OK, ignore my gloom and doom from earlier this week -- if Bush is at 35% in the new CBS/New York Times poll, then the ship is taking on water faster than the Bushies can bail. The poll was conducted Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday -- mostly after Bush moved to change the subject from the Libby indictments -- and I guess it's not working. This is the one thing that still bugs me, though:

COMPARED TO MOST PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE, BUSH & HIS ADMINISTRATION'S HONESTY IS...

Bush Administration
More 20%
About same 35%
Less 31%

George W. Bush
More 39%
About same 27%
Less 29%

Poll respondents don't think his administration is all that honest, but they still think he's a straight shooter. Why does that perception persist?