AS BUSH'S APPROVAL RATINGS FALL, HIS RADIOACTIVITY RATINGS SKYROCKET. MORE GOP POLITICIANS BEG HIM TO STAY AWAY

You've probably noticed that Bush's approval polling, though higher than Cheney's, is struggling to stay above 30%. Americans have finally realized that we've been duped. Drowning in corruption and treason scandals, mired in an unjust and unwinable war, the Republican Party is on the verge of cracking up entirely. And with Rove's foul Machiavellian mind engaged-- at least part time-- in keeping himself out of prison, George Bush himself is floundering, badly. To Republicans who depend on moderate suburban voters (rather than religionist fanatics and KKK-type haters and bigots), Bush has become completely radioactive and persona non grata .

Yesterday the Republican governor with the highest approval numbers in the country, Jodi Rell of Connecticut, joined a growing list of elected GOP officials who have publicly asked Bush to stay away. Rell is a social moderate and big booster of stem-cell research, women's right to choice and even gay civil unions. "I don't think President Bush will want to campaign for me ... As an individual I always respect the President, but we don't always agree on policy." Bush's approval ratings in her state are among the lowest in the country-- and headed lower-- and the 3 Republican Connecticut congressmen, Rob Simmons (#1 most endangered), Christopher Shays (#4 most endangered), and Nancy Johnson (#7 most endangered) are major Democratic targets for 2006. With the popular right-wing Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman on the ballot, it could be a bad year for Republicans in Connecticut anyway but if Democrats manage to tar Simmons, Shays and Johnson with their overwhelming support for Bush's unpopular policies, all 3 will probably be defeated.