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It's time for Bush to use invest his popularity points here.

How does he do that? If he invest it does it grow, drop, or stand still? If a president has character and moral authority he can't increase it or lose it by supporting or not supporting a position, can he? Just curious.

A leader can invest his popularity by influencing others to action. Sometimes the action is popular, sometimes not. If he invests himself (and his popularity) in popular action, his favorables may go up. If he invests himeslf in unpopular action, his favorables may go down.

E.g., I think Clinton's popularity went down with the "Universal Healthcare" debacle in what, his second or third year, or so.

It's a matter for wise use of resources, in order for a leader to accomplish the best results (as opposed to supporting his greatest popularity) eh?

I suppose that if Bush signed a bill outlawing abortion after the arbitrary "first trimester" (supposing the bill would make it to his desk) he would accomplish great good, but at the expense of his popularity. Presumably after this, he may not be so influential, the next time he sought a big or unpopular aim.