the downward spiral

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/politics/28bush.html

It's no wonder the vultures are circling around Bush. According to a new N.Y. Times/CBS News poll, the President's job approval rating is down to 34 percent, the lowest of his presidency. The poll also includes this:

• Only 72 percent of Republicans and 52 percent of conservatives approve of Bush. (Both numbers are down about 10 percent in the last month.)
• 70 percent (and 58 percent of Republicans) say Dubai Ports World should not be allowed to operate at United States ports.
• 65 percent disapprove of the administration's handling of Iraq, and only 30 percent approve.

Writing for the Times, Elisabeth Bumiller and Marjorie Connelly point out that Nixon and Carter both posted lower job approval ratings when they were at their most unpopular, and Bush 41 matched his son's current approval rating at one point. Surprisingly, Clinton's approval never dipped below 36 percent. (Though to be fair, that's not exactly a huge contrast to Dubya's current 34 percent.)

Yesterday I cited several examples of Republicans breaking ranks from the President recently, reacting to Bush's suddenly softening support. There's a couple of new examples today.
• Republican Terminator/Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of CA joined a group of Democratic Governors yesterday in agreeing to a new set of environmental regulations aimed at easing global warming. The Governors openly criticized Bush for ignoring the issue.
• Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine hammered the President on the port deal. "I am more convinced than ever that the process was truly flawed. I can only conclude that there was a rush to judgment."

Until Bush starts to pickup his approval ratings, he should continue to expect more of the same.