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April 20, 2006
Sinking Fast
Today Fox News (that notoriously liberal media outlet) published the results of its new national poll. The results for President Bush are nothing short of desperate. The president's approval rating has hit an all-time low -- 33% -- in the Fox poll, which is conducted by Opinion Dynamics, principally due to hemorrhaging support among his once stalwart Republican base.
Just two-thirds of Republicans surveyed now approve of Mr. Bush's job performance, the first dip below 70% among GOP voters in his nearly six years in office, and a real shock. More predictably, only 11% of Democrats polled gave the president a positive rating.
Congress fared even worse, with just 25% of the public approving of its job performance. These numbers must make incumbent GOP Members of Congress extremely nervous, and may explain their increasingly public efforts to distance themselves from the president and his policies. Having just returned from a local town hall meeting this evening where Congressman John Culberson spent much of his time criticizing the White House for lack of enforcement of immigration laws and unwise spending of tax dollars, we saw this "distancing" in action.
The continuing public opinion slide likely also explains yesterday's resignation by White House press secretary Scott McClellan and change in job responsiblity for Bush political guru Karl Rove, who has been pulled off of policy matters to focus exclusively on the upcoming midterm election. (Note: while Democrats may derive joy from Rove's so-called "demotion", just remember he will now turn his full attention to what he does best -- winning elections. Relax at your peril.)
Today's Washington Post piece by Dan Balz boldly suggests the White House has shifted into survival mode, while media columnist Howard Kurtz wonders if the latest changes at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. amount to anything more than rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
All signs continue to point toward a real opportunity for Democrats to make real gains in November. Retaking the U.S. House of Representatives, until recently a pipe dream, now seems an achievable goal. Seventh months is a long way until November though, and much can happen -- like say, a military confrontation with Iran?
Democrats must continue to press an agenda of positive change and accountability from government. We'll see what happens.
UPDATE: Despite recent media speculation to the contrary, it appears Mr. Rove may not escape the clutches of special prosecutor Fitzgerald after all. Stay tuned.
Posted by houtopia at April 20, 2006 07:44 PM