Bush’s Weak Point - 1 October, 2002 - News

Family Hobby of the President, Losing Popularity Among Americans
The results of an opinion poll recently published by ABC television and The Washington Post was touted by the media as a sensation. It seems that everyone is looking forward to an abrupt drop of Bush’s ratings, as if that can somehow improve the situation.

The popularity of Bush’s policy among Americans is slipping. For instance, only 58 percent of Americans support his line toward Iraq (the number was up to 65 percent in the middle of September). 52 percent think that Bush is in a hurry to settle the Iraqi issue with the help of the military. He is in a hurry indeed, because spiteful Saddam had been scheming to assassinate George Bush, his father.

The poll also revealed that 58 percent of Americans think the president pays little attention to economic problems. It is no wonder, as the economy is a weak point of the Bush Administration. To be more precise, much less attention is paid to the economy as compared with the anti-terrorism struggle. As for Bush’s wartime activity, 70 percent of Americans support the president.

So, what is the conclusion? There is none actually. It is too early to predict the recent slip in Bush’s popularity proves frustration with his policies. First of all,the majority of Americans still support Bush’s military operation in Iraq. Second, if the war begins and proves a quick success, the president’s ratings will immediately skyrocket. And success is never blamed, as we know.

It is not ruled out that the economy will become Bush’s only problem during the next presidential election. But it will be so only if something extraordinary happens. If it does, the incumbent president may follow the fate of his father, who was not re-elected despite his triumphant campaign against Saddam Hussein in 1991.

Vasily Bubnov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Maria Gousseva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/10/01/47821.html

Related links: