Turd Blossom

That's the name I suggest Preznit is using for Karl after the results of this poll were published today.

"Only 32 percent thought Bush had a clear plan of what to do in Iraq while 57 percent disagreed. Half of those questioned said U.S. troops should remain in Iraq, down from 63 percent in January.

"Bush's ratings on other issues were no stronger. His overall approval rating was 43 percent -- the lowest ever recorded by the Pew poll. His approval rating for his handling of the economy was 39 percent and of energy policy was 29 percent.

"Bush still had a 53 percent approval rating for his handling of terrorist threats, according to the Pew poll."

But that's down significantly from only about a month ago.

Moreover, while support for maintaining troops in Iraq has declined, it is interesting that half or respondents feel we must remain until Iraq is stabilized, despite misgivings about Bush's lack of a plan. That indicates -- I hope -- a fairly sophisticated view of the conflict: that, rightly or wrongly, we have to leave a better place than we entered. In other words, it may have been Bush's war, but now it's our mess.