Arnold Kling lays out his issues. I agree with almost all of them. I laid out my own problems with Bush a few days ago. One would have to be deranged (Bush deranged, that is) to think that I'm a big fan of this president.

I also agree with Arnold that Al Gore is much more responsible for the current divisiveness, going back to 2000, than Bush is. Bush is not a "divider." If anything, he has been much too willing to compromise with the Democrats. As I've noted before, he's no conservative.

I should also note (as I have in the past) that the president's approval rating, and "right track, wrong track" polling tells one nothing useful about who will win the next election (even if Bush himself were still running). I have never approved of Bush's performance, but I remain damned glad that Kerry didn't win.

People who simplistically think that those who are unhappy with one party means that they'll simply switch to the other are apparently unfamiliar with the concept that there are some, even many (and I think the numbers are growing) people who are unhappy with both major parties. It's also foolish to try to guess about the source of the unhappiness.

Democrats delude themselves that they won last fall because people wanted out of Iraq, which is why they are having their idiotic slumber party tonight, and why Cindy Sheehan thinks that she can run against Nancy Pelosi on an "impeach Bush and withdraw from Iraq immediately" platform. No, Dems won because a lot of the Republican base stayed home, because they were disgusted with a White House that didn't seem to want to win in Iraq, and a Congress that had forgotten that Republicans were supposed to be responsible spenders. Similarly, the media and the left fool themselves if they think that McCain's campaign cratered over Iraq, rather than the other "I" word.

Amusingly, I suspect that many of the donkeys idiotically think that their low approval rating on the Hill is because they haven't surrendered fast enough. I wouldn't bet at all that the public won't tire of them much faster than it did the Republicans, and there could be another turnover in '08, particularly if there is a strong candidate at the head of the ticket (e.g., Fred Thompson), and a sense that the Republicans learned their lesson. That would be in keeping the the "Feiler faster thesis," in which a political party in power wears out its welcome with increasing rapidity.

Well stated.

Fred Thompson will solve every problem facing the country and then some. Just look at his record. Who can really match that? Rand is undoubtedly right. With Fred heading the ticket the Democrats will certainly lose. Have faith.

With Fred heading the ticket the Democrats will certainly lose. Have faith.

Apparently you didn't actually read, or comprehend, what I actually wrote. That's nothing new to me, given decades of experience on Usenet with similarly English-challenged people. But it's always worth pointing out for those less than used to such foolishness...

I find it hard to think badly enough of Democrats to think that they aren't somewhat embarrassed or even repulsed by the Reid-Pelosi Tango. Witless Chicken Little impressions are not good politics, but they make CL look and sound restrained and balanced.

Hello there!
I am Seema Ahmadi from Kabul Afghanistan, so i think about Mr Bush now he is between deep-sea and devil about Iraqe. if he leaves Iraqe he will lose his power and America will not be the super power country in the future, if he stays again he will be defeated. because every days killing innocent people and american troops are increasing.
Now see if he leaves Iraqe then how can he warn Iran?
if he does not then how American people accept him that American troops be in danger?

So Seema, I take it you don't care much for President Bush. Would you however be honest enough to admit that you have the freedom to post that opinion on the internet only because of what The United States, led by George W. Bush, has done for the country you're living in?

And would you care to explain this: "if he stays (in "Iraqe") again he will be defeated"?

Hello Seema,

No matter what happens in Iraq President Bush will be out of office soon. The pullout will influence the election and the President after Bush but not BUsh himself.

I would guess that if the US pulled out of Iraq we would turn inward and become somewhat isolationist in outlook. Pulling troops out of everywhere and letting the bullies and dicators of the third world slaughter whomever they want and letting the Chinese, Russians and Europeans profit from it. The USA is a bit tired of an ungrateful world taking advantage of our attempts to bring peace and maligning our intentions with nonsensical charges. Of refusing to help and sometimes siding with our enemies knowing we won't hold them accountable. This next election will be somewhat of a test of how the Americans feel about the world in general.

Chinese Generals, Russian mafiosa, French oil intrests, and suicidal Jihadists all want the US to withdraw. What about you?

Heh Heh,

Seema to me that Seema from Kabul got it down right.

Maybe Seema explain to the right wing nutjobs what Donkey here can't.

Haha...

Welcome to this blog Seema!

Bush is entirely responsible for the mess from January 2001 onward. It was his party in congress and senate, he should have been more than capable of quickly clearing up the mess left by Gore in late 2000 before stepping into the oval office.

The Democrats have no one to blame for their incompetence but their current leadership. Gore has had nothing to do with federal politics since 2000. Let the rabid Clinton-Gore bashing go Rand. There is plenty of shit to blame them for, but this isn't it.

The Republicans lost in 2006 because of (1) Iraq, (2) Iraq, and (3) corruption and misconduct. In 2008, if they continue as they have begun, Iraq will be identified as a failed Republican war, and the party will be utterly crushed at the polls.

The notion that Fred Thompson could be a strong candidate is credible only to the extent that the rest of the Republican field is incredibly weak.

The democrat field isn't much better. If the election were held today based on this ludicrous three year presidential campaign, I'd sooner vote for an inanimate carbon rod.