4th July Special 'Good News Edition' ...

Ratings for Bush, Congress sink lower

By Alan Fram, Associated Press Writer. Wed Jul 4, 2007.

WASHINGTON --

Like twin Jacques Cousteaus of the political world, President Bush and Congress are probing the depths of public opinion polling as voters exasperated over Iraq, immigration and other issues give them strikingly low grades.

In a remarkable span, the approval that people voice for the job Bush is doing has sunk to record lows for his presidency in the AP-Ipsos and other polls in recent weeks, dipping within sight of President Nixon's levels during Watergate.

Ominously for Republicans hoping to hold the White House and recapture Congress next year, Bush's support has plunged among core GOP groups like evangelicals, and pivotal independent swing voters.

Congress is doing about the same. Like Bush, lawmakers are winning approval by roughly three in 10. Such levels are significantly low for a president, and poor but less unusual for Congress.

"The big thing would be the war," said independent Richard MacDonald, 56, a retired printer from Redding, Calif. "I don't think he knew what he got into when he got into it." As for Congress, MacDonald said, "It's just the same old same old with me. A lot of promises they don't keep."

Bush was risking more unpopularity by commuting I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison term in the CIA leak case, and his refusal to rule out a full pardon. Polls in March after the former White House aide's conviction showed two in three opposed to a pardon.

Read the rest right here - and for what it's worth - rejoice.


If ever a despicable despot deserved a damned good downpour on his personal parade, boy, is Bush the best bum such a fate should ever befall.

Good job, God.

Or whoever else it is who's in charge of wet weather.

Btw, can you say 'all washed up'?

Then there's this second story we see as something well worth celebrating.

BBC's Alan Johnston is released

Mr Johnston said his time in captivity was the worst of his life Johnston reaction

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has been released by kidnappers in the Gaza Strip after 114 days in captivity.

Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to armed men in Gaza City. He said his ordeal was like "being buried alive" but it was "fantastic" to be free.

Speaking live from Jerusalem later, he thanked those who had supported him, and vowed to return to "obscurity".

Rallies worldwide had called for Mr Johnston's release. An online petition was signed by some 200,000 people...

After the 'good news' famine, follows the feast. Eh?

Read the rest of the Beeb's 'Johnson release' report.

And, rejoice yet again.

Since reason (as usual), has eventually prevailed.

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