New polls:

WSJ/NBC: The Republican incumbent's approval rating slipped to 47%, the lowest of his presidency, while a 49% plurality of voters say he doesn't deserve a second term. By a 50%-to-33% margin, voters say the nation is headed in the wrong direction.

The survey also documents the toll that violence and disorder in Iraq have taken on Americans' confidence. Though six in 10 continue to back Mr. Bush's decision to oust Saddam Hussein, a 47% plurality says the war wasn't worth its human and financial costs to the U.S.

Gallup: Americans are more dissatisfied with the nation's direction than at any time in more than eight years and President Bush's job approval rating has sunk into a tie for his worst-ever showing.

And possibly more surprising (to me, anyway), a majority of Americans — 52% — still approve of the way Bush is handling terrorism. However, that is the lowest figure since Gallup began asking the question in November 2001, and a 45% disapproval rating is the highest such number.