Do you need some objective measures that Bush is really on the ropes, and it's time to finish him off? CQPolitics has the data for you.
President Bush’s success rating in the Democratic-controlled House has fallen this year to a half-century low, and he prevailed on only 14 percent of the 76 roll call votes on which he took a clear position.
By comparison, House Democrats supported President Richard Nixon 46 percent of the time in 1974, the year he resigned. Nixon prevailed on votes 68 percent of the time that year, despite the Watergate fallout. And House Republican support for President Lyndon B. Johnson stood at 51 percent in 1968, during the height of the Vietnam War. Johnson succeeded 84 percent of the time on votes that year.
Now, Nancy and Harry, read on...
CQPolitics does note that you've provided a unified caucus, resulting in a unity score of 91% in the House, and 88% in the Senate, both at or near historical peak. Meanwhile, the Republican caucus has begun to break down:
Bush’s flagging success resulted partially from Republicans parting company with him. House Republicans have supported Bush on the floor an average of 74 percent of the time this year, while Senate Republicans have supported him 81 percent of the time. Both scores are the lowest of his presidency.
Add the looming election, and the spate of negative reports you arranged in the last supplemental. What better climate could you possibly want to rein him in, once and for all? I'm OK with you reaching across the aisle, Harry and Nancy, for some kind of bipartisan solution to Iraq that can withstand a veto. This time, though, a withdrawal timetable is a non-negotiable. Read the CQ report and tell me why Mitch McConnell wouldn't agree; and if he won't, challenge him and pass a supplement with withdrawal anyway. Make Bush veto it; then pass it again and send it back. Tell him the other appropriations get done when he signs it -- not until. As you know, Bush has been planning to hold the government hostage come October. Put his intransigence to your advantage.
When Petraeus and Crocker come before your Committees, don't ask them what's going on. Ask them to refute the reports you've obtained. Make them tell you why the reports are wrong -- those reports that were prepared at OUR expense, by objective professionals.
We have your back. The American people are on your side. The Republican caucus is clearly fraying, despite the brave front they're putting up. It's time.