Bush and Public Opinion

The President seems to have little sympathy for public opinion. Over the years, we've seen polltakers embarrassed by never seeing the inauguration of President Thomas Dewey or the popularity of "New" Coke. We all have heard that old saying about political polls, "The only poll that counts is the one on election day." Well, this president doesn't much care about that poll, either. There has always been a debate about how much a leader should follow what the public is saying, but if you keep marching in the opposite direction of the public, you're apt to get yourself into (deeper) trouble. For one thing, Bush has what to my mind is an almost insurmountable credibility problem over Iraq. The public, including many Republicans, will not trust his judgment on Iraq, whatever he proposes.

Whether you like him or dislike him, he is the only president we've got for two more years, and he needs to have some functionality for the sake of the country.