Zarqawi is dead. Patrick Fitzgerald has given up trying to manufacture evidence of malfeasance by Karl Rove - or tryting to pretend that there was anything at all to the fatuous Plame kerfuffle that he was appointed to investigate. Presidential approval ratings have bounced from the floor to somewhere near the skirting board. Has the President turned the corner?
It is certainly true that the Democrat strategy of talking about a 'culture of corruption' is likely to backfire. The most egregious case of corruption currently being investigated is a Democrat. The decision by Speaker Hastert to obstruct the investigation only kept it in the news for longer - and ensured that most people came away with the impression that 'they are all as bad as eachother'. This is not, of course, true. Most politicians are not corrupt. But it is rather less risible than the claim that corruption is the preserve of one party. That a strategy for the November election has already backfired by June shows peculiarly bad judgement.
But it also gives the Democrats time to find a new strategy. Possibly even one that will have resonance.
The Rove news was expected by everyone who has actually been following the issue - that is everyone except the leftist bloggers - there has never been the slightest evidence that Karl Rove is guilty of anything more serious than winning elections the Democrats wanted him to lose.
Iraq turned the corner a year ago. But the news in the media is still reporting last years'news from Iraq. And if the violence were to dry up completely there would be no news to report. It is rather unlikely that the media will be reporting any good news from Iraq.
The reasons for the President's unpopularity are diverse. While 31% may turn out to be the nadir, it is unlikely that he will be a major positive for the GOP by November.
