Bush's numbers

The Washington Post has a new poll out today. Title of the article:

Post-ABC Poll: Bush Ignoring Public Concerns
Majority Says President Distracted by Issues They Care Little About

Could America be waking up to what these Republicans care about and stand for? I hardly believe it, but it could be true. But "the survey found that 58 percent of those interviewed said Bush is concentrating mainly in his second term on problems and partisan squabbles that these respondents said were unimportant to them".

I think this really spells trouble for Bush and the Republicans generally. Here's why: Since he took office, Bush has pressed ahead in doing things that were generally unpopular (if explained on the facts) based on his connection with the American people and their trust in him. You look at the poll numbers on things like the 2003 tax cut, and people didn't really want it, given what it would do to the nation's finances and the services that would have to be cut. But GWB boldly pushed ahead and people were willing to trust that he wasn't misleading them (even though he was). He says that he "won't govern based on poll numbers" almost every time the basically unpopularity of his decisions are brought up. And so far it has worked.

Fast forward to now and you find him pushing forward on all kinds of issues with the same mentality, but finally the public is starting to wonder about his initiatives.

Social Security abolition? He's out there preaching it every day, in spite of the fact that like 28 percent of people agree with him/like his ideas.

Appoint extremist judges and force a Senate showdown in which the Repubs try to change to rules? Yes, please, saith the leadership. Rest of the country: chill the fuck out.

War in Iraq? Everything's peachy and we're staying to course according to Bush and Cheney. Rest of the country: get us the fuck out of there.

I think that this disconnect with public opinion is going to begin to catch up with Bush and company quickly. The Dems are going to have to begin to weave this into a narrative for their candidates to run on in the 2006 elections. They'll have the opening, pressing their advantage is the name of the game. The numbers are on their side.