The Bush "Bounce"

Zogby's latest puts the President back under 40% approval. Rasmussen shows the President bouncing between 43% and 48%. Most other recent polls have the President between 40% and 42%.

What does it all mean? Well, since most of the movement falls within the margin of error, I'd say the nation's views on the President haven't really changed all that much. He's maintained an approval rating of around 40%, and that's simply not enough for him to rise above his lame duck status and start flying high once again.

As for the latest media campaign by the White House to convince the public things are going according to plan? Well, 58% of respondents in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll still say he lacks a plan to follow, while 60% disapprove of the way he's handling things. That leaves about 40% of the country believing in a plan and supporting the President, which just about mirrors his approval ratings overall.

The President has seen his term in office hitched to the wagon of terrorism. He has made Iraq the so-called central front in the war on terrorism. And it's his doing that so far has become his undoing as well.

It's going to take more than speeches to get Bush out of the slump. People actually will have to believe things are going well in Iraq. And until they do, no amount of oration is going to change their mind. Perception speaks louder than the President's words. And I think about 60% of the country would agree with me on that one.