Billmon: Out of the Running

The Washington Post posted a write up of its latest poll last night, and, as Atrios points out, the results don't exactly jibe with the obsolete media myth of Bush the popular wartime president:

By 50 percent to 49 percent, Americans approved of the way Bush is handling the war on terror, down from 56 percent approval in April, equaling the lowest rating Bush has earned on the issue that has consistently been his core strength with the public. Some authorities on war and public opinion said the figures indicate that pessimism about the war in Iraq has reached a dangerous level. "It appears that Americans are coming to the realization that the war in Iraq is not being won and may well prove unwinnable," said retired Army Col. Andrew Bacevich, now a professor at Boston University. "That conclusion bleeds over into a conviction that it may not have been necessary in the first place."

Bush's overall approval rating, on the other hand, remains roughly where it has been for the past year and a half -- that is, split almost evenly, with 48% approving and 52% disapproving.