Carter and I spoke to a class of aspiring political operatives this week. Just before we started, CNN broadcast the story about Bush’s approval rating dropping to 34 percent. Apparently, he is about where Nixon was when he resigned.

But Democrats shouldn’t start celebrating.

Bush’s 10-point drop came because his administration wants to let a Dubai company run American ports.

Clearly, that was dumb politically. But it’s hard for me to see how Democrats take advantage.

My concern was heightened during our class. The students are running mock campaigns for Republican Congressman Robin Hayes in the 8th District and a mythical Democratic opponent.

The Democrats thought they have a fine issue with Hayes’ flip-flop on CAFTA. In a normal year, they’d be right.

Just like Washington Democrats who think Delay, Abramoff and the stench of corruption will make this a good year. In a normal year, they’d be right.

But the ports flap and the poll numbers make me think otherwise.

As I’ve said before, I still don’t see how Democrats get over a BIG hurdle: Americans don’t trust us to keep America safe from terrorists.

Until we solve that problem, our high hopes for this year are misguided.

A footnote about Bush:

The pundits I see on TV can’t understand how the Bush team made this mistake. Bush’s apologists want to say the White House didn’t know.

Bull.

The answer is that the Bush family loves rich Arabs.

Remember, this is the President who didn’t mind being photographed walking hand in hand with Saudi royalty.

Fundamentally, it’s a sign that Bush is so intellectually incurious that he never learned anything more than what he brought into office with him. And that was precious little.

What he did bring is the idea – which he got from Daddy – that rich Arabs are our kind of people, son, and we can deal with them.

Somehow, the ignorant American people just don’t seem to agree.