There is always "stuff" of some variety in any administration - and this stuff is always harped on like a constant drumbeat. The key to it all is whether that stuff takes hold in the public's consciousness, if they feel it's important. Sometimes the drumbeat even works the opposite of what's intended. Here's the historical data on Presidential popularity:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/popularity.php
They beat on Reagan at the end of his term and some of it "took", but his popularity numbers never went as low as Bush's are today.
They beat on Clinton near the end of his term and not only did it not "take", it actually had the opposite result and his popularity increased.
10-01-2005, 08:50 AM
Hybrid Mode
