Bush's Numbers, Rove's Testimony

Yesterday brought two developments of some renown: Karl Rove was ordered back for his fourth swearing-in before the grand jury investigating the Valerie Plame case. And CBS News released a new poll showing El Presidente's over-all approval ratings now in the high 30s.

(Buried deep in the NYTimes story about Rove's forced march back to the grand jury room is this sentence: "In recent days, Mr. Rove has been less visible than usual at the White House, fueling speculation that he is distancing himself from Mr. Bush or has been sidelined.")

Back to the new CBS poll, which arrived in my in-box late last night: "President George W. Bush's overall job approval rating has reached the lowest ever measured in this poll, and evaluations of his handling of Iraq, the economy and even his signature issue, terrorism, are also at all-time lows."

And where's Karl Rove when Shrub needs him?

Specific questions in the CBS poll produced the following results:

Country on the right path? 26% think so

President's over-all job approval? 37% think he's doing all right

Approve of his handling of Iraq? 32% think he's done well

The economy? 32% think it's swell

Does Bush share your priorities for the country? 32% say yes

Pretty consistent ... one-third of Americans can work up some enthusiasm for the godliest president in the history of the universe, Jehovah's Own Choice to do His will on earth.

Of significance for our own local politics in this national poll ... how poorly El Presidente is polling among unaffiliated voters. Only 29% of independents approve of his job performance. And independent voters have a history of punishing the party in power when it comes to voting in local elections. Madame Foxx might take note of that. We certainly do.