WP: Buffeted With Problems, Bush Must Chart a Recovery

[kskiska]

Sunday, October 30, 2005; A01

President Bush's descent from the euphoria of an against-the-odds reelection victory one year ago this week to the current reality of a White House in crisis has been as rapid as it has been unexpected. Presidential advisers and outside analysts say the route back to genuine recovery is likely to be slow and difficult -- and without a clear blueprint for success.

Friday's indictment of Vice President Cheney's chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby dealt another big blow to public confidence in the administration, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Bush's approval rating fell to 39 percent -- the lowest recorded by this poll in his presidency -- and a majority of Americans said the charges signal broader ethical problems in the administration. By a ratio of 3 to 1, those surveyed said the level of honesty in government has declined during Bush's tenure.

With its ability to command public attention and frame the national agenda, the presidency is a supremely resilient institution, and such recent occupants as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton have bounced back from adversity. But Bush faces such a complex set of problems -- an unpopular war in Iraq, high energy prices, the costly challenge of rebuilding New Orleans, a fractured party, disaffected independent voters and little goodwill on Capitol Hill -- that his prospects are particularly daunting.

(snip)

Bush also must consider the degree to which Cheney has now become a liability in his efforts to recover politically. Two Republicans privately said yesterday the taciturn Cheney has become a major burden to the president, and that his association with an unpopular war and proximity to the Libby embarrassment will eat at the administration's credibility. "This 'I'm a sphinx' gig just doesn't get it any more," one of the GOP strategists said.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/29/AR2005102901397.html

[goforit]

1. We don't need Bush...we're obviously on our own now.

[jayctravis]

16. He spent all our damn money.

Doesn't seem he's good at the "recovery" part of the equation from his previous experiences.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. How? Nominate a crazy rw maniac to the court?

Good luck with that.

[fshrink]

3. Might as well expect him to utter a correct sentence. nt

[mallard]

19. Re: he said Libby's...

.... been workin' tirelessly.

Proceeding without tires.

[rzemanfl]

4. The only part of that * might think he understood is "buffeted"

and he thinks that means where you have to get your own food off a bunch of big tables.

[tularetom]

5. He can't recover - events are out of his control

There's not a damn thing that bush can do to turn his declining poll ratings around. This gangf has been so successful at polarizing the country that at least half of all Americans are immediately and instinctively going to oppose anything he proposes. What's he gonna do? Another tax cut? Fake terra alert? Attck Iran or Syria? Appoint Al Sharpton to the Supreme Court? Appoint the Ten Commandments judge? He can't do jack - all he can do is run around to military bases and scream stay the course and if tthings get too hot for incumbent congressmen next spring he'll even have to shut up about that and bring at least some troops home. He has lost control and I don't see how he can get it back.

[Eric J in MN]

8. They are passing more tax cuts for the rich (nt)

nt

[Eric J in MN]

6. "I'm a sphinx." Huh?

What does that mean?

[daleo]

11. "I'm a sphincter" would be more appropriate for Cheney. n/t

[NYC Liberal]

17. No more public scatology!

[daleo]

18. I love the Bush picture.

It's like something out of Hieronymus Bosch.

[Vincardog]

7. aWoL should have thought about this before he let them steal the 04 election

How could it be any different? DimSon was never successful at ANYTHING his entire life. Now he is the figurehead for the morally corrupt radical right wing nuts. It couldn't have happened to a better fool.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Is there anything we can do to make his approval rating even lower?

nt

[shraby]

10. He's doing pretty good all by himself. Toss in

the rest of his administration and the republican congress I think they'll be bottomed out soon without our help.

[Demeter]

20. I Didn't Know There Was A Bottom to "Despicable":

---Daffy Duck

[rodeodance]

12. I am glad to see that so many are finally waking up to the WH ethic/legal

problems.!! Been a long time acoming!

..and a majority of Americans said the charges signal broader ethical problems in the administration. By a ratio of 3 to 1, those surveyed said the level of honesty in government has declined during Bush's tenure.

[go west young man]

13. What the Washington Post is implying is that next week you can

expect them to turn around and give the administration a free pass. One thing they don't seem to be saying very loudly is "What did Cheney know and when did he know it?" Thats what everybody should be asking so we can hurry up and get rid of these crooks and liars.

[Straight Shooter]

14. Cheney is an albatross and bush is steering the Titanic.

I feel so safe. :eyes:

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

15. Another Trifecta for *

1. Perjury and obstruction charges against Libby

2. Defeat over the nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court

3. The 2,000th U.S. death in the war in Iraq.

"That assessment comes after one of the toughest weeks of Bush's presidency that included the perjury and obstruction charges against Libby, an embarrassing defeat over the nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, and the 2,000th U.S. death in the war in Iraq."