I seldom have anyting positive to say about GWB. I admit it.

In the case of Terri S, Bush is doing what he thinks is right despite a
great political cost to himself and his party.
That's commendable.

According to a credible poll, about 2/3 of the people who self-identify
as conservatives and evagelicals (Bush's base) *oppose* congressional
intervention in the situation. As Bush cut short his vacation and flew
in his pajamas to sign the Sciavo bill at 1 AM, he rather obviously
supports federal intervention. Partially as a result, Bush's approval
rating has nosedived 6 points (from 49 percent to 43 percent). Good for
Bush, he's upholding his principles. When he does something admirable,
it should be noted just as much as his many screw-ups.



(March 24) -- More than two-thirds of people who describe themselves as
evangelicals and conservatives disapprove of the intervention by
Congress and President Bush in the case of the Terri Schiavo, the
brain-damaged woman at the center of a national debate.

A CBS News poll found that four of five people polled opposed federal
intervention, with levels of disapproval among key groups supporting
the GOP almost that high.

Bush's overall approval was at 43 percent, down from 49 percent last
month.

Over the weekend, Republicans in Congress pushed through emergency
legislation aimed at prolonging Schiavo's life by allowing the case to
be reviewed by federal courts. That bill was signed by the president
early Monday.

Most Americans say they feel sympathy for family members on both sides
of the dispute over the 41-year-old Schiavo, according to a CNN-USA
Today-Gallup poll.

More than eight in 10 in that poll said they feel sympathy for Bob and
Mary Schindler, parents of Schiavo, who want to keep her alive. And
seven in 10 said they're sympathetic for Michael Schiavo, the husband
of Schiavo who says she should be allowed to die.

The CBS News poll of 737 adults was taken Monday and Tuesday and the
CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll of 620 adults was taken Tuesday. Both have
margins of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.


03/24/05 08:32 EST