Bush: Americans Are Suffering From "Battle Fatigue"
Bush: 'Disquiet' hangs over U.S.
In Orlando, the president says the war and gas prices are taking a toll.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...home-headlines
(Gold9472: Actually, we're just tired of you asshole.)
Jim Stratton | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 11, 2006
President Bush, his approval ratings at a record low, acknowledged Wednesday that war in Iraq and rising gas prices have created "battle fatigue" among many Americans.
That anxiety, Bush said, has settled over much of the nation as people worry about whether the U.S. will succeed in Iraq and how they'll afford to fill up their tanks.
"There's a sense of disquiet because of the war in Iraq," said Bush, in an hourlong interview with the Orlando Sentinel and six other Florida newspapers.
Deepening concerns about the war, as well as the current standoff with Iran about its nuclear ambitions and high gas prices at home "have caused Americans to really take a look at the future and wonder whether or not it's as good as they want it to be. I understand that."
But the president insisted his Iraq strategy will work, saying "there's a deep desire by the Iraqi people to live in a democracy." He also urged Americans to be patient as his administration looks for ways to help ease the pain at the pump.
"You can't wave a magic wand," Bush said of soaring worldwide oil prices. "We've got to diversify away from crude. That's not going to happen overnight."
In the meantime, Bush said, he supports research into alternative fuels such as ethanol and more domestic production of crude oil.
He does not, however, support drilling for oil and gas within 100 miles of Florida's coastline, saying he shares Floridians' "deep concerns" about protecting the state's environment.
Bush also said he did not like the idea of U.S. companies paying for the right to drill in Cuban waters.
"I think the money would go to -- I know the money would go to support a government that is suppressing the rights of its people," he said.
Bush made his comments in a meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in south Orange County before traveling to east Orlando.
His visit was part of a three-day swing to raise money for U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and urge people to sign up for the new Medicare prescription-drug plan before Monday's deadline.
The president's interview with the state press came on the same day that a New York Times/CBS News poll found that just 31 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing.
That is a new low for Bush and the third-lowest of any president in 50 years.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they agreed with the decision to go to war in Iraq -- down eight points in the past four months -- and only 13 percent approved of the administration's handling of gas prices.
With midterm elections six months away, Republicans worry the president's slumping poll numbers are trickling down and will hurt them in congressional races.
Despite his party's worries, Bush predicted Republicans would maintain control of Congress.
"We have a very strong and positive agenda," he said. "I'm convinced we will continue to hold the majorities in both the House and the Senate."
One of the highest-profile races in the country is the U.S. Senate campaign pitting incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson against U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris.
In recent weeks, GOP leaders -- including Gov. Jeb Bush -- have expressed serious concerns about Harris, who they say has little chance of winning.
