February 28, 2006

Bush's plummeting popularity

I keep thinking that Bush's first, best hope of pulling out of this is to find bin Laden. At this point, I'm really not sure what, if anything else, could possibly turn his numbers around. But if they did get bin Laden and he was hauled to the U.S. for trial, you'd see Bush's numbers skyrocket.

I wonder if he's going to step up activities in the search for bin Laden.

PAD

Posted by Peter David at February 28, 2006 11:27 PM | TrackBack | Other blogs commenting
Comments
Posted by: Den at March 1, 2006 12:15 AM

What activities? He'd actually have to have some activities in the search for bin Laden before he could step them up.

Posted by: JamesLynch at March 1, 2006 12:31 AM

Hate to say it, but no matter how unpopular Bush gets, the Democrats can't capitalize on it. Bush authorized blatantly illegal wiretapping? A few hearings at some point in the future. Someone in the cabinet outed the identity of a CIA undercover operative? Let's have someone very far down in authority get charged. More torture pictures from our prison get released, and the beginnings of civil war? "Stay the course." And the VP shoots someone, then waits until the next day to give a statement? Whip out the editorials! And there are now two more conservatives on the Supreme Court.

After the last election, PAD had written something about his hope was that if/when things got much, much worse under a Republican leadership, the Repubs would be stuck in 2008 because they couldn't blame anyone but themselves for all the problems. Well it's 2006 -- when do we get chance for all the problems?

Sigh...

Posted by: JamesLynch at March 1, 2006 12:34 AM

Er, that shoulda ended "When do we get a change for all the problems?" My bad.

Posted by: Lex at March 1, 2006 12:38 AM

Bush's numbers could go a little lower. I just heard that he's not supporting South Dakota's bill banning abortion because it doesn't have exceptions for rape and incest. I don't know exactly how that'll play out with his base, but I can definately see him losing a few points because of it.

Posted by: J. Alexander at March 1, 2006 12:38 AM

Hmmm. It will be interesting to see if Bush's lack of popularity will damage the GOP in November's elections.

Posted by: Den at March 1, 2006 01:18 AM

I think Bush is pretty much done with the pro-life/anti-gay group. Rove masterfully used them for a get out the base effort in 2004, but they made it clear that their agenda isn't high on their list of priorities.

The South Dakota law is clearly a ploy to get standing so as to test out the new more conservative Supreme Court on eventually overturning Roe v. Wade. If I were a resident of SD, I'd furious that my tax dollars are going to be funneled into an inevitable lawsuit just to score a political point.

Meanwhile, Pat Robertson is probably praying every night, "And this time, smit one of the liberals, okay?".

As for the November elections, the Dubai Ports issue is the perfect opportunity for the Republicans in Congress to distance themselves from him. Whether it hurts them or not will depend mainly on whether the Dems can get their shit together soon.

Posted by: Jason M. Bryant at March 1, 2006 05:01 AM

There's no need to step up the search for bin Laden. They caught him months ago. They're just waiting to annouce it until 3 months before the congressionsl elections, for maximum effect.

Posted by: John Mosby at March 1, 2006 05:19 AM

I have to say that each day I grow more weary and certain of the fact that anyone in government (US or UK) can do just about anything and still either hold onto their job or be back in a similar position of power before long. Whatever the scale, there's shuffling, spin and then some distraction. Maybe this is down to the public as much as officials. Why AREN'T we saying 'No, actually, a shrug and a smile don't quite cover this!'.

In fact it occured to me while watching the West Wing a few months back, that when a scandal breaks in real life, people diplomatically resign and it's only in TV fiction that they are actualy fired. (Poor Toby, though)

Posted by: cap10rob at March 1, 2006 06:53 AM

I heard Bush hit rock bottom and has started digging

Posted by: Bill Mulligan at March 1, 2006 06:55 AM

There's no need to step up the search for bin Laden. They caught him months ago. They're just waiting to annouce it until 3 months before the congressionsl elections, for maximum effect.

FLASHBACK sept 24 2004

During her speech Heinz-Kerry criticized Bush’s tax cuts, the war in Iraq, and the war on terrorism. She even said a near-future capture of Osama Bin Laden could very well happen – just in time to give Bush a boost. “I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month," she said.

Any bets om whether, if Bin Laden remains alive by 2008, we'll be hearing about the "October Surprise" Bush has to help get John McCain elected?

Posted by: LT202 at March 1, 2006 08:24 AM

Bin Laden being taken alive opens a whole new can of worms...

If he is found alive, it will only trigger a huge number of hostages taken on his behalf to be exchanged for his release and more innocent lives lost...

Even if Bin Laden is found alive...I don't think he should be returned to the US alive...

Sounds harsh...I know, but who wants to give these nut-jobs any more bargining chips...?

But hey, thats just my opinion...

Posted by: LT202 at March 1, 2006 08:25 AM

Bin Laden being taken alive opens a whole new can of worms...

If he is found alive, it will only trigger a huge number of hostages taken on his behalf to be exchanged for his release and more innocent lives lost...

Even if Bin Laden is found alive...I don't think he should be returned to the US alive...

Sounds harsh...I know, but who wants to give these nut-jobs any more bargining chips...?

But hey, thats just my opinion...

Posted by: Bill Mulligan at March 1, 2006 09:32 AM

Sounds about right...although taking him alive will make him look weak. Amazing how many of those guys who talk other idiots into becoming suicide bombers suddenly develop an aversion to virgins when it's their neck on the line.

Hopefully, if we do catch him, we'll keep it secret for a bit and use any info he spills to round up others. Invite them all to a big secret meeting in some hidden location that will, shortly after the start of said meeting, assume a large, crater-like appearance.

Posted by: Craig J. Ries at March 1, 2006 09:34 AM

Any bets om whether, if Bin Laden remains alive by 2008, we'll be hearing about the "October Surprise" Bush has to help get John McCain elected?

You know, there's a difference between saying "it wouldn't surprise me" and "this will happen". :)

So, compare her comment to those of Bush & Cheney, who were saying "if Kerry gets elected, we will hav another 9/11".

And see who sounds more reasonable with their 'speculations' on the future.

Hell, even Bush is now saying that the bin Laden tape just before the election probably handed it to him. And if he believes that, then speculation about other events, such as trumpeting bin Laden's capture at the right time, is pretty appropriate.

Posted by: Londo at March 1, 2006 09:50 AM

I don't think that Bush's numbers could ever climb above 52%, which is how many people voted for him. Even if Bush were to capture Bin Laden, too many people from the other side would shout CONSPIRACY or HALLIBURTON to make a difference. So, if he can get back to an approval rating of about 44%, I think he'd be happy with that.

As a lame duck, he doesn't need to be popular, he needs to be taking correct, direct action. Of course, he's doing neither, but that's a different problem.

Posted by: Chris at March 1, 2006 10:51 AM

PAD's right--Bush needs to send in Jack Bauer.

Chris

Posted by: Bobb at March 1, 2006 10:53 AM

There is some correlation between views on the president and the success of his party. With Bush's numbers getting so low, there's bound to be some fence-sitting conservatives that won't be feeling like getting out and supporting more GOP representatives. Bush may not be personally worried, but you can be sure that the GOP machine is.

Posted by: Patrick Calloway at March 1, 2006 11:12 AM

Any bets om whether, if Bin Laden remains alive by 2008, we'll be hearing about the "October Surprise" Bush has to help get John McCain elected?

I'm sorry Bill, but thank you for the best laugh of my morning. The thought that Bush (or any of his machine) would do anything to help McCain get elected...

*pauses*

*wipes tears from eyes*

Wow, that's a good one...

Posted by: Bill Mulligan at March 1, 2006 11:36 AM

Pshaw! If, as I expect, Hiallry Clinton gets the nod from the Democrats, Bush and co will support anyone the Republicans nominate. The country electing another Clinton would be as much an admission of squandered opportunities to him as the country electing a Bush was to Clinton. But we will see. McCain certainly did his bit to get Bush re-elected and I don't think he would have done it without a promise of quid pro quo.

Posted by: tony dreamer at March 1, 2006 11:51 AM

The main thing the dems need to do is to get somebody out there that does not sound like a nut. The next presidential election is going to be just as important as the 2000. The tone of the country will be determined by this election. Speaking of fraud elections keep your fingers crossed.the supreme court hears today the case involving the redrawing of Texas congressional district lines. The white house is afraid enough that they are involved as well.

Posted by: Kurt Onstad at March 1, 2006 12:51 PM

Fittingly, one of the links on CNN's home page is to a story on Bush visiting Afghanistan. Although it's only mentioned briefly in the actual article, the link is titled "Bush says Bin Laden will be caught."

Posted by: Bob Jones at March 1, 2006 09:33 PM

When it comes to President Bush, I always trust CBS' information.

Posted by: Lex at March 2, 2006 04:52 PM

Den said: The South Dakota law is clearly a ploy to get standing so as to test out the new more conservative Supreme Court on eventually overturning Roe v. Wade. If I were a resident of SD, I'd furious that my tax dollars are going to be funneled into an inevitable lawsuit just to score a political point.

Actually, they created a special fund to collect private donations (they already have a million dollar donation). So at least my tax dollars won't be paying do defend that stupid law.

But even so, as a South Dakotan, I'm very furious about it. I think it's a waste of time when the legislature we elected should be focused on issues that can actually make our state better. Like raising teacher salaries, because SD teachers have the lowest in the country.

The whole abortion ban is jsut a dumb idea. I've already e-mailed my district's legislators telling them I think it's dumb and they were wrong for supporting the bill. Our only hope left is that out Republica anti-abortion govenor will veto the bill... fat chance.

But this is getting off topic.

Posted by: gene hall at March 2, 2006 11:43 PM

Suppose they capture Bin Laden and put him on trial...then he blurts out something about all the CIA money that Bush's dad sent him and the rest of Al-Qaeda to go kill Russians in Afghanistan, back when our government was calling those guys "freedom fighters".