I may be forced to eat these words, but they're just too damn delicious not to say. President Bush is officially a lame duck.
Not buying it? Check his vitals: According to the latest WashPost/ABC poll, Bush counts only 47 percent approval, an all-time low. Since he started his Social Security road tour, 12 percent of the public has soured in his plan -- with a full 64 percent of Americans now disapproving.
Worse, while it has become the centerpiece of his second term, revamping Social Security is ranked as the nation's top concern by only 11 percent of Americans -- compared to 32 percent who worry about the economy. Which, again, is bad news for Bush: 57 percent give him a thumbs down on growth.
The litany continues: 58 percent believe we're "bogged down" in Iraq; 56 percent blame Bush's prosecution of the war; and 54 percent of America believes the invasion "wasn't worth it." According to a separate Gallup poll, fully half of America believe the administration " deliberately misled" the nation on Iraqi WMD.
Meanwhile, more people blame the Bush administration for high gas prices than any other cause. 64 percent say they're struggling to pay at the pump; 58 percent believes Bush doesn't understand their struggles. 51 percent believe he doesn't share their values and 66 percent disapprove of the Dick Cheney/Bill Frist "nuclear option" for pushing through the president's court nominations.
If that's the statistical backing, eye the anecdotal evidence. John Bolton's nomination now looks dead in the water. Republican splinter cells threaten to keep the judicial filibuster alive and Bush's wingnut nominees in the wings. Gas prices are spiraling out of control, and -- though it just might pass -- Bush's terrible, bloated corporate giveaway of an energy bill isn't going to turn that around. And then there's the stank serial ethics violator Tom Delay has put on the entire Republican party.
But instead of changing course, the President keeps soldiering on. After 60 miserable days stumping for Social Security, he's going to hit the road again in the "next phase" of his privatization push, says Scott McLellan. Bush has even invited another wounded bird -- this one an imminently dead duck named Delay -- out on the road with him. You know what they say about birds of a feather.
The president is walking like one, and quacking like one. And unless he's got a secret reserve of unspent political capital stashed in Dick Cheney's undisclosed location, Mr. Mandate may have a very long, lame three and a half years ahead of him.
