No, he had 90% approval ratings 18 months ago. There is 18 months to go until the next election so anything can happen...
Unfortunately, it is too early to tell. Even though he has more than proved his obvious unfitness for high office. He should go back to the Texas Rangers. But then again, I can't stand the Texas Rangers.
No Republican will challenge him. Their authoritarian instincts will not allow it. Some of the Democrats might put together a token effort to challenge him, but as far as I can tell, the only reason to vote Democrat is that you're not voting for Bush. Pick any vector you like - economy - foreign policy - individual freedoms - social fabric - environment he has made things worse. One thing worries me more than the lameness of the opposition party. It is that this current administration has no qualms about subverting the constitution or lying to us. A lot can happen in the next 18 months.
"Tales of the Texas Rangers" was a pretty good adult tv western drama in the late 1950's. It was on late on the east coast so little kids who normally all watched all the westerns at that time did not watch it. It came on about 10:30 PM. So they had to settle for the Rifleman, Have Gun will Travel, Cheyanne, the law man, the rebel, Wyatt Earp, Lone Ranger, cisco kid, Jim Bowie, Wanted dead or alive, and even Yancey Derringer (I liked that show because of Pahoo the only indian I ever saw who was partial to using a shot gun)
Really interesting how this question makes the point clear: Bush must attack, no matter what, solely for political reasons. His only hope is that he can argue, yeah, I squandered foreign policy good will, but Saddam is gone.
In a way......that's why I asked it. The US will attack and how we handle Post War Iraq is what will determine his Presidency. Here's another reason why I asked the question. There is no viable Democrat candidate. (IMHO of course) I bet Gore's kicking himself since proclaiming that he wouldn't run! Loser.
Roel said "he has made things worse. One thing worries me more than the lameness of the opposition party. It is that this current administration has no qualms about subverting the constitution or lying to us. A lot can happen in the next 18 months." Nonsense, I am sure he thinks he is protecting our country under the constitution. He will probably come out of this as an American Hero when we find what iraq said they do not have, but had. One is WMD, and two is a connection to terrorism. If not, there will be another President simple as that. The chances are very good also, no matter who the president is he won't be liked by a lot of voters.
Who knows what will happen. Iraq could be sorted out quickly and Bin Laden captured and Bush will be hailed a hero. Price of oil comes down and the economy turns around. His plan for the Palestinian state in 2005 starts to take shape. This could all happen. Or maybe it wont. Who knows.
What Bush should have done at the beginning of his presidency or he could still do it now, and should is give the older voter that perscription drug benefit now. One because it really is the right thing to do. He should have did that right away. Two because then he could rightfully say I gave a lot of money for Education as i said I would do. I also gave the drug benefit as I said I would do, and between those things and our changing world due to 9/11 we could not help but run in the red right now. Could not be helped right now. Then when we roll over Iraq which will will do. That would be another threat now on in the future to us and our allies that we stopped. That and the Palestine issue would make the middle east a far safer place then it is now. Plus ne can say we are continung as we speak the war on terror all over the world, and we are winning. Under this light he would be called a great president, and be relected no matter what some of you guys think of him. That whole package just might get him relected. If a whole shiite load of people don't die in the iraq skirmish. or if they do die they are not Americans.
Haven't you been paying attention? We already have proof, it's just that you're not allowed to see it. Duh.
yeah, maybe, but I think the "double your approval ratings by being pres. when there's a major terrorist attack" trick will work a 2nd time.
Bush should just quit now. He can't handle the job. He's screwed up on a bunch of things, and he's not going to improve. These boards of full of commentary on lies from this administration. Respect for the truth is the foundation of moral authority, not respect for the biggest military arsenal. This administration is consistently undercutting the constitution. This administration is consistently demonstrating a lack of respect for the truth. This administration has no respect for democracy or the institutions that support it.
I don't think he will get reelected. I believe the Democrats are assymbling a strong case for the economy. This is why we hear the Rev. Al Sharpton throwing out catchy phrases right now, to check the reactions. They are doing their polling research to find out which words/phrases can swing voters. I also bet they are hoping the Iraq thing gets over quickly in order to put the issue behind them and let people forget about the situation, should we go to war. If not they may want it to drag on. I think too much attention will revolve around the economy. This slump won't turn around fast enough to propel him into a second term. I'll still vote against Bush, because I don't believe his economic policies are sound and fair. At least he hasn't broken the Hoover Dam yet!
Whether Bush gets re-elected depends on 3 factors: --How this war goes. --Where the economy is in summer before the election. --Who the democrats nominate. Scenario one: war goes bad, economy still in doldrums, democrats nominate middle of the roader, odds are better than 50% he loses. Scenario two: war goes great, econmy still in doldrums, democrats nominate leftist liberal type, the odds are 3 in 5 or better he wins. Scenario three: war goes great, economy is great, democrats nominate middle of the roader. Close election but Bush wins Scenario four: war goes great, economy in doldurms, democarts nominate middle of the roader, a toss up. Basically, what this means is that if the Democrats don't nominate a middle of the roader type who can appeal to the swing suburban voter, it may not matter WHAT the environment is: Bush could be a two termer. Oh, by the way, two issues. First, this presumes that Karl Rove is still around and advising Bush. Do the Democrats have anyone as smart, as shrewd, as cunning as he is?? (Don't misunderstand -- this is a statement of fact, not of admiration). If they don't find somebody who can at least match up with him, they are in trouble. Second, my understanding, thanks to campaign reform, is that Democrats are going to have a much harder time than Republicans raising money. This is going to be a tick mark in the negative column against them, because the Republican money-raising machine is well-oiled to operate off the small donation base. This could really be the achilles heel of the Democrats.
And I'm sure that he's not the only one. Trust me, the Republicans aren't the only ones with weasels working for them.
James Carville is a moron. Check out his political consulting history...it's beyond woeful. He has a long-time track record of working for losing candidates. The only reason he's famous is because he hitched himself to Clinton's coattails and benefited from a Perot candidacy in 1992, otherwise he'd have been long since reduced to the ash heap of history. As far as 2004 is concerned. If the war goes very well, Bush in a landslide. If unperceived calamity occurs as a result of the war, he loses. Since I believe the chances of a successful rout in Iraq is 90%, that is the current odds of Bush winning.
Bush is a drunken daddy's boy. His daddy won the war in Kuwait in stunning fashion and lost the election. Why did he lose? Because Bush I did not care a rat's ass about the people he was to lead. Why will Bush II lose? Same reason. Why does anyone support this clod and his immoral policies?
I don't think the war even has to go all "that well". He just has to kick ass, which should be easy, and sit back. It doesn't matter if every nation is ready to screw us over in any way they can. He will be the lone ranger who kicked some ass, and Americans love that XXXX.