Obama's approval numbers defy critics
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 09:29 AM
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But President Obama's numbers defy that conventional wisdom by staying solid even though the economy is in terrible shape.
Oddly enough he's doing very well with the public even though they're unhappy with the state of the economy. His approval rating is much higher than observers expect it to be based on how the country is actually doing.
The most likely explanation for this is that the majority of Americans still blame George W. Bush for the state of our economy. In fairness Obama hasn't turned it around yet, but it looks like the public didn't expect him to overnight and are intent on letting him win the war and not just the battles.
Gridlock in Congress may be another contributing factor, where's the GOP's rightward march and insuperable opposition to tax cuts and deficit spending are looking more and more extreme to the average voter. Fears over a default have now attached themselves to the Republican party, who - alongside the Tea Party -are now being blamed for the lack of pragmatism that's currently playing out before the cameras.
But it may be something more immediate than Obama's economic policies that's keeping his numbers high. It could simply be the public perception of him as a brilliant if overly cautious political operator who, time after time, meets his targets.
One other contributing possibility, and it bears thinking about, is the quality of the 2012 GOP field.
With several candidates already signing a shockingly extreme (and even racist) pledge to mollify the religious right, whilst others are accused of pandering to their ever changing audiences - the 2012 models barely command the respect of their own base, so it remains to be seen how credible a threat they really pose the president when their candidate of choice is eventually selected.
41 comments
DannyBoyG | Jul 22, 2011, 06:35 PM EDT
Love to see all the angry and hated words for Obama. Truth is those people will have to live with him for another 4 years. Now know how we felt with GWB in his second term. Talk about nightmares!!!!!
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haasny007 | Jul 22, 2011, 04:30 PM EDT
Extremist Republican retards keep him going. He will be reelected in 2012. Thank god!
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irishbob | Jul 22, 2011, 04:00 PM EDT
The guy is a total idiot, but unless the Repubs come out with someone that can stand up to him, he will win in 2012. If that happens, America will be lost for years to come, and may never pull out from the tail spin he's put it in.
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JBRAFTREE | Jul 22, 2011, 03:54 PM EDT
Sure, his numbers may be good, because he's giving away my middle class $ to the people that voted for him, and will again.
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Nicomax | Jul 22, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT
About as good numbers as the revered Ronnie had in 1983, and he went on to a massive landslide in 1984. The Repubs. are swirling about in a sea of candidate confusion, only to get worse if the Texas whale jumps in.
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slainte39 | Jul 22, 2011, 01:15 PM EDT
All these numbers and statistics quoted in these comments are slanted to the writers political agenda. Sometimes you have to have a gut feeling about things (without stats), to go forward, and my gut feeling about where the Republicans would take us...is not good. I'm happy with the present kool-ade...don't need one that's more lethal. It's not a perfect world folks and "the devil(Obama) I know is better than the one(tea party), I don't know".
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Colliegirl | Jul 22, 2011, 01:09 PM EDT
I'm with colkelley. I went to the Gallup poll cited about. It's true Obama's approval rating are staying solid. That's solidly below 50%!! See Quote: "President Obama's job approval rating averaged just under 47% in the latest quarter, continuing a pattern of sub-50% approval ratings for him that started early in 2010. While this is not an auspicious indicator for a president's re-election in the final months leading up to election, it is still too early to say what it forebodes for 2012."
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olovely | Jul 22, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
Republican lies that are repeated over and over again:
1. tax cuts create jobs
2. mushroom clouds from Weapons of Mass Dee-struction
3. big government is bad for the common man (actually its bad for the filthy rich)
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FastEddy | Jul 22, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
LOL ... I suppose you believe what you hear from mass media about the slanted demofascist, NY Slimes pundits and polls ... "...With several candidates already signing a shockingly extreme (and even racist) pledge to mollify the religious right, whilst others are accused of pandering to their ever changing audiences ..." ??? Wah? Duh? ... You mean that any degrading remarks re: current administration policies and pontifications, will be taken as "racist"? Why Dat, bro? Again LOL! ... Re debt/deficit. "During the first two years of the Reagan recovery the dollar rose by 12% against other major currencies and by 34% versus gold. During the Obama recovery the dollar has lost 10% of its value against major foreign currencies and 39% of its value versus gold." - Louis Woodhill in July 18, 2011 Forbes Magazine
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pounder | Jul 22, 2011, 12:27 PM EDT
Obama is not a leader and should not be returned to the White House.The current debt crisis is entirely his fault,simply because he let it get that way without any direction or leadership.What about the billions spent monthly on the wars he was going to end.What about the rising unemployment figures.One could go on,but I believe the liberal white guilt which got him elected in the first place will have been tempered by his performance,or lack of it,in the next election.Ditto for getting all the first time black voters out again.Obama is an empty suit who is exactly the wrong person to be sitting in the Presidents office during these critical times.
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hollabackgurl | Jul 22, 2011, 12:21 PM EDT
The Republicans want to gut social security and medicare for seniors and the ill and give massive tax breaks to the rich. And they're doing it right out in the open where you can see them. It amazes me that anyone would consider voting for them.
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BaltoIrishGirl | Jul 22, 2011, 11:47 AM EDT
Why in heaven's name would anyone with half a brain even consider a republican of any type for the next President? One does not turn around a shattered economy from the previous eight years of complete mismanagement, in just under three years. I don't care how smart you are!! Since the Gopers were first the party of NO, now they are the party of the fringes of political views. They speak with a forked tongue, especially Cantor of VA!!
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Searlit | Jul 22, 2011, 11:34 AM EDT
seagreen, hang in there!
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jimgordo1 | Jul 22, 2011, 11:05 AM EDT
One point that no one has picked up on --the Rpublicans and the Tea Party are NOT opposed to tax cuts -- they are DEFINITELY in favor of them, especially for millionaires. What they are opposed to is tax INCREASES for millionaires and large corporations under the guise of "It'll hurt small business." . They also want to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, the handicapped and the middle class
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