How Popular is President Obama?
It seems that whenever I read an MSM article on the president, they describe the Illinois Democrat as “popular” because his approval ratings are well above those of his predecessor during his second term.
Yet, as I ponder the use of that adjective, I wonder how often (if at all) reporters used it to describe President Bush from September 2001 until the summer of 2003 when his approval begin to dip below the levels where his successor currently finds himself.
Indeed, I wonder if they used the term before September 11, 2001. In the first few months of his first term, Bush’s approval ratings, while starting below where Obama’s did, did not fall as quickly as have those of his successor. As pollsters Douglas Schoen and Scott Rasmussen point out in today’s Wall Street Journal,
Polling data show that Mr. Obama’s approval rating is dropping and is below where George W. Bush was in an analogous period in 2001. Rasmussen Reports data shows that Mr. Obama’s net presidential approval rating — which is calculated by subtracting the number who strongly disapprove from the number who strongly approve — is just six, his lowest rating to date.
Overall, Rasmussen Reports shows a 56%-43% approval, with a third strongly disapproving of the president’s performance. This is a substantial degree of polarization so early in the administration. Mr. Obama has lost virtually all of his Republican support and a good part of his Independent support, and the trend is decidedly negative.
As Glenn might say, read the whole thing!
Schoen, by the way, was a pollster to President Clinton. In the 2008 election, Rasmussen’s final tracking poll nearly perfectly anticipated Obama’s popular vote victory.
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I read a similar article today that noted that 58 MILLION AMERICANS voted AGAINST Obama. Many of us didn’t vote FOR McCain, either. We are still out here.
The “third strongly disapprove” of Obama is a very bad sign for this President.
Perhaps he needs to go back to Harvard and learn more about how the American government works and the principles upon which it was founded.
Just a thought.
Comment by Bruce (GayPatriot) — March 13, 2009 @ 5:44 pm - March 13, 2009
I just don’t see him as “popular” as-much-as people are hopeful that the President of the United States can do something…not that they are personally invested in Obama himself.
Plus, it’s all in the spin…
A. You can have a “massive mandate to govern” with 53% majority of the Vote. B. Or, …you can barely be elected with the support of less than 53% of the general electorate.
I’ll call the later, and point to the fall of the Stock Market since his election…and his inauguration. From my small business perspective he hasn’t done squat other than scare the Middle-Class in the red and purple parts of America.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — March 13, 2009 @ 6:00 pm - March 13, 2009
What puzzles me is why these people who are turning against Obama didn’t see this coming before Obama was elected.
The guy is nothing but a radical neophyte
Mark Dias
http://mark24609.blogspot.com/
“If I had followed CNBC’s advice, I’d have a million dollars today provided I’d started with $100 million” Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
Comment by Mark Dias — March 13, 2009 @ 7:56 pm - March 13, 2009
The promises of bi partisianship, a govenment for all the people, are dashed. They were empty promises to start with. Just to remind you, all it takes is for 5 million Americans to switch their choice in the last election and you have the weak Republican McCain winning. Have those 5 million seen enough yet? In the mentioned polling, Obamateleprompter is loosing now nearly all Republican support and a good deal of his Independent voters. The five million difference makers may not be so happy with the socialism and the pork spending and the high level of hypocracy. Hail freedom, hail Columbia.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 13, 2009 @ 8:33 pm - March 13, 2009
Hey, he’s been great for the gun and ammo industry, though. He may end up the NRA’s man of the year.
Comment by Peter — March 14, 2009 @ 12:40 am - March 14, 2009
You know who we’ve seen less of lately? The Obama-cons. I don’t need to name names, but in 2008 we had a few folks who alternately sniffed / showed off about their support for Obama – while claiming to be good Reagan-Goldwater conservatives, “the real conservatives”. Seems to me like it’s been awhile since I’ve seen them.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 14, 2009 @ 9:35 am - March 14, 2009
I see the cartoon president who is out to double the national debt is lecturing Americans that the days of maxing out our credit cards are over. More “do as I say not as I do” from our leftist overlords.
Comment by V the K — March 14, 2009 @ 11:59 am - March 14, 2009
Obama continues to slap American business with one hand, and has his other hand in our pockets – wanting every bit of cash and CHANGE we have to pay for illegal immigrant road construction and sugar cane research.
How is it possible for him to declare a war on business and yet know that we are his meal ticket?
Sounds like a disfunctional marriage – I’d like a divorce.
Comment by capitalist pig — March 14, 2009 @ 2:07 pm - March 14, 2009
Well to be fair, Obama is dealing with a lot more on his plate than Bush was in 2001. I would say his actions, which are bold, are going to create a polarizing effect. I think it is troubling for him because when he starts getting into the low 50′s, he won’t have as much support for his reforms on health care and enviroment.
It is also assumption to say it is a trend, if the economy bounces back his numbers could also bounce back. I don’t think he has done anything yet that is permantly damaging to his career. That is probably open to more debate though…
Comment by Darkeyedresolve — March 14, 2009 @ 3:30 pm - March 14, 2009
AMERICA WAS BUILT ON HARD WORK AND THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT SOCIALISM. TAKING FROM ONE GROUP FOR THE BETTER OF ANOTHER IS NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON. WE ALL MUST WORK HARD EVEN IF IT TAKES TWO JOBS, AND NOT PERMIT GOVERNMENT TO TELL US WHAT AND WHAT WE CANNOT DO. OBAMA’S ADMINISTRATION IS FAST BECOMING NOT ONLY A SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT, BUT A TOTALLY CONTROLLED GOVERNMENT BY A FEW. IS THAT COMMUNISM OR SOCIALISM? EITHER WAY IT IS NOT AMERICA. THIS PRESIDENT IS FAR LEANING LEFT TO PAY OFF HIS CONSTITUENTS WHO GOT HIM ELECTED ALONG WITH THE NEWS MEDIA WHICH NO LONGER REPORTS THE TRUTH AND WITHHOLDS THE TRUE FACTS. IT IS NO WONDER NEWSPAPERS ARE FAILING AS IS THE TV MEDIA. THEY NO LONGER REPORT THEY LIE AND TWIST.
Comment by mary diaspr — April 6, 2009 @ 11:28 am - April 6, 2009