We interrupt this Republican love-fest to bring you some reality-based news about your Idiot-in-Chief. Bush's approval ratings are sinking fast and are now even lower than Nixon's at the same point in Nixon's second term.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110301685.html

"The CIA leak case has apparently contributed to a withering decline in how Americans view Bush personally. The survey found that 40 percent now view him as honest and trustworthy -- a 13 percentage point drop in the past 18 months. Nearly six in 10 -- 58 percent -- said they had doubts about Bush's honesty, the first time in his presidency that more than half the country has questioned his personal integrity. ...

"Beyond the leak case, Americans give the administration low ratings on ethics, according to the survey, with 67 percent rating the administration negatively on handling ethical matters, while just 32 percent give the administration positive marks. Four in 10 -- 43 percent -- say the level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has fallen during Bush's presidency, while 17 percent say it has risen. ...

"Nearly seven in 10 -- 68 percent -- currently believe the country is seriously off-course while only 30 percent are optimistic, the lowest level in more than nine years. Only three in 10 express high levels of confidence in Bush while half say they have little or no confidence in this administration. ...

"Among independents, Bush's approval has plummeted since the beginning of the year. In the latest poll, 33 percent of independents approved of his performance, while 66 disapproved. In January, independents were evenly divided, with 49 percent approving and an equal percentage disapproving. ...

"Six in 10 now believe the United States was wrong to invade Iraq, a 7-point increase in just over two months, with almost half the country saying they strongly believe it was wrong.

"The war has taken a toll on the administration's credibility, with a clear majority -- 55 percent -- now say the administration deliberately mislead the country in making its case for war with Iraq -- a conflict that an even larger majority say was not worth the cost.About three in four -- 73 percent -- said there have been an unacceptable level of casualties in Iraq. More than half -- 52 percent -- said the war with Iraq has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States. ...

"Bush also set new lows in the latest Post-ABC News poll for his management of the economy, where disapproval topped 60 percent for the first time in his presidency. And six in 10 are critical of the way Bush is dealing with health care -- a double-digit increase since March. On gasoline prices, Bush's numbers have increased slightly over the past two months, but still remain highly negative, with just 26 percent rating him positively.

"The survey suggests a rapidly widening gulf between Bush and the American people/Two in three say Bush doesn't understand the problems of people like them, a 10 percentage-point increase since January.

"Nearly six in 10 -- 58 percent -- doubt Bush shares their values while 40 percent say he does, another new low for this president. For the first time since he took office, fewer than half -- 47 percent -- currently say Bush is a strong leader, and Americans divide equally over whether Bush can be trusted in a crisis."

But worry not, FoxNews reports that 108% of the American public thinks Bush is the bestest preznit we've ever had. And who can be surprised, given that Fox is paying Rep. Tom DeLay's travel bills these days.

http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/docs/betterfoxtrip.pdf