What a difference a year makes

This is the 2004 election by state.
A year later we can see that George W. Bush has fulfilled his promise to unite the country.(map from Pensito Review)
That's right Dubya has united the country against him over the last year. Only three states, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming give him over a 50% approval rating. Keep in mind that Utah and Idaho are both Mormon strongholds which is something to think about. Also note that even in Texas his approval rating is 45% or less.

So what does this mean as the 2006 midterms approach. Over at The Left Coaster pessimist refers us to a piece in the Christian Science Monitor, GOP loses an asset: 'purple' Democrats.

WASHINGTON – In a major shift aimed at the 2006 midterm elections, House Democrats are suddenly closing ranks on big votes, forcing an embattled Republican leadership to eke out victories, where they can, on their own.
On three big votes recently - the energy bill, the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education spending bill, and a budget reconciliation bill aimed at $49.5 billion in spending cuts - not a single Democrat voted with Republicans.

[.....]

"The single biggest development of the year has been in the last few weeks: The decision by Democ-ratic House moderates to align themselves and their futures with Pelosi and [Democratic whip Steny] Hoyer," says Michael Franc, vice president for governmental relations at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

In political shorthand, it means that so-called purple Democrats are voting blue, making it tougher for the GOP controlled House to pass its agenda. The new unity in Democratic ranks also exposes more Republican moderates to tough votes that could hurt them in their districts.

I think it's more than the Republican moderates the leadership has to worry about. The lawmakers who got into office on Bush's coat tails will find that those coat tails have become an anchor. By all appearances Karl Rove plans to continue with the pander to the base strategy. You can't win with a base that is 35% and shrinking.