already trying to help bush on the ports deal (like frist who's done a 180), they're now all huddled together on the domestic spying - they can make all the noises they want for the folks back home - in the end they still do bush's bidding.

[Zeke]

3. The Problem Really Is-Are...

The Democrats!

I just watched Murtha rip Bush & the GOP
a new asshole on Face the Nation, stating
everything that is wrong with Iraq, and
then some.

And watching him, i wonder: why can't other
Democrats do & say exactly what he's saying?!!!!!!!

How many Democrats voted FOR un-Patriot Act
renewal just last week? Why don't they fight
and win?

They keep voting for things Bush wants.
Give me new Democrats because this bunch are shitheads.

[BlueManDude]

5. Bush's approval rating doesn't mean much

yeah it weakens him to a certain extent but the GOP functions as a parlaimentary party and they believe that it's in their best interests to support Bush at all costs. as for the DC Dems, they're completely cowed by the Beltway media types and are petrified of being call "obstructionist" or "angry" or of playing "class warefare" or a million other canards that the RW media uses to keep the Dems ineffective.

[Zeke]

6. Come on Brother...

Give the Dems no credit because the media has them scared.
I just told you: Murtha ripped Sehiefr a new ass.
The only reason the Dems don't fight is because they're incompetent.
Give me new Dems.

[zann725]

4. People in "denial" never change. They always continue enabling their own

lies; and surround themselves with those who support their "denial"...all the way through...until their downfall, and after.

[Disturbed]

7. Possible reasons for Congressional complicity.

Many Rethugs and Dems fall in line because NSA has info on them that would ruin their careers. Also, Rove still wields the stick and carrots on the Rethugs. The US Multi-Corps have the power of the money over many in Congress. It isn't one thing. It is many. More than what I just posted.