Bush Poll Numbers and the Supreme Court

This week's Wall Street Journal/ NBC poll
Iraq:
Approve: 37%
Disapprove: 58%


Troop Level:
Maintain: 36%
Reduce: 55%

75% say the US is not prepared for a WMD attack

How people think the reconstruction after Katrina should be primarily funded:


Reduced Iraq spending: 45%
Repeal tax cuts: 27%
Cut federal spending: 12%
Increase the Deficit: 8%
Raise income taxes: 7%

Bush overall approval rating 40%

With numbers like these Bush will have to pick an ultra conservative to fill O'Connor's spot on the Supreme Court. Bush will take on the political battle even though it will alienate independents. A battle will galvanize his conservative support, which may have been starting to fray after Plamegate, high gas prices, and Katrina. Pat Buchanan said it this weekend. If Bush picks a moderate he's dead. A moderate would shatter his base. (38% is about as low as Bush will go unless there are pictures of him drowning puppies with his bare hands.) A moderate Supreme Court nominee will not help him much with independent voters because they have already lost faith in Bush. If he shatters his base this year, republicans have no chance in the congressional elections and Bush presidency will be gripped by rigamortis. Plus, democrats would begin countless investigations of corruption and incompetency by the administration. So politics will be centered over the next year on appeasing that base 38% at the cost of the other 62%. Say good bye to even the rhetoric of "compassionate conservatism" and hello to lunatics like Senator Cornyn and Corburn. and Congressman Sensenbrenner.