tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post111830511561851926..comments2023-06-14T15:04:38.420+05:30Comments on Saara Aakash: Ever vigilant - IINikhil Prasad Ojhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038541283659597985noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12808776.post-1118340476133814962005-06-09T23:37:00.000+05:302005-06-09T23:37:00.000+05:30Such mechanisms of self-correction are not even cl...Such mechanisms of self-correction are not even close to being infallible, and are riddled with all manner of inefficiencies: imperfect information, time lags, inaccuracies in public perception. Ultimately, they are prey to some of the same vulnerabilities as liberal republicanism itself, a form of government that has throughout history shown just how vulnerable it can be.<BR/><BR/>The key point is that in our world as it exists today, the American self-corrective mechanisms are about as good as we've got -- if a pluralistic continental colossus purporting so deeply to value individual initiative cannot over the long run police itself effectively, then, I would offer, perhaps that says more about the human condition broadly than it does about one nation alone.<BR/><BR/>In the case of the Bush administration, let there be no mistake that public concerns about the inner clique have acted as continual headwinds against Bush's public ratings (weaker headwinds than I would have liked, but such, I suppose, is what happens with fearful publics everywhere). His victory last November was hardly resounding for a self-styled "war-time president," and resulted solely from his double-digit polling advantage on the issue of fighting terrorism. Current polling makes quite clear that the public isn't swallowing it anymore and, barring another major terrorist attack, I would expect the Republicans to be rather weak going into the 2006 midterm elections.<BR/><BR/>For some recent polling, see (I'm not aware of a more efficient means of copying URLs into a response, but just double-click and copy these into your browser, even if you can't see the whole link just yet -- registration required):<BR/><BR/>Bush's Political Capital Spent, Voices in Both Parties Suggest<BR/>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/30/AR2005053000891.html<BR/><BR/>Social Security Plan's Support Dwindling<BR/>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/07/AR2005060700296.html<BR/><BR/>Poll Finds Dimmer View of Iraq War<BR/>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/08/AR2005060801975.html?nav=hcmoduleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com