It should come as no surprise that Bush’s approval ratings continue to drop. However, the fact that Americans are apparently aware enough to disapprove is just about the only bit of good news to be found in this.
That is, of course, very encouraging. For 2008. I can’t believe we have three years to go.
I disagree with the notion that anything that happens now (short of Dick Cheney in handcuffs anyways) is going to affect 2008 very much. Three years may as well be three centuries to the American attention span. Maybe, just maybe, the slump will hold until Nov. 2006 and turn some congresional seats blue.
Yeah, I was being somewhat facetious. Momentum is a powerful thing, though.
Facetious indeed. While it’s good news that Bush is unpopular, I don’t think the ratings are a reflection of increased awareness among the American people. I think most of them are just as ignorant about the world as they were when they elected him. They just feel free to change their minds.
For a view from the Arab world of the devastating impact of these fickle American attitudes:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&article_id=18901&categ_id=17
Please let me go on being ignorant of the ignorance. It’s the only way I can get through the day!
Honestly, though, I’m still more okay with people being unaware if there’s any chance it means a changing of the guard. In the DC sense — I agree that it’s not the time to pull out of Iraq, much as I wish it were.
I think the reader is probably right that the low approval rating Bush is sporting now probably won’t have much of impact in 2008. It’s too far away, and neither Bush nor Cheney nor Karl Rove will be playing. However, I’m interested to see what impact Bush’s approval rating will have on the 2006 mid-term elections. Last time around, Bush was able to strengthen the GOP advantage in Congress by campaigning for candidates in key races, but he might not be able to do that this time.
Also, no doubt the American people are just as ignorant as before. My hope is that the ignorant people decide to keep their ignorance at home on Election Day. Awareness is everything.