Guardian: The fire that's smouldering under Bush

[kskiska]

The Republicans are in trouble without an anointed successor

(snip)

These are the polls that measure a re-elected George Bush's popularity, and thus the "dividend" he intended to spend on "being Bush". Strange news: there is no dividend. And George, at this point of the second term, is the least popular president of the US since the second world war.

Let's (from Gallup's March ratings) put figures on that claim. Harry Truman in March 1949 stood at 57% approval. Dwight Eisenhower in 1957 had 65%, Lyndon Johnson in 1965 a full 69%. Richard Nixon (1973) retained 57%. In more recent times, Ronald Reagan (1985) held at 56% and Bill Clinton (1997) at 59%. Last month's Bush score was 45%. This month it has crawled up a point or two, but still runs flat bottom of the pack.

(snip)

Where's the momentum of last November and of a clear victory that laid doubts about 2000's narrow squeak to rest? There is no momentum, because - not so deep down - there is no future for this administration. America's newspapers, week by week now, record those big-and-small-name Republicans hiring extra aides, preparing policy positions, jetting away to eat rubber chicken in New Hampshire or Iowa. Whither Rudy Giuliani? Which way John McCain? Whatever happened to brother Jeb?

(snip)

The crucial point - the point that reaches right back to Eisenhower - is that every previous modern second-term president has had his succession in order as he settled down to four more years. The vice-president was there to be anointed. The flickering flame had a designated carrier.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5167646-110878,00.html

[Erika]

1. We just want to sweep Bush & his entourage out

Cheney is as popular as was Hitler.

[Melodybe]

2. That article rocks! It makes me hopeful

[Why Syzygy]

3. that must be the price to pay

when one steals two elections.

Do you think he gives a damn? Any of them?

Sometimes I just want to puke.

[Selteri]

4. And it keeps piling and piling

more and more news comes out every day about Bush, something will push things too far soon, very soon I suspect. Should be interesting to see what pops first, Dick Cheney's heart or someone's conscience.

[oxbow]

7. we already knew the polls are against him

all the article says is that he has no clear succesor. Giuliani in 08 could be trouble for the dems still.

[rodeodance]

13. many things came out before the election and it all slid off him. I am

not too hopeful at this point (wish I was).

[fob]

5. To borrow a phrase from that turdmeister* - "Looks like george bush*

is gonna be 'flat bust' by 2006".

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Another reason they don't mention: HE LOST THE FRIGGING ELECTION

Why would polls, unless they were run to bias the numbers (which of course does happen, but always on the side of the Bush cartel), suddenly show a strong support when there wasn't even enough to win the election and things have gone downhill for the country in every way since then?

And I'm sure they were hoping Jeb could step in - but he hasn't been pleasing many crowds. He's just more of the same as the blivet**.

How long is it going to take for the major press of Europe to catch on to the fact that the US election was STOLEN? That Bush was DEFEATED? That a majority of the US population does NOT support him? That he does NOT represent what most Americans believe?

We are being tarred with his filth, blamed for supporting him, when in fact he is in the WH because of a coup d'etat and this is no longer a democracy but a fascist plutocracy.

ed:grammar

[autorank]

8. Nothing Without Hope is sooo right. BUSH IS pRESIDENT

It was stolen, period. The statisticians have demonstrated this fact by any conceivable scenario. The odds against the * victory, given just the data we've been able to force out of people, are in the 100,000 to 1 and up range. Of course the people hate Bush and his policies. Kerry probably won by five or six percent.

BTW, when that traitor to our party Richardson puts his hat in the ring, remember that the bastard insisted on $1.3 million dollars for a partial recount in NM. What a BUM!!!

[loudsue]

21. Bingo! Richardson is going to have BIG trouble getting grassroots support

after his little hand in this stolen election. He makes me :puke: !

The word REALLY needs to get out to the public about the fraudulent voting machines. And ALL (i.e., every single one) of the activists who marched against the war need to be pestering their state and local legislatures until they're going crazy! No let up! Not until we have

VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!

ALL ACROSS THE U.S.A.!!

:kick:

[WearyOne]

9. well what's he got to offer except more pain and war !

and probably bankruptcy for the country he if he isn't controlled somehow.

[Theduckno2]

10. Did they try to make Cheney a successor?

Here was a guy for most of the 4 years was in an undisclosed location and then suddenly he was on the campaign trail. There he was in front of select audiences (Repugspeak for town meetings) with his wife Lynne, telling all those down home feel good stories of how they met. Then he made his foolish comment the we needed to elect the Chimp or be in danger of being hit again and the air went out of the trial balloon.

[Simeon Salus]

22. Bad Dick made some relevant jokes just last week...

...at the Radio-TV Correspondents' Association Dinner Saturday night.

Still viewable at cspan.org "American Perspectives, 4/9/2005, Washington DC: 3hr"

Said Dick (at about 26:15 on the video):

"In the President's absence, the Radio Television Correspondents' Association decided on me as a replacement. I was pleased to accept because I really am the logical choice after George W. Bush... if you think about it. (laugh) Not that I'm thinking about it. (bigger laugh)

"I realize we probably got some potential candidates for 2008 in the room right now, so I want to make my plans absolutely clear. I have no intention of running for the nomination in 2008. I'm certain the Republican Party will do just fine in that election. We have a lot of terrific candidates out there. And just to prove my confidence in the field, I've agreed to lead the search committee to pick the next nominee. (major yuck)"

Sounds a lot like he expects to acceed to the office without nomination...

[Old and In the Way]

11. 2006 may be the watershed event.

Lots of shit will finally be exposed to the American consumer. The economy, the ME, the Republican corruption.

I want Dimson to pay for what he has done to this country. I can think of no better payback than having him facing an energized Democratic Congress to start 2007.

[Liberty Belle]

12. They forgot about Jeb, continuing the Bush dynasty.

Plus he's got election stealing down to a fine art, being Guv of Florida and all.

[MADem]

15. Jeb made it clear he was not running

It wasn't coy, it wasn't a "not planning to run" type statement--he said a firm NO. I think he is having family issues, to say nothing of Noelle's problems. Plus, he's gotten way too fat -- something going on in his personal life, and it could be ugly.

[Liberty Belle]

18. If a Bush's lips move, they're lying.

I wouldn't believe a word any of them say, though I hope he won't run.

[MADem]

19. He's a mess, totally bloviated

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=173616&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

And it's kinda hard to back away from the statements he made last fall. Something is WRONG with that boy (I know, aside from the OBVIOUS) and he just wants to be done and move on.

Wonder if the 'devout Catholic' will get a divorce? Columba spends most of her time in Mexico, hell, she's starting to forget what little english she knows!

[ixion]

17. Jeb has the Schiavo tragedy linked to him now

Exposing him for the cretin that he is. It will drag him down if he tries to run, IMO.

[dave123williams]

14. Our foreign policy is like a drunk guy who wants a fight...

...with ANYBODY. It doesn't inspire confidence in the bond market. We are looking less and less like a good long-term investment, and that's not so good for a country that's in debt up to its ears.

[MADem]

16. What an apt way of expressing it! n/t

[nightfire]

20. Bull's-eye. You ought to be poet laureate of foreign policy.

[raccoon]

23. right on nt