George W. Bush is likeable, but Americans don't like him--at least as their president. Just 40 percent of respondents to a Gallup poll approve of the president's job performance. Perhaps more would approve of him as their golf buddy or their local sportscaster. Bush owns the lowest approval rating of his presidency. He is out of step with the American people on Iraq, on immigration, and, unfortunately, on social security reform, a worthy endeavor that he failed to adequately sell. His failures on these issues, joined with the White House's smugness in the wake of Karl Rove's outing as Valerie Plame's "outer," explain his numbers decline. Other than Richard Nixon, W stands as the least popular two-term president at this stage of his second term since Gallup began asking such questions in the 1940s. Nearly four years ago, 90 percent of Americans approved of the job George W. Bush was doing as president. Today, that number is less than half that. Since the president can't get a new public, he might want to get some new policies--and perhaps some new political advisors guiding him on how to market those policies.

Just wait until the inevitable 2000 deaths marker in Iraq. Reinstating the draft won't help his numbers either.

Had the Democrats run a better candidate it is unlikely Bush would have won re election. Bush and his advisors are not communicating their policies well. Bush faces a hostile media. People can and do make mistakes. What is perhaps most concerning of all is it seems Bush may not have learned from the mistakes he has made.

I suspect Bush's approval ratings are also down because of the high prices of gasoline. Neither Bush nor his administration has tried very hard to do anything about this. At least this is how it looks to me.

Guys, I'm no apologist for Bush, and I certainly don't agree with all his policies, particularly his stance on illegal immigration and his lack of control on Federal spending.

I am however loathe to pile on the President, as I look at the alternatives and at best see nothing better, and at worst,....well, a WHOLE lot worse! Yeah, he's made mistakes in Iraq, but when has a war ever gone according to plan? If Roosevelt had been subjected to the same treatment by the MSM in 1942, his popularity would have been down and they would have been advocating our withdrawal from WWII.

I simply look at the oppostition, the Cindy Sheehans, MoveOn.orgs and Howard Deans, and think of the havoc they could wreak if ever given the opportunity. Bush isn't perfect, but he's a darn site preferable to what might have been. And while that doesn't mean his actions shouldn't be subject to debate, what I hear isn't true debate, but rather blind criticism; there are NO specific alternative plans offered, NO alternative policies presented. Like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in USA Today earlier this week, the opposition isn't FOR anything, they're just against whatever Bush wants to do.

They're against fighting the War on Terror in Iraq, but offer no cogent method to successfully combat Islamic terror other than a regurgitation of Clinton's failed strategy. They're against our dependence on foreign oil, but prevent the construction of nuclear power plants and the development of additional domestic oil sources. They're all for alternative energy sources, unless of course you try to build windmills off Cape Cod and Nantucket, where the wind actually blows on a regular basis. They're against Bush's proposed SS reforms, but offer no alternative to save what anyone with the remotest clue acknowledges as a disaster waiting to happen. They curry favor from Hispanic groups by pushing for added Federal "entitlements" and constitutional protections for illegals, while criticizing Bush's lack of an effective immigration policy.

Again, Bush isn't perfect. I'm just unwilling to lend his clueless opposition any additional ammunition than they're already being provided by the MSM by piling on.

Didn't you know that W doesn't fire anyone? If you think W numbers are low now, wait until after the Category 5 storm in New Orleans. 1/6th of oil comes from the region. A prediction: the market will go wild tomorrow, and oil will sky rocket. If w does not dip in the fuel reserves, gasoline prices will go through the roof. Thus far, W advisors have not proved very bright. Next step will be 4.00 to 4.50 gallon for gasoline. W will find his numbers down between 10 and 15% before the middle of the month. I sure hope that I am wrong.

Not only does Bush not fire anyone, he's forgotten the word VETO. The gop is spending like drunken dems,and they're fighting a pc war instead of actually trying to win it. He doesn't seem to have the stones to come out and fight back against the MSM, which doesn't make sense. After all, he doesn't have to run for re-election. As to the war dead, the US lost more to take Iwo Jima in WWII, yet Americans are whining about the low number of casualties for 3 years? These same cry babies pewl about the gas prices, yet pay $3.00 for a stupid cup of starbucks. Tell me we, as a nation, don't have our collective heads up our butts!

Is the RNC assuming that last November's election results were so strong that '06 is already in the bag? What are Bush voters from that historic victory (highest popular vote ever) saying now, the ones, that is, who "disapprove" of his performance - which is not the same as disagreeing with his platform? A stoner acquaintance of mine is dreaming that W will be impeached. What constructive inroads, if any, could the Democratic Party make during this time? (Don't ask Sens. Reid, Durbin or Leahy, please.) One thing for sure, a $300 tax relief check won't cut the mustard. Pardon me, Mr. President, do you happen to have any Grey Poupon?

Is the RNC assuming that last November's election results were so strong that '06 is already in the bag? What are Bush voters from that historic victory (highest popular vote ever) saying now, the ones, that is, who "disapprove" of his performance - which is not the same as disagreeing with his platform? A stoner acquaintance of mine is dreaming that W will be impeached. What constructive inroads, if any, could the Democratic Party make during this time? (Don't ask Sens. Reid, Durbin or Leahy, please.) One thing for sure, a $300 tax relief check won't cut the mustard. Pardon me, Mr. President, do you happen to have any Grey Poupon?

That Jeremiah is the real direction things are heading I think. In that it looks to me like the GOP is going to get run out of DC in 2006 and then a pres who is already acting like a lame duck will be one in fact. But there is no serious diff btwn the 2 parties anyway in my cynical view, as the only differences are at their bases, both of whom are mostly ignored.

Different, but not entirely unrelated: Hey, Angelina Jolie, you feel like adopting any *American* kids made orphans by Katrina?

What does President Bush have going for him? Gas prices continue to increase, the death toll in Iraq shows no sign of abatating and the purpose of the war is now shrouded in a dense fog. There has been no net job creation and the jobs that are created don't tend to pay very well. So what's the rallying for Bush and Cheney?

Support Bush/Cheney, we've created more tombstones than jobs.

That doesn't sell.

It's just a terrible tragedy that Americans did not recognize this alot sooner.

Pres. Bush may actually get a bump up in the polls because he will look presidential in being resolute when touring the areas damaged by Katrina yet that bump may only last so long that he'll drop thereafter.

Four years ago when his approval was at 90%... it was because of 9/11 NOT any sort of policy directive. It was because he was being a leader and a president in charge. Right now, as mentioned above, Katrina gives him the chance to do just that again.