Bush’s low approval rating has two causes. First, the Democrats have no ideas other than to make the opposition look like the bad guys and themselves, by comparison, look like a better choice. That is why we hear the constant mantra of “change”. “Change” from what? Change from the image they have created of the Republicans and George Bush specifically.
Second, Bush has adopted the strategy of imposing conservative solutions on government problems by joining the opposition and working from the inside. The education plan was like that. He let Kennedy write most of it but he won the key points. That was accountability. The teachers unions had three years to improve the schools or face loss of federal funds, then two more years to take corrective action. After that, the funds would be cut. We are there and now the Democrats are squealing about the coming loss of funds.
His plan may not work but it was a reasonable one.
The same with illegal immigration. It is a complex problem that has been going on for a long time. The Democrats encouraged it because the illegals become illegal voters for Democrats, keeping them in power. We all have our opinions about simple solutions, like just enforce the existing laws, but getting the left to go along with it and allow it to happen is not easy.
Bush has gotten a bad rap and he allows it to happen because he doesn’t try to correct the record, preferring instead to leave it to future historians.
So well said. BTW, off the subject, I just caught a little gem on cspan 2 -The Radio and Television Correspondents Association 64th annual dinner. It included a video from W, remarks by Cheney, and entertainment by Mo Rocca. Dana Perino was at the stage table aos. Tough audience, but both Cheney and Rocca were very good (Mo, imho, is a brilliant wit, he’s just not liberal enough for this crowd to love him). For those of you who watch cspan, they’ll likely run it again over the next day or two (and maybe weekend).
Bush has low numbers but the Dems have the most abysmal numbers ever in history. Avg approval rating of this Congress is 11-14%.
"W" will go down in history as a selfless patriot. The Abraham Lincoln of our time.
Bushes approval ratings are low because he disappointed consevatives with his push for “comprehnsive” immigration reform. He fought us tooth and nail. Why didn’t he fight that hard for personal savings accounts or drilling in ANWR?