connect with the public? republicans, independents, and democrats said, this is a person who understands and relates. and i think both those almosts ha have helped him greatly. no doubt. how did he handle 74% of the public saying they approved of the way the president handled the tucson shooting. bill, let me turn to you, the republican half of this poll. the republicans, what happened to the honeymoon? well, it s a tough crowd out there. i think one of the points peter made yesterday was this question about, will they have the right kind of change. it s much lower than republicans in 95, democrats in 2007. part of it is the cynicism about the public, about washington, about change. but that and the lower numbers for the republican party tell us they re on a short leash and that people will be looking very carefully about how well republicans act, if they re responsible, and if they are getting things done in washington. but, bill, we know that the american people want the parti