Bush Averages 60% Job Approval in Year Three (Gallup: Bush approval slips to 53%)

Gallup ^

[My2Cents]

The Gallup results remind me of something a statistician friend told me a couple of weeks ago: "If you bludgeon the data long enough, you can make it swear to anything."

[MissouriForBush]

Please explain to me the irony.

[Texasforever]

Is divisiveness bad?

You thought so the other day when it suited your purpose. You posted your own thread decrying it.

[onyx]

Exactly: The enemy within. We have an election to win.
Good idea. Let's do it.

[Fledermaus]

Most of those accomplishments are great, some are just words and others "proposals".

But can't we at least admit the ideas and decisions that are just plain bad are bad without drinking the Kool-Aid and accusing us that point them out of wanting Dean or a Rat to win?

Bush needs to veto something...ANYTHING! He could start by threatening a veto on this omnibus spending bill (can't the GOP Congress do the appropriations individually?). Majority leader Sen. Bill Frist said to the GOP Congress, "you better vote for this bill or we'll have to just spend at last years levels and some popular programs won't get increases"! YIPPIE! What's so bad about that? Last year's levels were pretty high. But I don't give all the blame to Bush, the Congress is more guilty acting like kids in candy store now that they feel invunerable in their majority.

Where is it written that all government programs have to be increased every year?

And even though it was just an idea, not officially a proposal, Bush's immigration plan has fallen flat on it's face. I was actually surprised the conservatives in the GOP refound their spine on at least ONE issue.

I love the space program idea, but it wasn't handled well or presented better. It's still too vague and, just like his dad, too far out (moon by 2015?) to garner any momentum. We could do the moon in less time and should get more private enterprise involved with awards for real ideas that would work to solve the problems.

And while I fully support our war on terror, I'm getting queasy about our ability to really handle the undertaking in Iraq. How many times does Bremer have to be flown back to DC (haven't these people heard of secure video lines yet?) to overhaul the post-Iraqi war plan?

And why are we still hearing reports of insurgents coming over the borders? We have the resources but they aren't being used? I know a lot of what goes on is being done behind the scenes but it seems not to be working with Syria or Iran. But since it is going on behind the scenes, we really don't know until something like Libya's statement happens. So I'm still going to support the president on this.

But I'm still angry over campaign finance reform. How could ANYONE, seriously, think "no problem, the Supreme Court would never let this be upheld" given the makeup of the court and total insanity of O'Connor and Ginsburg, etc? He should have vetoed that bill and explained it simply violated the 1st amendment.

Today he recess appointed Pickering and asked the others on hold if they wanted the same (they refused). I like this move since it sticks a finger in the eye of Kennedy, Schumer, Lehay, etc. But he needs to play rougher with his judicial appointments. Start threatening those Senators, via Frist (though he's turning out to be as big a wimp as Lott and he's my Senator and I voted for him twice) with their pet projects being held up in committee or killed if they don't let those nominees through.

He should have pushed for more vouchers and choice in the education bill instead of giving in to Ted Kennedy who went ahead and stabbed him in the back like I knew he would. Why would anyone trust or worry about someone that says such horrible and ridiculous things about him?

But now that we are in full election mode, Bush will unfortunately get weaker and avoid confrontation and the Dems know it and will be doing everything possible to object, obscure, and halt any proposals going through Congress. I was hoping Bush, especially after 9/11, was going to be more concerned with our saftey, security and overall economic health and screw reelection and do the right thing.

It's still a long way to November but I'm not going to be waiting for anything bold between now and then.

I don't think, at this point, a Democrat could beat him. He's not made the mistakes his father made in 1991 and 1992 and he has got the handle of the economy as much as any administration can (unless Greenspan screws him like his daddy, but I don't think he could get away with that twice). But I wish the GOP had made the tax rate changes (I refuse to call them tax cuts because they aren't) permanent and force a Dem to have to really raise them. Right now, the Dems can call for their reversal but know they really don't have to do anything since in 2011 they still go back up. I don't want a Dem president vetoing a GOP Congress bill to maintain the rates since they'll say, "those rates were imposed by Bill Clinton and the budget was balanced in 5 years" even though it's a lie. Right now the Dems are saying the GOP is a party of deficit spending and the they are the party of fiscal responsibility even though it's totally false but it sells well in soundbites.

And I wish we'd go back to the idea of eliminating some federal cabinet departments like Commerce, Energy and Transportation among others. Bush and the GOP Congress now like government a little too much for me. But then again, Newt did the same thing after his "revolution" that turned out to be nothing and almost failed (the House was losing seats and the Senate flipped back and forth with a thin margin).

Will 2004 be the year? Will the GOP gain the congressional seats needed to really do those things? Will Bush push for that bigger majority? Will they actually do them once they have the votes? Will they push forward with common sense proposals with 53-56 seats in the Senate?

I hope so but I'm not convinced they will. At this point, given the lying liberal press and the level of total idiocy in the electorate, I'm still worried Bush can lose in November if something bad happens beyond his control and the Dem nominee isn't a total flake like Dean or Clark. I thought Kerry and Edwards were toast, but reality is setting in with the Dems. Gephardt is the one I worry about because of his long ties with the unions even if he has changed every position he had since 1988 (Lieberman changed all his in 2000 so is even more worthless).

It's going to come down to a state by state contest and there are many in play based on a lot of different issues in places like PA, NJ (they are going totally nuts there), WI, MI, etc.

But as of this moment, I'm not too optimistic and Bush needs to really earn back my confidence. Unfortunately, the war on terror isn't enough with the MTV attention span of most Americans...and some of those idiots actually vote.

[Mo1]

Guess we all can't be perfect huh?
Ya think Jesus would be for a revolutionary war?
Hey, speaking of war .. are these people the same one who were against the Iraq war?

[Hoverbug]

That's not at all what you said. Go back and read it.

The people who feel like me are just a small minority fringe nut-group who don't amount to all that many people. Why would it bother you if (notice I didn't say "when") we don't vote for GW. We don't have enough clout to change the outcome of an election, do we? You guys are almost rabid (for lack of a better word) tonight. What's the problem? We're inconsequential.

I'm sure the captain of the Titanic ran a tight ship. All the service was excellent, the china wonderful, the crystal sparkling. The ship was brightly painted, the engines ran perfectly, the cutomers happy and pampered.

And those things didn't mean didley-squat when he ran the ship into the iceburg and sent the ship to the bottom of the ocean.

How many people floating around out there in the water were thinking, "Hey, ya can't expect perfection. A lot of the other stuff was well done, and that other captain probably would have sunk us much earlier in the cruise".

Now do you see where I'm coming from?

Hb

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I don't support nor did I vote for Buchanan. I'm writing in Tancredo if he'll run. If not, I'll write in Alan Keyes.

[jim35]

"...Those who are affected by blind loyalty -- in BOTH Parties -- are almost impossible to reason with..."

It shouldn't surprise you that I feel the same way about you Bush-bashing liberal enablers. Your hatred is so palpable, it goes beyond reason. Someone even posted about what a liar GW is, based on the "16 words." Talk about a BARF ALERT! And my loyalty is not blind, it is quite reasoned, and sincere. I love GW, even if he's not perfect. He's still pretty damned good. And, unlike you MoveOn.Org enablers, I can like some things, and dislike others, while seeing the balance as very much in the good.

[Fledermaus]

I used clothes pins voting for his dad in 1992...now I'll need a hazmat suit! But it's better than the alternative and he hasn't lost me quite yet...but is close.

[MissouriForBush]

You are naive.

[nopardons]

It's STILL " broken glass " time and those dogs in the manger,cut off your nose to spite your face UNNAPEASABLES, who think that the present GOP majorities in both Houses are good enough, but still complain that with both Houses and the White House, more should be done, but isn't, so it's all Bush's fault...need to put there money where their mouths are, buy more than a few clues and get out and vote a straight GOP ticket, as if their lives depended on it, cause it DOES !

[Texasforever]

The irony of you working in a 3rd world country while blasting those from 3rd world countries coming here to work menial jobs. Yes they committed a misdemeanor by not registering but, just as you, they came to where the work is. I spent 8 years in Saudi Arabia, on at least 3 occasions because of where I was at, I was "illegal" due to an expired visa but I made enough money to retire 10 years early and even become eligible for a Saudi pension. The difference between you and I is that I can recognize hypocrisy in myself for damning others for something I have done.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

You notice she hasn't yet told us what Democrat she wants to win

I don't know why I bother talking with you children, but for the record. I despise the Crats even more than today's Republicans. The simple truth is there is but a hair's difference between the two.

[Southack]

Why would you argue against registering illegals?

Would you prefer that they remain anonymous as they are today?!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

. Problem is, Tancredo supports GWB

He's thinking of running. And he'll draw alot of votes when he does. W will have to learn the lesson his Dad learned...you can't diss your base and get away with it.

[sully777]

"...these folks are NOT Conservatives and don't have a shred of self preservation in them."

Hmmm...do you have one them new fangled conserva-detectors?

"...don't have a shred of self-preservation" is also an interesting choice of phrase. I met a guy that had this attitude. He's still in charge, but he sold his soul. No character. No dignity. No faith. No foundation. But good times getting there, right? I mean, he's still in charge and all--but he's this souless creature masquerading as human.

As for blood of patriots blah blah blah: Well, half my family ran from the Brits while the other half was running after them. I guess I'm in a dilemma on how to answer.

[nopardons]

They're " perfect " ( yeah, right...snic ker, snicker )and oh so " principled "; not to mention Conservative, but no one else is; least of all, NOT President Bush.

Many of the UNNAPEASABLES were/are anti the Iraq war.Some are against any and ALL wars.

[onyx]

Not to be overly dramatic, but I think this election may well be the most important in our lifetime.

[Mo1]

But can't we at least admit the ideas and decisions that are just plain bad are bad without drinking the Kool-Aid and accusing us that point them out of wanting Dean or a Rat to win?

There is nothing wrong with a good debate and a good discussion

But this whole, I'm gonna vote for a Dem is ridiculous, I'm gonna show them .. is foolish

Voting for a dem will get this country more screwed then the 8 year nightmare that Clinton gave us

Yes, I agree and wish that Bush would do more things .. but I also have to say that for being in office only 3 yrs., he has done a lot of good things for this country

He is not as bad as some here would claim