Moving Right?: Bush's Decline and American Conservatism

Have George W. Bush's administrations produced a large shift to the right in politics in the United States since 2001? The answer is no—but this is mainly because of prior shifts in that direction. My aim in addressing this question is to understand the recent past and to help provide a framework for thinking about the next presidential election. With the administration's approval ratings plummeting, Democratic victories seem possible. But no outcome is guaranteed. I will begin with the political context of Bush's evident decline, and then assess the effects of the administrations' efforts both for public opinion and policies.