Bush Redefines Poll Numbers

You thought you knew what you were feeling about Bush. As he says, though, your disapproval is merely a case of being unsettled--like having an upset stomach.

Bush also said that his current approval ratings of 29% are an indication of his work effort, not the total number of "settlers--the ones who are settled." Bush continued, "If you add my 29% now to the 90% I got after 9/11, the American public thinks I'm putting in 119% effort. That' a lot of hard work. When some people see me working so hard on the war, they get unsettled. But the other side of disapproval is effort."

Gregory didn't include that part of the interview, saying Bush's logic was over the head of most Americans and didn't make for a good soundbite. He also cut out the Bush equation about Hurricane Katrina, which he is widely believed to have mishandled. Bush said, "Mishandled? That means the people are constipated. These are nervous times."