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The President's numbers may be sinking faster than the Titantic ever did; but you must remember, the good ship USA carries us all...and Democrats share blame for the war, as much as Republicans. Now, with their 'surge of retreatism', they have all but guaranteed themselves a 'black eye' when this is played out: from this well-written essay by Noemie Emery:

If Iraq is stabilized this side of chaos, the congressional Democrats will be remembered as the people who fought to prevent it, who tried to kneecap the commander and demoralize the armed forces, and all in all make the mission more difficult. If, on the other hand, the surge is seen to fail, they will be the ones who made it more difficult, demoralized the armed forces, kneecapped the commander, and telegraphed to the enemy that our will was cracking, and we would shortly be leaving.

The Democrats have also given Bush a partial alibi for a possible failure--he tried, but at a critical moment they threw in the towel. This argument would be plausible enough to attract support from a great many people. Had they let the surge play itself out, with best wishes but grave reservations, the Democrats could have gained a reputation for good will in any event, and for genuine prescience in the case of failure. But there is a difference between warning of failure and seeming to want it or cause it, and this is the line they have stumbled over. They have cut themselves off from all share in a victory, bought themselves a half-share in a loss, should one develop, and given the president they so despise an excuse he did not have before this. If a failure ensues, it is no longer his fault, in its entirety. Now it is his fault--and theirs.

...there is a difference between warning of failure and seeming to want or cause it...

That line sums up every Democratic argument and bluster, speech and protest, that we've seen in the past 4 years. Democrats use anything that's handy to Bash Bush: The Game is one to not be on board with our country's success or failures in Iraq or Afghanistan, or even in any Middle East endeavour, but to demote and reject any attempt we make to change things in our favor. If such success could be a credit to George Bush, it is opposed for opposing's sake. The Game is not the USA winning, but to make sure George Bush doesn't get any credit when we win. With this article, and others coming out like it, we're beginning to see that strategy revealed, and being exposed for it's hateful and negative origins.

It's OK to be partisan to a degree, but when partisanship tears apart the very fabric of what should be our solidarity in an ongoing war, then we all should wonder if that partisanship is good for any of us.

As far as the much-repeated poll standings of GW Bush, and why I don't jump ship to join the 'masses'?

"If 50 million people say a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing." --Anatole France (1844-1924)

h/t Jeff Goldstein