36% Approval Rating - But He Helps Al Qaeda Export Terrorists From Iraq
by Steve
Well, at least in the midst of all his lies about Iraq, Bush has time for that Saturday afternoon bike ride. Everything else is heading downhill as well.
In the wake of the bombings in Jordan by suspected followers of Iraq’s Al Qaeda chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the indictment of top White House aide I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby and the withdrawal of Harriet Miers’s nomination to the Supreme Court, President George W. Bush is sinking deeper and deeper into political trouble, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. Only 36 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president, and an astounding 68 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country—the highest in Bush’s presidency. But that’s not the worst of it for the 43rd president of the United States, a leader who rode comfortably to reelection just a year ago. Half of all Americans now believe he’s not “honest and ethical.”
The growing credibility gap could have ramifications across the president’s agenda: 56 percent of Americans say Bush “won’t be able to get much done;” only 36 percent say he “can be effective.”
Most worrisome for the White House: the base seems to be cracking. When asked whether anyone in the administration “acted unethically” in the case involving the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame’s name, a 54-percent majority of Americans said they did—and 30 percent of Republicans said they did. And 45 percent of Americans believe someone in the “Bush administration broke the law and acted criminally”—including 22 percent of Republicans.
When NEWSWEEK asked registered voters whether they planned to vote for a Democrat or a Republican in those elections, 53 percent said a Democrat and 36 percent said a Republican. It’s a long way from now to next year’s Congressional contests. But no one knows better than the president how much things can change in a year.
Another poll with another 17-point advantage for the Democrats a year before the election, and with over 60 percent of the respondents unhappy with the direction of the country. I’m sure going on the attack against Democrats with his lies about Iraq, and following that up with talk of tax reform from a man who has no credibility on either subject won’t do much to improve these numbers.
The tank may be empty for these guys, short of another war or terrorist attack.
And for the "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here" Kool-Aid drinkers, I have this tidbit: the suicide bombers who carried out the Jordan bombings this week, bombings that were planned and coordinated by a man who Bush failed to kill back in 2002 when he had the chance, were carried out by Iraqis.
So as a result of Bush's policies, Iraq has not only became a haven for Al Qaeda, but is also now exporting something more immediately felt than their oil. And it's all because of George W. Bush. I'm sure the King of Jordan and the rest of his Mideast peers will be sending their thanks to the White House this holiday season.