FOR 2004, IT'S POLITICAL, NOT PERSONAL -- Shribman

[Khephra]

Here are two remarkable sentences -- inconceivable a year ago, unavoidable today -- to contemplate: A majority of Americans now feel it's time for a new person in the presidency. Gov. Howard Dean (news - web sites) of Vermont leads the gaggle of Democratic presidential contenders.


Let's not misinterpret what these sentences, drawn from the latest poll results from Zogby International, mean. They do not indicate that the constant stream of criticism by Dean -- who is now comparing the Iraq (news - web sites) war to Vietnam and who this week described the president's Oval Office address on Iraq and terrorism as "outrageous" -- is driving down Bush's popularity.


Hardly anybody outside Iowa, New Hampshire and maybe South Carolina knows much about what Dean is saying, except perhaps (a) the vague notion that he's the president's most ardent critic, which is true; and (b) the unsettling notion that he's from the unpredictable precincts of that redoubtable mother of presidents, Vermont, which is also true.


These findings show something quite different and, when you think about it, maybe not all that remarkable after all. They suggest that Dean's drive, the most unlikely development of the young presidential race, is being powered by impatience with the president. You don't need to delve into the messy statistical innards of poll results to figure this out. The country is basically split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Half the country is skeptical of the president's performance. Since Republicans are politically inclined to sympathize with Bush's assumptions and policies, and temperamentally inclined to stand by their man anyway, it stands to reason that the dissent is coming from the Democrats.


Easy conclusion (though not so easy that all the presidential candidates haven't drawn it yet): Beating up on the president is really, really good politics if you're a Democrat and if you're running for the White House.

more.................

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1316&ncid=742&e=12&u=/030911/226/58gi2.html

[hedda_foil]

1. Great piece, Kheph ... PLEASE rate this at Yahoo!

Thanks.