Obama headed for Bush-like poll numbers.

[European Socialist]

How can a guy who ran such a brilliant campaign totally melt down? Obama had to fight for the public option to maintain any credibility. Does he really think the Repukes will help him pass a health care bill--They must smell blood. What a disaster, unless he changes his mind before Wednesday

[Bonn1997]

1. Did he really run a brilliant campaign? Or was he up against a weak, elderly man representing...

a historically weak party? I wrote countless times about what I thought was poor campaigning on his part. It was adequate enough to win but that's it.
Either he's gonna do real reform or he'll deserve the loss in support he'll get.

[NYCGirl]

8. You may not remember this, but...

he beat the Clintons.

[Bonn1997]

14. I never thought Hillary was a strong candidate either. She had an upper 40s

nation-wide approval rating for much of her career. I think we hit a point where the least weak politician won

[MadBadger]

44. You do realize the polls had him down 50-20 against her nationally right?

[Bonn1997]

51. That only shows how weak a campaign she ran and candidate she was. It's nothing personal...

against her. I admire how deeply she cares about the issues. But in her whole Senate and pre-Senate career, she was always hated by about half and loved by about half the country.

[Cha]

19. Yeah, you would think he campaigned poorly..but

he won the primaries against a huge established political machine and he beat mcpalin in spite of the corporatemediaWhores raging on and on about Wright and Ayers.

He's winning now too..we just have a lot of scared rabbits running around shrieking DOOM AND GLOOM and huffing and puffing like they know shit.

[krawhitham]

33. He also beat all the other Dems

[grantcart]

2. don't let facts hit you in the head

support among Democrats and Independents have declined slightly, but he has lost support from Republicans

[Bonn1997]

5. Basically a 2 point drop per week.

[grantcart]

9. off inflated 'honeymoon' figures.

[BlueCaliDem]

3. I'm sorry, but unlike you, I have zero faith in corporate-run polls. eom

[Becky72]

4. Misleading

Falling from 68% to 50% is inevitable. Falling from 50% to 30% is a different story.

What makes you say he's headed for 30%? Because he didn't stay at 68%?

[Bonn1997]

7. Bill Clinton maintained 60% for a long time. I don't buy the idea that falling to the upper 40s was

inevitable

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. Sorry, but you are completely wrong here. He was at 55% in February and 45% in May

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118928/Obama-Approval-Compares-Favorably-Prior-Presidents.aspx?CSTS=alert

[grantcart]

15. and he hadn't even started on health care yet.

[Bonn1997]

16. You must have misread my post and thought I commented on Bill Clinton's first year

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. Ok. So you are comparing Obama's FIRST year to Clinton's SECOND year?

That doesn't even make sense. A new president compared to an experienced one? You implied that his numbers never fell to 40%. You were wrong.

[Bonn1997]

20. Again, I did not say what you think I said. I have no desire to continue debating with someone who

misquotes me. Sorry.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

21. Your post is there for everyone to see. Let the people judge!

[Bonn1997]

23. I don't care if there are others here like you who do not comprehend subtle distinctions and would

rather assume they're right than even request clarification first.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. Even your first fact is wrong. Obama was at 55 today.

[Becky72]

11. Bill fell to 40% before Obama did

After 4 or 5 months Clinton was around 40%:

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/how_fast_does_approval_fall.php

[grantcart]

12. Completely and totally wrong - you don't know the facts and just say things untrue.

Clinton never had 60% until his second term.

At the apex of the health care debate he had 40%

Now let me introduce you to something you are unfamiliar with

a fact:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html

[Bonn1997]

17. Show me where I said I was refering to his first term.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

22. Because, you know, comparing a first term president to a second term president makes tons of sense.

[Becky72]

25. Exactly. Apples vs. Oranges n/t

[grantcart]

26. Having been proven objectively wrong you now turn to being aggresively obtuse

Here is your statement


Bill Clinton maintained 60% for a long time.


He did not come in with 60% (the obvious point of comparison).


He did not "maintain" 60% for a long time AT ANY TIME DURING HIS 8 YEARS.


And more to the point when he was fighting for health care reform his numbers were at the lowest.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. That's just asinine

What else would you compare Obama's first term to? Clinton's second term?

You had your facts wrong and now you're backtracking and making up nonsense in the most pathetic way imaginable. Very poor play.

[Bonn1997]

28. I was merely disputing the claim that a drop from 60 is inevitable. Disputing that claim merely

requires demonstrating that presidents can in fact maintain approval ratings around 60 at any point in time. If there had been a different claim--for example, that a drop from 60 to 50 IN YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS is inevitable--it would have required the evidence you think were assuming I had meant.

[alcibiades_mystery]

32. Please

You're embarrassing yourself.

[Bonn1997]

50. I'm beginning to get the impression that continuing this will not lead to a productive discussion!

[alcibiades_mystery]

62. You said something stupid, got called on it, then tried to backtrack

It was never going to be productive.

[Bonn1997]

63. I didn't backtrack. I just wasn't as specific as I should have been regarding time period in the

beginning. My original statement was still correct.

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. LOL

Dude, just stop. It's pitiful.

[Bonn1997]

66. My sole goal in life is to win your approval. I feel miserable when you claim I'm pitiful. Thus, I

will obey your every command. Is that the ego boost you've needed?

[alcibiades_mystery]

67. Ay yay yay

[Uzybone]

36. "for a long time". Really?

why do people make shit up?

[LostinRed]

48. Clinton was also had the advantage of

prosperity and peace. Obama inherited a shit storm and has done a rather good job of steering us out of it, but we still have a long, long way to go. He's only been in office 8 months so far I would give him a B, but I understand that he also had the highest expectation ever placed on him. He said himself, "There will be setbacks and false starts."

[fujiyama]

49. LOL

That's the dumbest thing I've read. Bill Clinton didn't reach high job approval ratings until well into his second term, when the economy was riding high and when he was being hounded by Ken Starr over what people thought was a personal issue.

Obama still has potential. If the economy picks up (there are signs it may be slowly creeping upward) and he gets MEANINGFUL health care reform passed, then he'll be OK. His personal approval ratings are still in decent shape, last I saw. The key thing is that he shouldn't show weakness to conservative Dems...He should ignore republicans altogether.

[shireen]

6. i can understand why progressives are upset ...

I get pretty down about it too. But i have to keep reminding myself that it's only been 7+ months since Obama became president ... perhaps, for now, we could discuss the issues without being too judgmental about Obama? Let's give him more time ....

[BlueMTexpat]

13. I haven't seen a meltdown ... only people claiming that there is one.

Nice try.

[AspenRose]

57. And they make sure to claim that here. OFTEN.

[RememberWellstone]

29. Polls suck!!

Full steam ahead! Screw the polls! They mean jack sh*t..the media smells blood and is trying to change course.

[Cant trust em]

30. Polls schmolls. nt

[jenmito]

31. He fell 13 points in about 32 weeks after accomplishing more than most presidents. Not bad. n/t

[scheming daemons]

34. According to Gallup, Obama is up 5 points in the past 4 days.... OP FAIL

[Jennicut]

35. LOL...but I thought it said 30%!

Bush's #'s were actually better then Obama's are now during August 2001 but Obama seems to be staying steady or going back up while Bush dropped like a rock by the end of his second term.

[jenmito]

37. And that's only because Bush didn't DO much to this date of his (p)residency that his

numbers were better than Obama's.

[Jennicut]

39. Old Dumbya spent more time on vacation then doing any work and then messed up with Sept. 11th

[jenmito]

40. Yup. And I think by this date in 2001, he had already been on vacation for about 37 days. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. You mean the 90% poll numbers Bush had post 9-11?

Because Obama's at 55% and heading up, doofus.

[Amos Moses]

41. This administration doesn't seem to have any idea

just how much support they have lost. He's chosen to turn his back on the left and pander to the right wing and his corporate cronies instead. That's a lot of votes that won't be cast for him in 2012.

[democracy1st]

46. doesn't have a clue i agree with you

[orwell]

42. More Johnny One Notes...n/t

[MadBadger]

43. How?

[backscatter712]

45. FAIL

[depakid]

47. How could anyone with a straight face say such a stupid thing?

Of everyone who has posted dumb ass things- I'll say- that OP was about the sorriest one I ever read.

Truly,

Depa

[Bonn1997]

52. I'm really not too concerned about his poll numbers. Right now...

I think he's fallen a bit because those on the left are losing patience with him. If he does the right thing and demands a good health care bill, he'll get that approval rating back up. If he continues to blow the PR aspect of the Presidency and doesn't get a good bill passed, he deserves to get the low approval rating that he would likely have. We progressives and those without insurance would be screwed, but the numerical approval rating itself wouldn't be an issue to me.

[WeDidIt]

53. Snowe will stab him in the back like Grassley and Enzi did.

And there will be no bill passed if he throws the public option under the bus.

[Jennicut]

54. I don't think she would stab him in the back, not like her at all.

I just think the Rethugs in her party will pounce on her. She should have switched over a long time ago...one of the last of the New England Republican liberals. I live in CT and there used to be tons like that around here but not anymore. The Rethugs forced them all out.

[WeDidIt]

55. She'll definitely stab him in the back

The Club for Growth are hammering her big time. She either stabs him in the back or she will be primaried out of office.

[Jennicut]

58. Maine has a very moderate electorate....she may not lose a primary or would pull a Lieberman.

But yeah, she probably would if she is too scared to go out on a limb.

[WeDidIt]

59. She can't pull a Lieberman in Maine

and Club for Growth will spend three times what she will be able to spend.

[saltpoint]

56. O horseshit.

Guy hasn't even finished the first year of his presidency and you're shrieking like Henny Penny.

[Tippy]

60. O yea ,of little faith......

If you have not done so, call,sign a petition, get word to the President let him know what you want....Don't pay attention to the polls we all know whoever pays for the poll gets the results he or she wants...

[Peacetrain]

61. Oh for the love of GOD... just jump off the pier already and get it over with

Let me edit to add...

What we are trying to do here with turning the country around will if it succeeds of course send the numbers spiraling downward for a period of time.

People are scared of change, even when it benefits them and the country.

They like to sleep with the mad dog they know.

[kid a]

64. blah blah blah blah blah blah...your breath stinks

[Thrill]

68. You can't expect approval ratings to stay high when you tackle an issue like healthcare

Its called spending political capital. Also there is a ton of misleading info. I've heard several big time Obama supporters who believe the lies out there