Washington Post: Where is Bush's Strength?

[Beloved Citizen]

The conventional wisdom used to be that as long as the public's attention was on war and national security issues, reelection would be a cakewalk for President Bush. And, conversely, if the focus was turned to the economy that would play into the hands of his Democratic challenger.

Wave goodbye to convention wisdom. Here's the new paradigm: The president and his aides are trying to turn the public's attention to the economy, which is showing some signs of recovery - because, as a new Washington Post poll confirms, Americans are losing confidence in Bush's leadership as commander in chief.

And yet, the economy may not be someplace where Bush can point to great leadership either...the latest economic news is not really so great. There are still many fewer jobs than when Bush took office and new figures show that wages are not keeping up with inflation.

Public anxiety over mounting casualties in Iraq and doubts about longterm consequences of the war continue to rise and have helped to erase President Bush's once-formidable advantage over Sen. John F. Kerry concerning who is best able to deal with terrorist threats, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Exactly half the country now approves of the way Bush is managing the U.S. war on terrorism, down 13 percentage points since April...

Fewer than half of those - 47 percent - say the war in Iraq was worth fighting, while 52 percent say it was not...

Seven in 10 Americans now say there has been an 'unacceptable' level of casualties in Iraq...

By 52 percent to 39 percent, Kerry is seen as more honest and trustworthy--a troubling finding for Bush, whose truthfulness before the war in Iraq has been called into question.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60120-2004Jun22.html

[tom_paine]

1. Bunnypants* "strength" is the greatest,best financed, most advanced

Propaganda Machine and Lie Laundry in Human History.

Oh, another "strength" is the eroded system of Checks and Balances and the demise of the Old American Republic.

Finally, another "strength" is the Corrupted and Easily Rigged Imperial Amerikan "Voting" System.

With those "strengths", I sadly cannot see how the Imperial Family can lose.

Although I am working and donating my ass off to see that it doesn;t happen! NEVER GIVE UP! Even when the Nazis or Busheviks are kicking in your door.

Live. Survive. Fight on. If not (COMMENT REDACTED)...

[salinen]

8. Is that why we haven't heard

much from #10 on the freepers most wanted? Go get um Tom.

[tom_paine]

9. What are you talking about? Who are you talking about?

I have no idea. You lost me. Please provide a link to "Freepers Most Wanted List".

[LuminousX]

2. Bush Bungles Business

Let's face it, that has been the headline for every venture the man has set out on, why should this be any different. He hasn't had one success that realistically was a success. He may have walked away with more money than he had going in, but he hasn't created anything and has left a wake of destruction in his path.

Bushzilla.

[DebJ]

3. Glad to see the Washigton Post is doing a bit more of the

job it used to do in the Watergate days.... a BIT more. Hope they keep ramping it up.

[GOPFighter]

4. Ironically...

...if it wasn't for the war and the money the government has pumped into the economy to support it, the economy would still be in the tank. War is good for business.

[Straight Shooter]

5. bush and his cohorts have sucked all the joy out of being an American

I'm happy to see his numbers sinking. Perhaps it will give him just a taste of the pain and frustration he has bestowed on so many millions.

Anyone who is capable of making an entire country miserable and at each other's throats is not worthy to even be in this country, much less in the Oval Office.

(No rose-colored glasses here, I'm well aware of our past transgressions and faults in policy, but it has never progressed to this feeling of gut-sinking despair and shame of what is being done in our name.)

[louis-t]

6. I have this argument with right-wingers all the time..

Economy would have rebounded faster without shrubbie's meddling, without his pre-emptive, unnecessary attack on Iraq, without his wasting billions lining the pockets of his friends at Halliburton for sub-standard materials and service, without his charitable donations of our tax money to mega-corporations that pay no income taxes anyway, without his penalizing seniors by allowing drug companies to take advantage of them, without his compliance with former colleagues in the energy industry allowing them to create phony energy crises, etc., etc.....

[mmonk]

7. Yes hope is eternal.

It looks as if the possibility of a Kerry presidency is real.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

10. Bush's strength is in the ignorance of people n/t