Bush is a Lame Duck

I believe that there are several elements at the core of Bush's current ineffectiveness.

a. Being so bad at providing rational explanations for his policies. If he were a better, more convincing speaker, he might generate more public support for his ideas.

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." - GWB 5/24/2005

b. Even under light scrutiny, Bush's ideas simply don't resemble reality. behold:

"By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt.” (2/2/2005)

"The role of a President is to confront problems – not to pass them on to a future President, future Congress, or a future generation.” (2/4/2005)

Um, what about the deficit?

c. Loss of public trust over the Iraq debacle.

It may be true that "a majority of likely voters favor proposals to allow younger workers the choice to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal accounts," however, a majority also does not favor Bush to tamper with Social Security. What a searing indictment of Bush, that the public seems to want what he's proposing, but they don't seem to want him to do it.

It's not just that other goals would be more achievable. Other goals are more necessary right now. Other goals would also better represent the will of the people. The president's social security agenda is nothing more than an ideologically driven crusade that Rove, Bush and others have dreamt about for decades.

"Perhaps Social Security should be abolished." - Barry Goldwater

No one in their right mind intentionally voted for the you're-on-your-own-ership society. They voted for morals and fear, ... er, the fight against terror. Bush certainly didn't mention Social Security reform while he was stumping. But we're certainly getting an earful now. classic bait-and-switch. Hence, Bush's current low approval ratings.