One other obstacle to Bush's expectation of reconnecting with the American people (although he's never connected with a maority of them at all - part of his "winning" percentage must include a lot of people who voted for him as the lesser of two evils, or out of fear that militsnt Muslims would be on their doorsteps unless a Republican was in the White House) is the Bush bubble. Will he continue to campaign for his sorry policies in rooms full of only people who have declared their support for him? Will the media continue to cover these staged events as news? Will the public get mesmerized by the endless repetition of "stay the course, more sacrifice, etc" in Iraq and accept it?

Bush hasn't said it lately, but his mantra of the presidency being hard work is true. And he was no more prepared than Harriet Miers for the job he was elevated to. He just likes the "Hail to the Chief" and "Mission Accomplished" moments. Otherwise, he'd rather be cutting brush. (which he CAN do without needing to be rescued.)

You want to really get this president's attention? Conduct a poll comparing him to his father! Ask folks which Bush they prefer - 41 or 43. Bush senior will win hands-down, and it'll make junior crazy.

While it may be comforting, in a sense, to think that Bush would backseat or even rid himself of the neocons that are runnung his administration, its a fantasy. Remember: THEY CHOSE HIM TO RUN. He did not choose them after he was elected. They were already in place and ready to roll with their plans for the economy, the Iraq invasion, and the rest of the neocon agenda. Bush has been going along for the ride as their poster boy. He couldn't run a toy railroad without help.

If Junior is left unattended to press the reset button and there is a malfuction, there will be no one to stop him taking the "Report Error" option. This sobering prospect must haunt the WHIGs daily.

If that poll mentioned at the end of the piece were conducted during any modern presidency since LBJ (and especially since Nixon), I suspect similar results would be found. One has to take into account the free press' reporting on politics and how that influences public opinion, as media often serves as an oppositional checking force.

Of course, I still agree with the poll for this administration...but I'm just trying to put it in context.

I'm so glad to watch it all crumble around his ears. Having seen the lies for what they were the whole time, it's not shocking to me at all. I was one of the small handful of people that started protesting this war before it even began, but sadly, I have to admit that we saw it coming on 9/11. But the good news is that as Americans struggle with the disaster of non-leadership that we have, our allies, who have been majorly pissed off since Bush took office and began applying his ignorant bullying to the entire world, must be starting to breathe again.

Hopefully enough of the brainwashed masses are beginning to see what an unvarnished disaster GWB is and we will get those bums out next time we have a chance, overriding the rapturous Right-wing idiots.

It is interesting to me to note that whenever someone makes the "screw term limits, Bill Clinton, President for life" joke, that crowds laugh hysterically while many nod their heads and look genuinely cheered up. Getting blowjobs is nothing compared to the criminal activity of the Shrub, and more people are starting to see that I think.

What really bothers me about the Time piece is that it's another example of how conservative that magazine has gotten and continues to get.

Last week was the worst week in the history of the Bush administration -- Libby indicted, 2000-dead mark topped in Iraq, Harriet Miers shot down, etc., etc., etc.

And what did we get on the cover of Time today? "Third World Health".

WTF?!

Also the main article on BushCo's problems -- By NANCY GIBBS & MIKE ALLEN -- was *incredibly* positive towards their subjects, always assuming as fact at every juncture that everything they've been saying is true and this is all just an unfortunate occurrence. As if they're not responsible for what they've done, and this is all just happening to them out of nowhere.

The last sentence is pretty endemic to the tone of the whole piece, in fact:

"Next thing you know, Bush will be calling himself the Comeback Kid."

Ugh.