Bush Approval Numbers

I refer you to this post from Kevin Drum: link

It's a heartening visual. If you notice, the unelected leader was hovering between 50 and 60% approval prior to 9/11. His 'rally round the flag' bounce took him to circa 90% approval, a 40% increase. Then a nice steep slope downward to about 55%, until he lied us into an optional war. Once again, 'support the troops, rally round the USofA' took effect, for another 20% bounce. That bounce followed the same waning trajectory to about 50%, when the capture of Saddam gave him a 10% bounce, which also quickly dissipated.

I think you see the trend I'm pointing out - each 'bounce' was only half the size of the previous bounce. If they finally get around to taking Osama out of cold storage this fall, I think he'll yield them, oh... say 5% additional approval.

There's some fear that another terrorist strike within the US might lead to the reelection of the Worse President of All Times. I don't share this fear. If, after all the bloviating the administration has expended on their War on Terra, after all the civil rights they have decided are 'optional' in this crisis, there is still an attack on the 'homeland', I think the public is going to blame the administration for losing the high ground, forgetting what they were doing in their dash for empire, and allowing our enemies to get to us again.

I don't think there's any way they can pull this election out, as long as the votes can actually be securely cast and counted. (Watch Diebold.)