Bush Losing Support Among Supporters

(CBS)  At the Kettle Diner in Jacksonville, N.C., it's faith, family and the Corps. Jacksonville is home to Camp Lejuene, the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast.

But, as CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts found, even in Jacksonville, where support for the warriors remains strong, support for the president and his handling of the war may be waning.

"There's a lot of people who think we've been there too long," said Cpl. John Miller. "But personally I think we should stay there until they have an established government."

Asked is she still supports the war in Iraq, restaurant manager Lilly Cantrell answers with an emphatic "yes" — but she pauses first.

Would she have hesitated that long to answer the question three or four years ago?

"No," she says.

What's changed in those three or four years? Things just get worse and worse, she says.

A recent CBS News/New York Times poll found that 65 percent of Americans disapprove of the way the Bush administration is handling the war.

Even some lifelong conservatives aren't hearing the president's message anymore.

"I've turned him off," said retired Marine Col. Jim Van Riper. "I've tuned him out."

Van Riper is a Christian, card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association who voted for President Bush twice. But as more Marines have died, his confidence in the Bush administration has died as well.

---

Watch an extended interview with Col. Van Riper

---

"If they had done it their way and it succeeded, I couldn't be talking to you like this," he says. "They did it their way, they failed and they won't admit it. That's arrogance, and I don't mind arrogance, except when there's dead bodies as a result."

So this November, for the first time, Van Riper will vote for Democrats — across the board.

"I've voted Republican nearly all my life. I'm very conservative," he says. "My hope is that Democrats win the House."

Van Riper's twin brother is a retired Marine general whose love for the Corps remains strong, but the war in Iraq is personal.

"I had a son there. I have a nephew there now," Col. Van Riper says. "It's personal."

Asked what he would say to President Bush if he got the chance, Van Riper replies, "Sir, I'm disappointed."

In Jacksonville, a place where war is so very personal and faith so very deep — the president is preaching to a choir with some members who no longer seem quite so willing to believe.

[juliehg-2009]

Dear Mr. Grumpy 1963,

I've read all of the comments that have posted since Col. VanRipper's interview last night. Although I didn't waste my time counting, it appears you're the winner -- hands down. Either you have insomnia, are retired, don't have a life, OR your employer is losing money because you aren't doing your job.

Since you seem to have so-o-o-o-o much to say, with some of it being just plain rude, why don't you contact the producers of the CBS Evening News and volunteer for one of the "Free Speech" segments? Maybe you could be a follow-up for Mr. Limbaugh. You'd certainly have a captive audience, and the world would certainly be aprised of your opinion, while the rest of us would simply click the MUTE button!

By the way, when I was a kid, I had VietNam as a side dish EVERY night with dinner (my father was a Marine and fought in Korea. The number of injured, dead, or almost dead were great topics of discussion for three little kids. Ditto for Iraq, Afgahanistan and any child these days.

You go right ahead and applaud Mr. President as he continues to have the mindset of Don Quijote and his sidekick Pancho Sanza -- they chased windmills or haven't you heard?

Sincerely,
Been there,done that--already bought the tee shirt

[fattop1]

I did go when needed (2 Wars-Viet Nam and the first Gulf War) I did inquire about recall-not needed at this time, at least I tried.

[grumpy1963]

<b>mcdazz gets mad:</b> Grumpy1963 complained:

"If they were to be able to disguise the faces of the lefties in their ranting speeches, one would swear to God they were listening to the fanatic rants of jihadists."

<i>Whether it's the jihadists lying about America, or GW Bush lying about the WMD's in Iraq etc etc - it all amounts to one thing.

A war waged on lies that brings about the death of innocent lives.</i>

I'm sure you're one to be lecturing others about lying...huh? Further, when someone has proven something in a court of law or legal equivalent thereof? Get back to us. Since I'm sure you'd proclaim your keenness with respect to the U.S. Constitution, I'm sure you'll afford the President of the United States the luxury of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law or legal equivalent thereof...right?

And, of course, lastly? Don't lecture me about the "death of innocent lives" if you would have found solace and content in having left Saddam in power, in Iraq.

[grumpy1963]

<b>mcdazz gets mad:</b> Grumpy1963 complained:

"If they were to be able to disguise the faces of the lefties in their ranting speeches, one would swear to God they were listening to the fanatic rants of jihadists."

<i>"You must be talking about all that hate filled propaganda calling for the destruction of another group of people."</i>

Well, whether it be the literal destruction or the political destruction, it all has much the same flavor. Further, you aren't conversing with a 5-year-old who isn't quite aware of comments emanating from the more lunatic fringe of the left.

Further, can you enlighten us on what group of people it is this alleged propaganda is calling for the destruction of? Could this group of people be Islamo-fascists? And, am I supposed to be distraught because the destruction of Islamo-fascists is being called for?

[jval102]

Respectfully, I could not disagree more with this guy. Finding his polar opposite - decorated Marine with family serving, etc. would not be hard.

While I sincerely appreciate that he served, separated from that %u2013 his opinion %u2013 I am not impressed. Woulda%u2019- Coulda%u2019- Shoulda%u2019%u2026Monday morning quarterbacking is nothing new.

[jrs1643]

As the Colonel gave the same interview in November 05 to CNN, (see Newsbusters) I don't have a problem with his views, but why does CBS think it is new(s). I expect Katie will be wishing all of us a Happy and Healthy 2006 in about 4 weeks. I think I'll take "fake but accurate" anytime.

Grumpy1963 complained:

"If they were to be able to disguise the faces of the lefties in their ranting speeches, one would swear to God they were listening to the fanatic rants of jihadists."

You must be talking about all that hate filled propaganda calling for the destruction of another group of people.

Kinda like a GW Bush speech - filled with hate fueled propaganda and lies.

Whether it's the jihadists lying about America, or GW Bush lying about the WMD's in Iraq etc etc - it all amounts to one thing.

A war waged on lies that brings about the death of innocent lives.

[grumpy1963]

If Republicans <i>really</i> want to win the upcoming November elections, all they have to do is play extremely dirty and dust off all of the speeches from those of the left-wing political spectrum and, speeches from Usama bin Laden and other Islamo-fascists and, no one would be able to much tell the difference. If they were to be able to disguise the faces of the lefties in their ranting speeches, one would swear to God they were listening to the fanatic rants of jihadists. Then, we wouldn't necessarily have to worry about whether Mr. Van Riper decided to <i>cast his vote for a Democrat</i> or not.

[grumpy1963]

<b>mcdazz at 06:27 AM : Sep 08, 2006 says:</b> fattop1 said the following:

"Personal to Van Riper--You may be skinnyand I may be fat but I am still a patriot and would answer the call today if needed."

You are needed.

Enlistments are down, so why don't you show us that you are a true patriot, instead of making empty, meaningless statements.

Get off your butt, lose that weight and join up.

Talk is cheap - if you mean it, do it.

<b>Will you be there for the opposing side?</b>

[grumpy1963]

<b>mcdazz at 06:22 AM : Sep 08, 2006 says:</b> Why is it that Republicans just don't accept that their "saviour", GW Bush, has made mistake after mistake in his policies - policies that are directly responsible for the loss of American lives.

They need to accept responsibility for the mistakes made by GW Bush and his morally bankrupt buddies, who are more interested in lining their pockets then keeping American men and women alive.

If you were a true American, a true patriot, you would put aside political allegiances and you would demand that your Government - Democrat or Republican - be held responsible for their mistakes.

If you don't, then you are not a true patriot.

<b>Well, gee, this might be all fine and good if I were to accept that <i>you've</i> been appointed the Grand Poobah of deciding what constitutes a "mistake". However, since you haven't been?

Further, you're not authorized to decide who is a "true patriot" and, who isn't, except for, of course, only in your fantastic imagination.

And, lastly, don't get <i>mad</i> because you can't cajole everyone in to conforming to the wishes if <i>you</i> and <i>your</i> collective and, accept <i>you</i> and <i>your</i> collective as our "savior".</b>