Poll: At Obama's 5-yr point, few see a turnaround
Source: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama begins his sixth year in office, people are largely pessimistic about the country's direction, down on the condition of the economy and doubtful it will bounce back anytime soon.
Unemployment? Seventy percent think it will go higher or stay the same.
Yet a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows that Obama has picked up a little support lately on his handling of unemployment and the federal government. People still view him negatively on both issues, but the share that disapproves has dropped 7 percentage points on each issue since October, largely a reflection of greater support among independents.
The survey also finds the president's personal image to be on the rebound after taking a hit during the government shutdown late last year, with 58 percent now sizing him up as very or somewhat likable. That's up 9 percentage points from October, just after the shutdown.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/poll-people-see-obama-nice-guy-so-so-prez
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There's two ways to look at it, and in some way, I agree with you:
1. Fire Sebelius and give the Republicans what they always wanted: another Obama casualty of war thrown under the bus. I'm happy that Obama *finally* stood up for his soldier. Sebelius has been there from the beginning. Besides, she supposedly "made the mess". She would need to clean it up. More important, suppose she was fired. Do we really believe that the Republicans would confirm another HHS head to carry out Obamacare without first seeing to it that the program would be further hampered by delays and setbacks due to Sebelius's departure? We progressives must be more reasonable. Republicans would never confirm another HHS head or deputy. Remember, they'd demand that both Sebelius and her deputy (Bill Corr), not to mention, demand the resignation of the Director of CMS (the person in charge of Medicare). All these people are essential to the survival of ACA's implementation. A disruption caused by resignations/firing could cause further damage. Sebelius oversaw the revamping of the website which has been improved and is now working. Imagine someone new trying to learn from scratch.
2. Keep Sebelius on, take the heat from BOTH sides: Democrats need to grow a spine! We are quick to throw our own under the bus. We're lining up to condemn Sebelius. What we needed to be condemning is the government's obsession with outsourcing and bidding via private companies that are often inept and undeserving. These private firms receiving contracts need to be more heavily scrutinized. And it was precisely because congressional Republicans defunded the implementation of the ACA that we were stuck with pursue low-bid, unqualified, low-performing private firms to build the healthcare.gov website. The Republicans knew that the Dems would be stuck with a less than qualified bidder, rather than a state-of-the-art Google.com or some other high-tech company or firm that could ensure that the website worked better. So yes, some of the fault may lie with HHS officials, but take it from me as someone who works for the federal government (I work for HUD and have friends who work at HHS): we are often forced to go with low bidding firms--private firms that we know aren't as good as other firms who may charge a little more for higher-quality work. It happens all the time. Plus, we outsource to private firms all the time rather than doing the work ourselves that we KNOW that we are fully capable of doing better. That's the REAL controversy. That's why I get so angry when I hear Democrats especially blaming Obama and other Democrats instead of looking at the institutional structure and how the way that we are forced to do business.
It is precisely because Americans have been indoctrination with this anti-government sentiment that we have been forced to allow private contractors do work that government employees have worked hard, often earning advanced degrees, to do. We know we can perform the work even better if offered the change. But we're stuck in the position of monitoring these contracts and making sure they are carried out properly.
I want to hear Democrats going after the structure of how government does its work, not government itself--not government employees who find themselves in this position not of our own doing or choice. I want to hear Democrats blame the right people--FOR ONCE!! I want to hear them blame Republicans for changing the rules, exploiting those rules for political gain, then blaming Obama and the Democrats when things go wrong. I want Democrats to smarten up! Understand how this government works. I want them to understand that President Obama is not a king! He can't just issue Executive Orders every time Congress doesn't do something. Executive Orders have real limitations attached to them. And without funds attached that are necessary to carry those orders out, they mean nothing. Congress control the purse strings. Not the president. Democrats need to arm themselves with the proper information. That we are often persuaded by the rhetoric that we hear on T.V. commentary shows, just as easily as those on the political right bothers me sometimes. When I hear the same language on the left that's being used on the right, that bothers and irritates me. We're better and smarter than that.
Just some thoughts. Not directed at you. I just went off and gave more than what you wanted. 
