I can’t wait for the New York Times front-page treatment of why president Bush has bounced back in the polls. Can we have color graphs on the front page, analysis by Rick Berke, op-eds by Frank Rich, Bob Herbert et al. pondering why this has happened – and an accompanying editorial? Oh, never mind. But Gallup’s poll suggests to me that I’m not crazy, and that Bush’s low-key style, while infuriating those who want more government for every problem, will eventually win people over. Bush is now at a 57 percent job approval rating, compared to 45 percent for Bill Clinton at this stage. An amazing 78 percent say they respect him and 70 percent say they approve of him as a person. 62 percent say he has been more civil than his opponents; yet 69 percent say he is tough enough for the job. That’s an impressive combo. The lesson? Ignore the chattering classes. Ignore Manhattan insiders who have no real feel for the way most Americans think. Trust your instincts. And keep smiling. And keep your baseball caps for inside.
IS CHANDRA ALIVE?: Drudge fronts the National Enquirer’s scoop on the Levy disappearance. She told friends she was pregnant with Condit’s child and used her computer and cell-phone a day after she disappeared. Drudge implies that this casts an even darker light on Condit. Could be. Did he hack into her computer to check records? But why would he have used her cell-phone a day later? It’s also compatible with another scenario. Has she just upped and left? I’m not defending Condit. He obviously should have been forthcoming to the cops early on. But I do think the press should focus on issues relevant to Levy’s disappearance, not to Condit’s private moral conduct. It’s still possible he’s completely innocent. And that should count for something.
The Dish 