[Torie]

Yep, the base has been reassured about Bush's capacity to lead, and make reasoned judgments, and hire good people. The votes he loses from the right, except those whose livelihoods are in stress from the global economy, are small. Most folks understand, that the range of options of a president are limited in the political world. The president must form a coalition from a host of groups that disagree about much (you name it, immigration, presciption drugs, tax cuts for the wealthy, deficits, supply side, no child left behind, a robust interventionist foreign policy, free trade, faith based charity, religion in the public square, gay marriage (23% of Republicans in California support it), etc. As I said, Bush might lose, but it won't be primarily a base problem.

[DoughtyOne]

Once again, thanks for the comments Torie. Can't tell you how many times I've read on this forum someone's statement that they voted for Bush last time, but won't be able to this time. Conversely, some people like myself may in fact vote for him this time when we didn't the last. We'll see.