The American media, within the parochial parameters in which it operates, is, of course, giving this a different spin:

For the first time in his presidency a majority of Americans question the integrity of President Bush, and growing doubts about his leadership have left him with record negative ratings on the economy, Iraq and even the war on terrorism, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows.

On almost every key measure of presidential character and performance, the survey found that Bush has never been less popular with the American people. Currently 39 percent approve of the job he is doing as president, while 60 percent disapprove of his performance in office — the highest level of disapproval ever recorded for Bush in Post-ABC polls….

Overall, the survey underscores how several pillars of Bush’s presidency have begun to crumble under the combined weight of events and White House mistakes. Bush’s approval ratings have been in decline for months, but on issues of personal trust, honesty and values, Bush has suffered some of his most notable declines. Moreover, Bush has always retained majority support on his handling of the U.S. campaign against terrorism — until now, when 51 percent have registered disapproval.

The CIA leak case has apparently contributed to a withering decline in how Americans view Bush personally. The survey found that 40 percent now view him as honest and trustworthy — a 13 percentage point drop in the past 18 months. Nearly 6 in 10 — 58 percent — said they have doubts about Bush’s honesty, the first time in his presidency that more than half the country has questioned his personal integrity.

Put aside that 39% of the brain-dead population approves of his performance as President:  bear in mind that, were Gallup around, it would have turned out that Hitler’s approval ratings were presumably at least as high while he was fingering the pistol in his bunker in Berlin in 1945 ("you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time" said a famous American huckster [not Karl Rove!]).  I am more struck by the fact that 42% of the population still thinks Bush is an honest man.  Where have these people been?  What must be their cognitive condition?  I could actually understand some jovial, short-sighted millionaire supporting Bush, while recognizing him for the mediocrity and childish fibber that he is.  (Even the leader of the Smear Boat Veterans last year called Bush "an empty suit.")  But to think he’s an honest man after the lies about the Iraq War, social security, the tax cuts, the New Orleans fiasco, Harriet Miers, and on and on?  To quote Ezra Pound:  "You can’t talk to the ignorant about lies, they have no criteria."  42% of the population, it appears.