In the late Bush years, Democrats scored huge gains because of:
- the president's unpopularity,
- a protracted war,
- a shaky economy,
- corruption in high places, and
- a botched response to a disaster.
Consider the world of 2010:
- From Gallup: "President Obama averaged 47.3% job approval during his sixth quarter in office, spanning April 20-July 19 -- his lowest quarterly average to date. Americans' approval of Obama has declined at least slightly in each quarter of his presidency."
- From the LA Times: "The leaking of a trove of U.S. documents has put the Obama administration on the defensive about its Afghanistan policy and may deepen doubts in Congress about prospects for turning around the faltering war effort."
- From The Washington Post: "Many forecasters expect a [2d quarter GDP] number in the 2.1 percent range, reflecting the fact that corporate efforts to rebuild inventories and fiscal stimulus are fading. That pace of growth would be below the long-term growth trajectory of the U.S. economy and would indicate a weakening recovery."
- From The New York Daily News: "While many of Rep. Charlie Rangel's friends are keeping their distance - including the White House today - the Republican Party is reveling in the mess entangling the Harlem Democrat."
- From The Washington Post: "A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows disapproval of President Obama's handling of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico edging higher nationally, and in the most affected counties on the Gulf Coast, disapproval outpaces approval by nearly 3 to 1."
