The political landscape is looking bleak. And rightfully so.

One year out from the 2008 election, Americans are deeply pessimistic and eager for a change in direction from the agenda and priorities of President Bush, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Concern about the economy, the war in Iraq and growing dissatisfaction with the political environment in Washington all contribute to the lowest public assessment of the direction of the country in more than a decade. Just 24 percent think the nation is on the right track, and three-quarters said they want the next president to chart a course that is different than that pursued by Bush.

Yep…this poll breaks things down into sections I believe are mostly correct.

Overall, the public’s sour mood is evident not only in the desire for a change in direction but also in assessments of those who control the reins of power in Washington. For the fourth consecutive month, Bush’s approval rating remains at a career low. Thirty-three percent said they approve of the job he is doing, and 64 percent disapprove. Majorities have disapproved of Bush’s job performance for more than 2 1/2 years.

The problem with Bush is simple: He doesn’t get his message out to those who WANT to hear it. He doesn’t stand up and speak to the American people enough. He rarely defends his decisions and this alienates many of us who once supported him.

Democrats can take little comfort in Bush’s numbers, however. A year after voters turned Republicans out of power in the House and the Senate, approval of the Democratic-controlled Congress’s performance is lower than the president’s rating, registering just 28 percent.

Well no duh. When we see constant partisan bickering, threats, heated rhetoric, people give little credit to those who made promises they knew they would not be able to fulfill. It’s not just the Democrats in Congress though- it’s Republicans too. Neither party is doing the work we elected them to do. It’s getting very old.

Greg Coy, a 911 dispatcher who lives in Shippensburg, Pa., is less pessimistic about the overall state of the country than Davis or Wright, but he is unhappy with both the president and Congress. He voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but he said: “If he came up again [for reelection], I wouldn’t vote for him. The last year I think he’s dropped something, and I’m not sure what it is.”

I do. Bush has become the lame duck. He’s lost all his credibility with the people- solely based on the war in Iraq. Almost all his advisers from the 9-11 days have left his administration, signally the end of the 9-11 era. These advisers were seen as a constant for many of us…and when they dropped out of the public eye, so did the memory of 9-11. Bush, and 9-11, are history now. Bush has lost his main claim to history…and Iraq has taken over the publics opinion now.

At this stage, three issues dominate the electoral landscape, with the war in Iraq at the top of the list.

Americans can be a very forgiving people. Mistakes with this war have abound, and now we’re seeing progress. But it’s a little too late. Had this surge happened two or three years ago, we wouldn’t have the discontent we have now. Americans don’t want to lose this war, but they don’t see a way to win at this point. Cut and run isn’t a viable option, so we have to face staying on a course that most people don’t really want but feel forced to accept…I sense a lot of resentment on this.

About three in 10 cited the economy and jobs (29 percent) or health care (27 percent).

The economy is okay in my area and I don’t see it as a major problem. Health care? Again it’s not about health care people, it’s about PAYING for it. And it is something the GOP is failing miserably at…the Democrats have no substantial plan so to speak, but the talking points make it all sound good.

The GOP on the other hand has offered no viable, workable and realistic alternatives…tax breaks and private plans work good for those who can afford it, but the GOP is turning it’s back on the blue collar working class Republicans who are feeling a huge pinch because of the costs of insurances and health care related stuff. This isn’t going to win elections. The GOP has to do better…but I don’t think they will. Telling all the very true and significant horror stories about national health care systems isn’t enough. People want to hear nuts and bolts. They want real solutions, not talking points. Since the Democrats make the most noise on this issue, they are perceived to be the party than can fix the system.

While 12 percent of Republicans and 10 percent of independents cited immigration as one of the top two issues, it was highlighted by 3 percent of Democrats. Terrorism is also a more prominent concern among Republicans; 17 percent put it in their top two, while 3 percent of Democrats did the same.

Immigration is a very sour point with me. I am extreme in my opinions on this. I realize I am not in any majority. But terrorism should be a major concern to all people; the Democrats have successfully pushed this concern to the back burner and people have just forgotten 9-11. The far left has succeeded in telling people they cannot be active citizens in the broad war on terror, which is also now a term of the old day. Reporting suspicious activities might lead to lawsuits and charges of racism…we best shut up and take some losses…a terrorist attack isn’t worth profiling those who might be planning to carry it out.

Still, strategists on both sides foresee another close election. “The biggest dynamic is that people want change from the policies of the Bush administration,” said Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton’s chief strategist. But he added that “it’s not a clear path” to victory for the Democrats, noting that no Democratic nominee has won 50 percent of the general-election vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

I can only hope. Many of us on the right have accepted a Hillary win next year. Not in the sense of giving up, but in bracing ourselves for the worst. I’m not so sure she can pull this off. But, at this time, there are no candidates on my side who I am willing to seriously consider. They all suck! Not a one of them GETS it. Not a one of them speaks to me, or my friends and others who call themselves Republican. Most of us have little faith that ANY candidate can stand up to Hillary. Why? Because all of them have offered NO major alternatives that are appealing. And a few show little actual difference with Hillary’s plans.

Most Americans are moderate. They want the best from BOTH sides…they want to see compromise and negotiation. They want to see Congress actually do something besides bicker and battle. Here on the blogs we read the rants and opinions of those people who are usually set in their ways (like me.) But the average American isn’t as rigid. We forget that in this blog world.

Having said all this, I need to step back a bit from this. I find myself becoming less and less tolerant of views from other people who don’t agree with me, or who have different ideas than I…people who are on MY side of the politics as well as Lemoncrats.

I have become a victim of the blog world: Allowing the extreme hate and nastiness from the other side alter my views on my fellow citizens isn’t good. How can I be an effective citizen when I cannot stand to be in the same room as a liberal? I have all but given up on these people and it really shows in my demeanor and actions and words. I am spewing more hate than I ever have and that’s not ME.

Opinionated, passionate and definitely conservative- that is ME. Strong willed and steadfast are also traits I carry. All this doesn’t give me permission to be mean or rude or crude to people who hold a different opinion than me. My strength lies in setting the example. It’s hard for me to do this via blogging. In the real world is where the action is called for. And that is exactly what I intend to do from this time forward.

In the next few weeks I have some very important and good things happening with my family, my time will be limited. I’m going to use some of these moments to take stock of where I want to go regarding this blog. It’s time to stop and evaluate and reflect; to see if there is a better way to move the messages I really believe in.

This isn’t GOOD BYE, but it is UNTIL LATER.