For whatever it’s worth, here are some recent polling statistics, compiled from various sources. I must say that I cannot recall a time in my life when there has been such rampant disaffection and pessimism in this country. It is disheartening, to say the least…

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time? (Newsweek poll, conducted Aug. 10-11)

• Satisfied: 26%
• Dissatisfied: 67%
• Unsure: 7%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq? (Newsweek poll, conducted Aug. 10-11)

• Approve: 34%
• Disapprove: 62%
• Unsure: 4%

Overall, do you approve, disapprove, or have mixed feelings about the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (Associated Press-Ipsos poll, conducted Aug. 7-9)

• Strongly Approve: 16%
• Somewhat Approve: 10%
• Lean Toward Approval: 7%
• Still Have Mixed Feelings: 2%
• Lean Toward Disapproval: 14%
• Somewhat Disapprove: 7%
• Strongly Disapprove: 44%

Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track? (Associated Press-Ipsos poll, conducted Aug. 7-9)

• Right Direction: 26%
• Wrong Track: 71%
• Unsure: 3%

Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse? (Gallup poll, conducted Aug. 7-10)

• Getting Better: 22%
• Getting Worse: 68%
• Same: 8%
• No Opinion: 2%

SOURCES: PollingReport.com; The Gallup Poll; Ipsos News Center.