what does this say about the american public?

GOP Frets Over Bush's Political Standing

President's Poll Ratings Sink Amid Worries Over Economy, War
WASHINGTON (June 15) - Fearing that President Bush's political problems may become their own, Republicans in Congress and elsewhere are beginning to yearn for the good old days of seven months ago, when he had somebody to run against.

Voters were worried in November about the economy and the war in Iraq, but they didn't take it out on the incumbent on Election Day. They are now.

Bush's poll ratings are among the worst since he took office, declining in virtually every category since his win over Democratic Sen. John Kerry. From his handling of the economy, foreign policy and the war in Iraq to his job approval rating and voters' assessment of the country's direction, the president's political scores are in serious decline.

One reason is that voters are no longer judging him in comparison to Kerry. Bush, like other second-term presidents, is facing the prospect of lame-duck status. He's up against his own record, in a sense, and that's never an easy task.

"In a vacuum, all the dissatisfaction is put on the White House," said GOP consultant Charles Black, who argued that Bush should draw more attention to upbeat economic numbers.

The Bush campaign succeeded in its 2004 strategy - to make the election a referendum on Kerry and not the incumbent. Now, every day is a referendum on Bush.

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On Election Day, a majority of voters were concerned about the war in Iraq but also said it was part of the war on terrorism. They had to make a choice between Bush and Kerry while weighing the question of who would keep them safer.

Now, with the death toll in Iraq pushed above 1,700, more than double the number of a year ago, it's no longer a choice between Bush and Kerry.

It's Bush's war. Period.

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Beyond Iraq, the economy has risen to the No. 1 concern of voters, according to at least one poll, and every survey shows a majority of voters disapproving of Bush's performance on that issue. His plans to overhaul Social Security have gotten no traction in Congress or with the general public.

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Gaylord cited the political fallout from the decision to intervene in the case of a brain-damaged Florida woman, Terri Schiavo. Cole mentioned tort reform. Another top GOP lawmaker singled out bankruptcy legislation that made it harder for debt-ridden Americans to wipe out their obligations.

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Khachigian said Bush is being worn down by stiff Democratic opposition and by his bullish agenda. "In a campaign, you're less likely to put up provocative ideas, you use much more global messaging and fewer specifics," he said. "What he's paying the price for now is being specific and provocative, especially on Social Security."

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Man, if this is all true, just how stupid is the average american?! I know that bush has done a lot of idiotic things since he was "re-elected" that definitely have contributed to his low numbers, but if they were truly worried about the economy and Iraq and etc, why didn't they vote for someone who was promising to do something about these issues?! Why would they vote for the person who caused the problems?! And they're just now realizing that everything is bush's fault?! I dunno....this theory really doesn't make any sense, but maybe people really are that dumb.....depressing!