People like me make up a bloc of sorts for this president, too: call it the "war base," perhaps. But I have found that the President's clarity of vision following 9/11 has not been maintained as the news cycle bogs down over the many months with Iraq and its reconstruction.USS Clueless on WoT.
Saying "I'm a war president" is different from being a war president. Bush "talks the talk" but is he satisfying his "war base" that he is "walking the walk"?
"The problem is that the public doesn't feel as if we are at war."
While it is true that the Prez. is a wartime president and he is acting like one, the public cannot connect his statements and actions with their experience.
If this is true, it will hurt Bush as more people say to themselves, "What war?" Consequently, Kerry (aka Herman Munster without the humor) will keep harping on economic issues like jobs outsourcing, jobless recovery, you name it.
I don't know if this will turn out to be true or if this will hurt Bush. Just my observations.
Don't see how you can question GW's record on this one.
More to the point is 'saying'. . .ala John Kerry. . .Clinton or any Democrat; and 'being' ala George Bush, offers a clear distinction of what it means to have a genuine leader.