New poll: people don't like Gonzales, Bush, or the Iraq war. Heh.

The latest LA Times/Bloomberg poll is really fascinating on a variety of topics. The headline is about Gonzales (whom 53% of Americans think should resign, an extraordinarily high number considering how little most people pay attention to the AG; additionally, 74% think Bush aides should testify under oath about the scandal), but there is also great info about Iraq. There is tremendous support for the Dems' supplemental bill, and, unsurprisingly, views are completely split down partisan lines.

The problem for Republicans, though, regardless of the outcome of the supplemental skirmish, is that the war is not getting any better and will likely get worse over the next two years. I hope I'm wrong about that, and I'd happily embrace improvement in Iraq regardless of any electoral implications. I just don't think that's likely given this administration's track record, and in two years people are going to be unbelievably fed up with the war and with five years of Republican rubber-stamping of an out of control executive.

Everyone, that is, except for Republican primary voters, which is why we now have the embarrassing spectacle of all major Republican presidential candidates supporting the president and his pet war, which are both likely to be massively unpopular in the general election. As independents continue to sour on the war, it will be fascinating to see Republicans try to thread the needle, while Dems will simply be able to stand on principle as the electorate increasingly embraces the progressive position.

My only quibble with the Times article is that it claims Democrats who don't hold the line on the war are "likely to face attacks from the party's antiwar wing". Not that I can speak for All Democrats Everywhere (heaven forbid), but I think the entire party is against the war. Being antiwar is no longer a "wing" or "fringe" position, and that shorthand is lazy and inaccurate. In any case, Republicans are seeing the writing on the wall with public opinion, and it's not pretty.