[Polls]

Harriet Miers and Bush's Approval Rating

The Washington Post has some polling data out on Harriet Miers which is mostly inconclusive. Only 22% of respondents would even offer an opinion. But that uncertainty may help explain another finding: Bush's approval rating slid to 37%. Just five days ago Newsweek had a poll out that declared Bush's approval had hit it's "floor"; that is, the wild-eyed believers who will never forsake him number around 40% of the population. That may have been true five days ago, but four days ago he nominated Harriet Miers and accomplished the unthinkable--cutting into the base.

In fact, last week's "floor" might just have been a landing on the staircase down to the basement. For some reason people liked how he handled Rita, so maybe that slowed his freefall. He may well rebound again, but if the Miers confirmation is ugly and divides the GOP, expect it to keep falling as loyal soldiers abandon him. And if Karl Rove gets indicted? Hoo boy.