Whit Ayres
Whit Ayres
david example extent kennedy lesser skeptical urge
The David Souter example - and to a lesser extent Anthony Kennedy - have made conservatives exceedingly skeptical of any urge to just 'trust me,'
deal elections funk glad great held mood time
Well before this happened, I was glad the '06 elections weren't being held this summer. The country's in a funk, and it was in a funk before Katrina. But there's a great deal of time for that mood to change.
devoted either extreme extremely judge law legal majority particular people pleased president promoting roberts somebody vast
People on either extreme would not be thrilled. But the vast majority would be extremely pleased if the president could find another Judge Roberts out there. Somebody of superb and unquestioned legal qualifications, devoted more to the law than promoting a particular agenda.
continuing declining discussion driving drove economy factors gas good iraq measured news number polls prices several specific
Just as a number of factors drove the polls down, several different factors are driving them up. The more specific and more measured discussion of Iraq is a factor, the continuing good news on the economy is a factor, and declining gas prices is a factor.
bad bunch dropped faces hard news pile problem side spin tends troubles
It's hard to spin this as anything other than another problem dropped on the pile of troubles our side faces now. Bad news tends to come in bunches, and we've had a bunch lately.
weariness
There's weariness and frustration. But that's different from active, nationwide protests.
base benefit initial
This is just a screw-up. I think the base will, after some initial bluster, give him the benefit of the doubt, once they have the facts.
almost approval historical president rating rough says ultimate unusual
Not only is it not unusual for a president to have an approval rating at 38 percent, it's almost predictable. Every president has rough patches, it says nothing about the ultimate historical judgment.
concern dominated effect general headlines laid low thousands
First, there's general concern about globalization and its effect on American manufacturing jobs. We see low unemployment, but the headlines are dominated by the thousands being laid off by General Motors and Ford.
george
always underestimate George Bush, and they are still doing it.
historical unusual
the most challenging of his presidency, but not that unusual from a historical perspective.
critical demanding issue people reached
This issue has reached critical mass. People are demanding that something be done.
amount attention authentic gains increasing social voice
This gains him an increasing amount of attention as an authentic voice for social conservatives.
concern factors gas guy jobs lead overseas people regardless sent weariness whether worry
It's a combination of weariness over Iraq, concern about gas prices, worry about jobs being sent overseas and other factors that lead people to be in a funk. When people are in a funk, they take it out on the guy in charge, regardless of whether he's responsible or not.