Going over some old notes for a political novel I’m in the middle of writing I came across this, copied out of the New York Times of September 29, 2003:

“Members of the president’s political team said they were not overly worried about signs of deterioration in his standing. Mr. Bush is still in a stronger position now in the polls than either Ronald Reagan or Mr. Clinton was at this point in his first term.”

Don’t you just love schadenfreude? It’s my favorite emotion of all!