March 21, 2010
Presidential Popularity, or Fun with Juxtaposition
Charles Blow informed New York Times readers, Friday, that President Obama may be "unbreakable":
First, let's take his job approval rating. Yes, it slid during the summer, but it stabilized around 50 percent in November and has hovered there ever since.The empty-headed chattering class began another round of speculation and inane analysis this week when his approval rating dropped to 46 percent, its lowest yet. Silly pundits.
Then again, Jim Lindgren offers a comparison:
When George Bush left office he was deeply unpopular: in Bush's last month, according to Rasmussen 43% strongly disapproved of the job Bush was doing, while only 13% strongly approved, for a staggering negative rating of -30%. Rasmussen's Thursday release shows that after 14 months in office President Barack Obama has achieved Bush's 43% of the people strongly disapproving of his performance, but Obama is still 10% ahead of Bush in those who strongly approve (23% v. 13% for Bush).
As Lindgren suggests, 10% "strong approval" seems more than adequately covered by adjustments for identity politics (i.e., "the black vote") and the daily and nightly beating that President Bush took in the media for most of his time in office. From what I've seen (admittedly, as one who doesn't pay much attention to such things), the common wisdom about Obama in the entertainment range of the media is that his biggest shortcoming is being too darn smart and cool for the American people.
The President may turn his popularity around, somehow, but it's also possible that us ignahrant folks are increasingly wondering why the One we're seeing doesn't match the One we're hearing about.
Here's a little something extra I found today that i think you may like to take a look at: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=FOXSDBIVI6X2&preview=article&linkid=996323cd-eee7-46e7-906a-f9cfc10bc0cc&pdaffid=ZVFwBG5jk4Kvl9OaBJc5%2bg%3d%3d
MediaMentions
Posted by: MediaMentions at March 21, 2010 8:13 PMYawn,
I ask again. What is it that you don't like about free and fair elections?
Continue to take your best shot. But from what I hear from others, your reputation as a homophobe and supporter of everything on the far right is gaining you more foes than fans. The fans were always fans. You aren't convincing anyone of anything other than the far right exists in a little hole in RI.
Posted by: Stuart at March 21, 2010 8:38 PMInteresting: the President's approval number dropped and his disapproval number rose over the last week as he was vigorously pushing for healthcare reform.
If I were the President's campaign manager, I'd be praying very hard right now that either this bill does not pass or that several serious global distractions develop during the six-ten months prior to the next election.
Posted by: Monique at March 21, 2010 9:46 PMStuart seems to spend a lot of time whistling past the graveyard on this "little"blog.There's nothing to worry about for Stuart and his ilk.Or is there?
Posted by: joe bernstein at March 22, 2010 5:12 AMOk, so the score card for year one (and a few months) is:
1. Sweeping action to prevent a great depression his predecessor left the country on the brink of. Check.
2. Pass health care reform that nearly every president since Teddy Roosevelt tried and failed to do. Check.
Yeah, not much there.
Posted by: Pragmatist at March 22, 2010 9:57 AMOne wonders how the right can be wrong over and over again, yet act like it's not happening! Beside the health care, saving us from complete ruin, the 50% increase in the stock market, etc. - this admin has taken THOUSANDS of other actions which are beneficial to most Americans, yet don't make the news every day. They involved everything from foreign relations to alternative energy to the very way government provides data to us.
Of course, its not perfect, but on a scale of one to ten, it's at least a six compared to GW's two (and I'm being generous there with the two).
Instead of a bunch of neo-cons running around half-cocked and sending the country into war and depression, we have actual human beings of the thinking variety attempting to right the sinking ship of state.
Oh, and as to polls and majorities - Obama is polling at about 53 approval and 43 disapproval and health care is today polling at 49% approve to 40% don't approve....so there goes that will of the people thing again.
I seriously think Republicans have problems with free and fair elections and the result of same. Honestly! Tell me why they do approved of the selection of Bush and his rule over the Kingdom like a tyrant and now they have problems when the republic functions as it should?
I thought so. You have no sane answer.
Posted by: Stuart at March 23, 2010 8:13 PMOnly an ignoramus like Stuart would confuse necons with conservatives-I wouldn't piss on a typical neocon if they were on fire.
That's why I'm not a Republican-too many neocons there.