Recount?

Kos is right, the election took place a couple of weeks too early (I'd argue a month, but why quibble?).

President Bush heads into his second term amid deep and growing public skepticism about the Iraq war, with a solid majority saying for the first time that the war was a mistake and most people believing that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should lose his job, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

While a slight majority believe the Iraq war contributed to the long-term security of the United States, 70 percent of Americans think these gains have come at an "unacceptable" cost in military casualties. This led 56 percent to conclude that, given the cost, the conflict there was "not worth fighting" -- an eight-point increase from when the same question was asked this summer, and the first time a decisive majority of people have reached this conclusion.

President Bush heads into his second term amid deep and growing public skepticism about the Iraq war, with a solid majority saying for the first time that the war was a mistake and most people believing that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld should lose his job, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

While a slight majority believe the Iraq war contributed to the long-term security of the United States, 70 percent of Americans think these gains have come at an "unacceptable" cost in military casualties. This led 56 percent to conclude that, given the cost, the conflict there was "not worth fighting" -- an eight-point increase from when the same question was asked this summer, and the first time a decisive majority of people have reached this conclusion.

Make no mistake, Bush's response to the question about Rumsfeld in yesterdays "press conference," was illuminating. He prefers imagery to action. Perhaps a majority of Americans are catching on. A little too late though.

The poll -- or at least the story -- doesn't mention his approval ratings on domestic affairs, but given that he's done virtually nothing in that area (saying, yesterday, that him perscription drug benefit was the solution to the real crisis that is Medicare was classic), I'd suspect the public isn't too high on the preznit there either.

That's why making Social Security dismantling a purely Bush/GOP initiative is vital. First step should be to fight off Bush's characterization of the situation as a "crisis." He's going to tour the country in the coming weeks, with fawning display of his firm leadership. But unfortunately, I think Garance Franke-Ruta is correct in saying that it is too late to try to argue that SS is not in crisis. Dems have to make sure they counter his framing of the issue in a way that makes sense, and to show some party discipline for a change.

Dear reader, postings may be light in the days to come. I am traveling to Florida to fight for the rights of ugly tomatoes, but I'll do my best to stay abreast of things and report back.