Reply #5: Then why does he have a 44% approval rating?

[bluestateguy]

Some polls have him at 42%, some as high as 47%. That is hardly indicative of the "failure of Bush bashing". Admittedly, the Left has done a lot of things wrong over the last few years, but that's more often than not because Democrats were far too conciliatory with the White House, not the other way around.

After 9/11 Democrats bent over back wards for Bush, giving him everything he wanted for authority to attack Afghanistan and the Patriot Act. Then there was the Iraq War resolution, the bankruptcy bill, the No Child Left Behind Law, all Cabinet nominations (save John Ashcroft) and all ambassadorships (save John Bolton). Democrats either supported outright or refused to filibuster the judicial nominations of over 200 Bush appointees. They only held up about 10.

Every time this Administration has asked Congress for more money for the Iraq War, Democrats in Congress have rolled right over to give him every dime he has asked for, even knowing that the money will be pissed down a rathole.

Barone owes the Democrats thanks, not criticisms, for if it weren't for Democrats in Congress acting like a bunch of castrated pussies then Bush would have no legislative victories at all.