I know this is hard to believe*, but just the other day a few right-wing blogs were trumpeting Bush "surging" all the way back to 37% approval in a recent Gallup Poll. Somewhere David Broder’s glasses were steaming up in anticipation of re-declaring his boy being the "comeback kid".

Well so much for that.

The president’s approval rating in the poll, conducted Dec. 6 through Sunday by Opinion Research Corporation, was 32 percent, tying his all-time low rating from June.

Sixty-six percent disapproved of how Bush is handling his job, the poll found, about equal to the 65 percent early last month.

Only 15 percent said they approved "strongly" of how the president is handling his job, while nearly half, 49 percent, disapproved "strongly."

I’m pretty sure that having 49% of the country really, really, despise you, and having that number more than three times higher than your strong proponents is a really bad sign that ONLY our Beltway Pundits could miss. Well, okay, maybe Powerline too (poor "misunderstood genius").

Oh wait, I’m forgetting a large group that also misses it.

Congressional Democrats.

Democratic leaders in Congress enjoyed an approval rating only narrowly higher than the president’s, with 39 percent of poll respondents saying they approve of what the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have done so far this year. More than half — 56 percent — disapproved, the poll found.

Still, 53 percent of those polled said Democratic leadership is "good for the country," though that is down slightly from 58 percent in January, when when Democrats took control of Congress.

A nation cries out for Nancy, Steney, and Harry to break off the beer bottles and ask the White House, "Alright who wants some?" as opposed to "Thank you sir, may I have another". Yet every week seems to end in another declaration of "Hey, we kept him from doing even worse!"

When you don’t stand up to Bush, people are going to start to consider you part of the problem. I guess, in Rahm’s world, there’s an argument for "People understand that the GOP is worse", but while they draw their paychecks, their constituents still live in the world the pays the consequences of the half-measures they always end up abandoning. As Froomkin said, "Historians looking back on the Bush presidency may well wonder if Congress actually existed."

But do not fully despair yet dear reader…for we have not yet reached the true depths. What else could there be?

Media Bigs Turn Out For White House Holiday Party

A TVNewser insider tells us about the boldface media names in attendance at tonight’s White House Christmas Party.

NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, now reporting on Capitol Hill for the network. CBS’ Bob Schieffer "being so friendly and nice to everyone." FNC’s Brian Kilmeade with his brother. CBS’ Dave Price, "making everyone laugh." FNC’s Steve Doocy "brought his son, who’s even taller than he is." FBN’s Liz Claman bonding with FNC’s Brit Hume; CNN’s Wolf Blitzer; FBN exec Kevin Magee; NBC specials EP Phil Alongi "saying hi to old pal" former MSNBC’er and now CNN EP Jeff Kepnes; CNBC DC Bureau chief Matt Cuddy; FBN DC Bureau chief Bruce Becker; FNC’s Greta Van Susteren. NBC’s Jeannie Ohm; FBN’s Alexis Glick just hours after her new show was announced. FBN exec Ray Hennessey; CNN DC Bureau chief David Bohrman; Fox News’ Chris Wallace; CBS Radio’s Mark Knoeller and FNC’s Steve Centanni.

*No, it isn’t.