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As if the news and poll numbers for Obama couldnt get much worse, they just did. Much worse.
A new Zogby poll just released shows Obama's job approval rating now at 42%. It is hard to put into words just how bad this is.It includes a 13 point drop with Democratic voters.
As I wroteearlier everything Obama has done politically in his 12 years of elected life has always been about one thing -- the next political step. This is why he voted "present" more than 100 times in the Illinois State Senate, voting neither for nor against a bill more than 100 times.But that doesnt work when you're president.
And now it seems Obama is having a real Lincoln moment. The moment based on one of Lincoln's most famous statements which concluded "You cant fool all of the people all of the time".
What makes this poll worse for Obama than others like Rassmussen and Gallup is that Zogby is one of the most respected polls and one of the most accurate. I would rate it right behind Pew Research which has proved to be the most reliable.Rassumussen and Gallup leave much to be desired.
But a Zogby poll showing numbers this low is about as bad as it gets. And Obama has no one to blame but himself.
I have written countless articles over the last five months pointing out countless mistakes and flaws in Obama's approach to his job, most importantly relating to health care, predicting all of this and its now all coming home to roost. I warned about how Obama's history of reversing himself could cause damage to the health care reform fight ( and obviously that's what it is -- a fight). The article warned of future Republican attacks and misinformation that would be coming. If I could see it why couldnt Obama?
He has been conducting the presidency the same way he has conducted himself throughout his political career which has been to take a stand on nothing, fight for nothing, and be willing to change on a dime on everything. Changing his mind and changing his position when the political heat gets too hot is the real change that Obama has brought to the White House so far, but he is finding out that kind of change is not what people believe in.
It is a fact that his approval ratings have declined more sharply according to the polls than any president in history from the beginning of a term, and he came into the White House with more good will than any president in history.
It was only a week ago I had written that Obama had made himself irrelevant regarding the health care debate, largely because of his own flip flops, and apparent willingness to renege on the public option, something that didnt sit too well with most Democrats.
Now the polls are showing this irrelevance is becoming a reality and its going to be up the Democratic congress to take charge and get health care passed with a public option. And they are giving every indication they intend to do just that.
Keep in mind that as recently as two months ago polls showed as many as 72% of the public wanted the public option and wanted it so much 57% were willing to pay higher taxes to get it. The drop in that support has been only because of Obama and his inability to hit back at Republican attacks and delinate a clear health care reform proposal, specifically drawing a line in the sand on the public option.
When Republicans have made statements that even the Associated Press debunked as lies, Obama in his speeches calls them "myths", Makes it sound kind of nice doesnt it? Republican myths?. Like a bedttime story. In Obama's lexicon there is little difference between Jason and the Argonauts, the Odyessy, death panels and pulling the plug on grandma.
The country is getting tired of it .
I have said many times before that Obama's problem is there is no center, no conviction, nothing he really believes in and will fight for. Its always been about his own political ambition which is why in 12 years of elected life he had no accomplishments to show for it, no bills authored or co-authored. Its been showing on health care and its not what the country wants. They want a President who is going to fight for what he believes. But you have to have something you in believe in first.
With so many people having shown that they support a public option, Obama's decision to back off it even for a day for political reasons may have had the opposite result. There is every reason to believe that his momentary waffling on the public option contributed to the public disapproving of how he has handled health care.
And when it comes to the public option, if Obama doesn't fight, it's clear now that the congress will. But where that will leave Obama, besides being reduced to a spectator with waning credibility, no one really knows.It will be up to Obama to either regain some credibility and standing by taking a stand or let the Democratic congress do all the work ,take all the credit and be reduced to irrelevance.
Comments
If Obama has no long birth form he'll go to death row
spread this message
bus in to Orly Taitz court hearing 9/8 Santa Ana
Obama's the Antichrist and this is the Apocalypse.
When Bush was President?
Well, I can see I have stumbled across yet another nest of Obama-haters, who are looking for the worst case scenario in which to smear the president.
CNN reported poll numbers that are quite different yesterday. The president's over all ratings have dropped from 56% to 53%, and his numbers with Democrats are holding steady. It's the Independents and seniors (who no doubt have gotten the be-jesus scared out of them by the "death-panel" screamers), who are getting more disillusioned.
Poll numbers change all the time. Every popular president has had their poll numbers drop in their first year. Governing is quite different than campaigning and ya' just can't please all the hate-mongers looking to jump on any crack in his armour.
If Obama's numbers get down into the teens as George W's numbers did, then he will have something to worry about.
What did you expect from Obama. Talk is cheap.
Omni, Obama started at a higher approval rating than Bush, but, now his numbers are lower than Bush at the same point after taking office. Please explain.
Omni 57, bury your head in the sand and ignore reality if you will. But our President has sunk like the Titanic. Wishing away his historic implosion will not change what has happened. In the end, Obama thought he could simply read fancy words from a teleprompter, set arbitrary deadlines, twist a few arms, and drive unacceptable legislation down American's throats. Not any more. Because the silent majority is silent no more and we will not go away. See ya at the mid-term voting booths. That is where the real poll will take place and I'll bet I can predict the results.
Omni - Zogy and Rasmussen have similar numbers (46% at Rasm). Obama's numbers are worse than Carter's were at this time. The overall summary is that Obama's popularity was "rock starish" rather than being based in any substance. I don't care how you try to explain it away, a President with this many accolades and popularity just a few months ago should not be anywhere close to these approval numbers at this point. He controls the House and Senate. He should be able to get anything that he wants. A golden opportunity is being wasted...or maybe the reality of his belief system is shining through and people are coming out from under the ether. The Democrats picked a popular guy but could have picked one more qualified.
I confess. I was a racist when I voted. A reverse racist, but a racist. I voted for the man because of the color of his skin, and not for the"content of his character", as I should have. I got caught up in the "first black president" historic moment thing, and I thought this would help heal some of the division in our country. I gave him a pass on looking into his character, I
made a mistake, and I see that now. I see just how important that "content of his character" phrase really is, as this Presidency plays out. I suspect there are many other like me, but I can only say I will never make this mistake again, ever.
You are a republican hater Omni57. CNN Ted Turner donated to the "Ruckus" group, the radical group that was with Van Jones during the economic summit in Seattle a few years back. Check your facts and stop name blaming. This is not a republican democrat thing. It is about radicals taking over. Bush was one of them okay. Now are you happy Omni57?
Hey Omni
Keep kidding yourself...I think this article is right on the money and Brian L's comments are a very accurate portrayal of what happened in the election and the subsequent drop in support. This article makes a very valid assertion and then backs it up with the facts.
Gallup Shows Obama up 55% to 39%, but for some reason polls showing favorable results are ignored by the so called liberal media. Why?
Presidential election results
52%-46%.
While it may be a little fun for those of us (like Mark) who said during the primaries that Obama was all talk and no record of accomplishment or conviction (values, not criminal), it is becoming just plain sad these days to see him struggle. As H. Clinton said, he was "just talk." Now the rest of us, who really hoped he would bring change to benefit the middle class and U.S. standing in the world, now just see another "plutocrat" happy with the status quo. Too sad for words.
Well, from what I am seeing; there is a person in the white house that is very very confused. You can look at him and see the stress level is very high. He also has the look of a not so confident person.
He has never had a Presidential look; only overwhelmed!
It is a sad sad day for America.
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