What to expect when we get back from summer vacation

I ALWAYS FIND IT difficult to think about politics at this time of year.

I’m a political junkie by nature — but there’s something about springtime that makes my mind wander away from Congress, the President and international affairs toward more mundane topics, like whether I should go to class or just go sit on the lawn near the Joyal Administration building instead.

Yet when I look back on everything that’s happened this semester in the political world I’m reminded of what the situation we’ll be facing when some of us return to campus next semester after an extended absence.

This past semester largely saw the destruction of the Bush Administration’s policies in both Iraq and domestically.

The President came into the year greatly weakened the by the failure of his plans to reform Social Security and increasing violence in Iraq.

As the semester ends the President is in even worse shape with his approval rating now hovering around 30 percent.

As one liberal blogger pointed out this week, it’s looking like the current President’s rating is going to approach the all time low of the mid-20 percent range earned by Richard Nixon before his resignation.

This is not to say the Republicans are in bad shape. Despite these numbers, which are surely making Karl Rove and other strategists sweat, we are not in a campaign season yet.

They still have time to shore up their flagging support, especially among conservatives, with a brutal campaign focusing on national security and wedge social issues like gay marriage, flag burning and immigration that will fire up the right and drive the GOP base to the polls.

That campaign should be gearing up about the time we come back to school in August.

It’s time to take a break from politics for the time being and enjoy the summer.

Just be ready for the usual political nastiness, mudslinging and two desperate campaigns for control of Congress when the leaves begin to fall.

Comment on this story in the Opinion forum >>