Bush Approval to Rise, Harmony Early Between Parties

President George Bush’s approval rate will rise as he orders a decrease of troops in Iraq, predicts a University of Alabama professor of political science.

Dr. David Lanoue, chair of the political science department, says, “By mid-2007, President Bush will start seriously considering, and possibly implementing, a reduction of U.S. ground forces in Iraq. This, combined with public acknowledgement of a stronger economy, will improve Bush’s job approval ratings, and they will generally exceed 40 percent by late 2007.”

Good relations with Congress early in the year will also help his ratings, but that bipartisan concord will not last long.

“Relations between President Bush and the Democratic Congress will begin harmoniously, but deteriorate as the White House refuses to cooperate fully with subpoenas issued by investigating committees,” Lanoue foresees. “Not wanting to jeopardize their narrow majorities by seeming unduly partisan, the Democrats will back down from most of these confrontations, but the investigations will still embarrass the White House.”

• VIDEO: Dr. David Lanoue discusses his predictions for national and state politics in 2007