AH, THE PASSAGE OF TIME – AT 9:37 A.M. ET:  There's a new survey out showing the relative popularity of the current president, compared to his immediate predecessors.  It shows Clinton more popular than Obama.  But that, in my view, isn't the real news here:

Former President Clinton is more popular than either of his successors, according to a new Gallup poll.

The poll found that 61 percent of voters have a favorable view of Clinton, compared to 52 percent who have a favorable view of President Obama and 45 percent for former President George W. Bush.

Not a shock.  Clinton doesn't have to deal with the problems of the world.  A consummate con artist, he still has the knack of speaking to people and making them believe him.  Even Monica believed him. 

It's the first time Clinton's favorable rating tops Obama's in Gallup's polling.

Democrats gave Clinton and Obama similar favorable ratings, but Clinton is more popular than Obama among independents and Republicans. A full 60 percent of independents have a favorable view of Clinton, and 30 percent of Republicans view him favorably.

But that's not the story, that's not it.  The real news here is that George W. Bush (!!!), the most reviled president in recent memory, the man portrayed by the mainstream media as a bumbling idiot who could barely read or write, is only seven points behind Obama. 

Time passes.  People reassess.  They're contrasting Bush with Obama.  Are we seeing a Truman effect here?  When Harry S. Truman left office, his approval ratings were in the twenties.  His opponents liked to quip, "To err is Truman."  Now he's seen as one of the greats.

I'm not sure Bush will reach that exalted level, but I sure felt safer with him in the White House than our current choice.

July 22, 2010