That liberal media

Houston Chronicle:

Bush is relying on progress in Iraq and his handling of the war on terror to ballast perceptions of his leadership, in what is likely to be his last year of uninterrupted legacy-making before the campaign to replace him begins.

ABC News, Jan 29, 2006:

On Iraq, 55 percent say the war was not worth fighting and 60 percent disapprove of how Bush is handling it. On the deficit, 64 percent disapprove of his work; on health care 60 percent; on immigration 57 percent; on ethics 56 percent (see separate Jan. 27 analysis on ethics). Six in 10 say the economy's hurting. Six in 10 don't think Bush understands their problems. Fifty-three percent don't see him as honest and trustworthy.

Considering that more people disapproved of his handling of Iraq that any other issue except his handling of the deficit, I'm thinking that "anchor" would be a better description than "ballast," and most liberals would no doubt agree.

Except, apparently, those in the media.