Reply #16: Doesn't surprise me at all. . . [View All]

[Journeyman]

Gallup polls always trend higher for Bush than others. And the Administration's handling of Rita had to poll better than it did for Katrina, for no other reason than that Rita was a milder storm that didn't hit as populated an area. Even with the troubled evacuation and disjointed response, there was a less a sense of pending doom so those easily swayed were impressed with Bush's "presence" during the storm.

If nothing else, we should keep in mind that not everyone sees everything during these incidents. The majority receive everything they know from the major network newscasts, and if they aren't being told there that something's gone awry, they'll never discover it on their own.

Remember: The Bush tenure is like a season of baseball -- there will be many fluctuations in the standings, and a bad game may be followed the next day by a good game, but what's important to keep in mind are the trends of the season, who's on the disabled roster, and when the team hits a slump in hitting, for those factors are what determine the general tone of the season and the direction the team is headed. Right now, their headed to the cellar, and though it may be two steps down half-a-step up, the general direction bodes ill for them all.