Who is that 28-37 percent?

First: today, I managed to swim 4500 yards. That included a 4000 yard time trial followed by a slow 250 yards to get myself a 4250 yard time (Ironman distance swim) and 200 yards of back stroke and 50 of side stroke. My time for the 4250 was 1:16:12, which is a far cry from my 1:11 PR but also better than the 1:18 I did this past July. My 1000’s: 18:06, 17:33, 17:38, 17:53. Again, I am not a good swimmer.

I also note that my nose is once again bothering me; the reason is that I did a flip turn every 100 yards. I have to get some nose clips.

Local Politics
It is no secret that the President’s approval ratings are dismal; they currently range from 28 to 37 percent (nationwide).

So just who is part of that 30-35 percent? Well, consider our U. S. Representative Ray LaHood:

PEORIA – As any little kid knows, if you beg long enough in the candy aisle, you just might get what you want.

In the end, the reward is the sweet taste of satisfaction.

Just ask U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood.

“I’ve been after the president to come to Peoria for a couple of years, and every time I’m with him, I’ve extended an invitation to him,” LaHood, R-Peoria, said Friday, just after the White House officially announced President Bush’s planned visit to Peoria on Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled that they’re coming here and spending the day in Peoria. It’s a great thrill. I’ve been a big supporter, and to have him come to my hometown is a great privilege.”

LaHood has fashioned himself as somewhat of a Bush super-fan since the president was first elected just more than six years ago.

He has stood beside the president even as Bush’s poll numbers dropped embarrassingly low, largely because of growing dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq.

Other Republicans have distanced themselves from Bush and all his political baggage, worried his unpopularity might be contagious. Not LaHood. He’s unabashedly rushed to Bush’s defense.

I kind of wonder what goes through the heads of such people; my best guess it is a sort of “hey, some of the most principled people in history were unpopular in their day, and my guy will be one of those.” That is, the fault lies with the “liberal media”, those who are less enlightened, selfish, etc.

Check out these comments (which are scary)

This war is more unpopular than the Vietnam war because we have a 24/7 liberal media, on twenty-plus radio stations, plus blogs galore, hungry for any snippet of total sensationalism and the need to show how badly this war is going. AND THEY HATE BUSH!! They developed this alternative reality where Bush is this the new Hitler, and they’ve successfully poisoned the debate. [...]

What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular. The Democrats have done an excellent job in conning the American public into thinking that brown people don’t deserve to be free.