CBS News Poll: (71%) Americans Optimistic About Next Four Years

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Whether they voted for him or not, Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Barack Obama as president, according to a new CBS News poll. Seventy-one percent of all Americans say they are optimistic about the next four years, including nearly half (48 percent) of all those who voted for John McCain. Just 17 percent of all Americans are pessimistic, including 40 percent of McCain voters.

Eighty-three percent of African-Americans are optimistic and 88 percent of Americans under the age of 30 are as well. While 88 percent of Democrats say they are optimistic, so do 51 percent of Republicans.

During the campaign, Americans expressed record levels of dismay about the state of the country and the economy, and dissatisfaction with the current Administration. However, the level of optimism Americans now express about the future matches the level they expressed before many other recent presidents took office.

About seven in 10 were also optimistic about Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton -- before their first terms began. Six in 10 were optimistic in December 2000 about George W. Bush, even after that election’s 35-day post-election struggle.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/11/11/politics/horserace/entry4591579.shtml

[onehandle]

1. I hope they're right. The first two years of Clinton's term were rough, and...

...smirk was a hundred times worse than his dad.

Eventually Bill was able to turn it around. I am fully confident that Obama will be able to do the same. But in how long?

Hold on to your jobs kiddies, it's going to be a rough ride.

[Pirate Smile]

2. It is amazing the difference a little election can have on the outlook of the country and the world.

:)

Things were still essentially the same on Wednesday as they were on Monday but the entire world felt like a much different and better place.

That "Hope" stuff is actually very important.

[curse of greyface]

3. Optimism will help the economy more than we realize.

It is one of the greatest faults of the Bush administration. the desperate lack of hope and pride in America he fostered.

[liberal N proud]

4. All it takes sometimes is the right leadership

Americans are hopeful on the leadership of Obama. That itself can lead to a boost in the economy. People have to feel good about their future before it will get better.

[humbled_opinion]

5. Obama is the First Cool President this nation ever had.

What is there not to be hopeful about. Time for some middle class payback to all those phoney rich rethugs....

[marco86]

6. That math is helpful

That means that the republican base is 17-18% of the population (40%*46(percent that voted McCain)= 18%. 18% are pessimistic. Looks like most republicans can be convinced that the stupid way (Bush)isn't the only way.

[pattmarty]

7. One lesson he can take from "W" is to be aggressive in his......

.......agenda and actively pursue the goals he stated in his campaign. Also, maybe more importantly, is to tell all the pundits that are already bitching about his agenda, to all go fuck themselves (just like "W" did). Disclaimer: In no way am I advocating he do ANYTHING ELSE "W" did.

[CubicleGuy]

8. How could anything be worse than the last 4 years?

I suppose it's possible, but after all the lying and obstruction of justice and wars waged that were founded on lies, it's very difficult to imagine that anything could be much worse.

[xchrom]

9. recommend -- we've been busier at the furniture retail store

i work at since the election.

[underpants]

10. No one, ever really, liked Bush they either feared or saw him as a tool

a tool to get near his father

They don't like you W

[Doctor_J]

11. Big Media is pissed about this too

One reason we have 24/7 Barbie coverage.