Don't buy into the RW spin -

[whometense]

check out this web-only Newsweek article by Marcus Mabry:

A new NEWSWEEK poll suggests President Bush could become Katrina’s next casualty.

Sept. 10, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina claimed her first political casualty Friday. Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, the federal disaster readiness and response agency, was sidelined from the largest disaster relief project in the nation’s history. Brown was recalled to Washington by his boss, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. But a new NEWSWEEK Poll suggests the post-Katrina political storm may just be rising. And her ultimate casualty could be President George W. Bush.

In Katrina’s wake, the president’s popularity and job-approval ratings have dropped across the board. Only 38 percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is doing his job overall, a record-low for this president in the NEWSWEEK poll. (Fifty-five percent of Americans disapprove of his overall job performance.) And only 28 percent of Americans say they are “satisfied with the way things are going” in the country, down from 36 percent in August and 46 percent in December, after the president’s re-election. This is another record low and two points below the satisfaction level recorded immediately after the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal came to light. Fully two-thirds of Americans are not satisfied with the direction of the country.

But Katrina’s most costly impact could be a loss of faith in government generally, and the president, in particular.

<snip>

The Katrina effect is evident in how Americans rate the president personally. In every category, the view of the president is at all-time lows for the NEWSWEEK poll. Only 49 percent of Americans now believe the president has strong leadership qualities. The same percentage of registered voters feel that way, 49 percent—down from 63 percent the week before Bush’s reelection. Only 42 percent of Americans believe the president cares about people like them; 44 percent of registered voters feel that way—down from 50 percent the week before the election. And only 49 percent of Americans and the same percentage of registered voters believe Bush is intelligent and well-informed—down from 59 percent before the election.

<snip>

Reflecting the tarnished view of the administration, only 38 percent of registered voters say they would vote for a Republican for Congress if the Congressional elections were held today, while 50 say they would vote for a Democrat. . . .

[whometense]

1. Eleanor Clift

Hurricane Politics

If there’s an upside to Katrina, it’s that the Republican agenda of tax cuts, Social Security privatization and slashing government programs is over.

[whometense]

2. Howard Fineman

War on the Mississippi

Can America marshal the resources to fight battles in Iraq and rebuild the Gulf Coast? A political storm is brewing.

We seem to be approaching some sort of critical mass here.

[ginnyinWI]

3. I hope so! I'd would be high time for it.

I am trying to remain cautious, because I hate to have my hopes dashed, but I really, really hope, in spite of myself, that the media and the people are finally facing the facts and won't forget them. I suppose it's not easy for the die-hards--that's why they call them that! But we don't need them, we just need sane Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.

Karyn's account of the Kerry appearance is another bit of evidence. 500 people came out and cheered for Kerry. We have to remember this when confronted with some of these sour people at DU. It's like we are on the wrong website sometimes. There is such a disconnect with what we see about Kerry in the media and on some websites, contrasted with the reality at his public appearances.

[TayTay]

4. I couldn't agree more

and is that a pic of your son? I love it!

We are indeed at the point where something has to give. And we are losing critcal ground in Iraq. And some people know this and more are finding out each day. And yes, Bush lacks the political capital to get his car out of the towing yard, never mind do what he originally thought he'd be able to do when he took the oath of office for the second time.

[whometense]

8. Aw, thanks. Yes,

that's him. I love it because that picture really captures how he looks when he's playing.

It's interesting that after a few days of hearing all kinds of Bushite counterspin, the truth is still being spoken. I missed Bill Maher's show last night, but Crooks and Liars has a clip that consists of Maher telling him to resign. It's only partly humor. It seems like everywhere you turn there is another hammer poised above their heads waiting to come crashing down.

It was inevitable. You can only lie in peoples' faces for so long (and this run lasted an amazingly long time) before the lie becomes obvious to even the most disconnected. But my question is, WHAT COMES NEXT? I can't even imagine.

[paulk]

5. help me out here...

"This president doesn’t need Karl Rove to explain the political importance of disaster relief. It’s something Bush responds to naturally, and he knows the risks of seeming to be an insensitive, to-the-manner-born president."


I thought the phrase was "to the manor born"?

and isn't it amazing how Fineman, even while being critical, still manages to bury his face in Bush's arse, with "something Bush responds to naturally"? Still pimping the media construct of Bush as "leader" post 9/11.

[karynnj]

9. that's a fuuny error!

Though Bush may be to the MANNER born - but it's Barbara Bush's manner.

[paulk]

6. I've seen those numbers posted a few times in GD/P

50 - 38, to rebut the lefty freeper "Dems aren't doing anything and everyone hates them" BS.

This is really encouraging. Please, please let that be light I'm seeing at the end of the tunnel.

[TayTay]

7. I saw Richie Havens sing in Lowell the other night

and he sang some old songs and it's scary how relevent they are now. Very scary. But he had hope that maybe the scales have fallen from people's eyes and that we can begin again to realize that we are only as strong as our weakest link as a country.

This is hopeful. I like this poll.

[beachmom]

10. I saw Bill Maher -- it was a good rant

At the end, he said something interesting, that is completely away from partisan politics. He said, "maybe, Mr. President, you're just unlucky". You know, I do feel like yes, * is incompetent, and certainly Iraq is completely of his own making. With 9/11, maybe the plot could have been foiled under Gore (or maybe they could have shot down the plane before it hit the Pentagon with a more alert Pres., etc.) and of course, with Katrina, had he picked better FEMA leaders, given more funding, taken a better leadership role BEFORE the storm hit and immediately after, that situation, although still dire, might not have been so awful. But having said all that, 2001 - 2005 has just been a very difficult time in history. A strong Dem leader who wasn't dividing the country would have made it all a little less painful, but it still would have been bad, with or without *. So yeah, I have to admit, not only is the guy the worst president of my voting lifetime (I've voted since '88), but this has also been the worst historical time of my life, too. Are the two factors inextricably linked or are they completely separate is a good question. But luck (other than winning elections) doesn't seem to be on that guy's side.