I am currently assigned to a well known Army base in Germany and am a German linguist. I think being a linguist gives me an "in" when I have conversations with Germans.
As I travel around I find that the vast majority of Germans with whom I have spoken are against Schroeder and think that his treatment of Bush is over the line.
Granted they don't care for Bush, but they love Americans, and that is the take home message.
Not to doubt you findings, but, do you travel far from the "base" for these conversations?
My experience in Germany since 1988 is quite a bit different than your own.