Obama’s Approval Numbers on the Economy Are Dismal: Only 34% approve

[Better Believe It]

Obama’s Approval Numbers on the Economy Are Dismal
By: Jon Walker
Septembeer 1, 2011

With consumer confidence tanking, Obama’s job approval numbers on economic issue are now truly dismal. According to the latest CNN/ORC International Poll, by almost a margin of two to one the American people disapprove of Obama’s handling of the economy. From CNN:

Only 34 percent approve of how the president is handling economic issues, with 65 percent saying they disapprove of how he’s handling the economy. Thirty-three percent give him a thumbs up on the budget deficit and 37 percent approving of how he’s dealing with unemployment.

Obama is lucky that for now most American still blame George W. Bush for the state of the economy. But if the economy is still bad for the next year and a half, more and more people will shift their blame from the former president to the current one.

http://elections.firedoglake.com/2011/09/01/obamas-approval-numbers-on-the-economy-are-dismal/

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Obama had high approval numbers for his economic policies when he was running in 2008

His policies really struck a cord with people and he had a lot of support. In contrast, Bush's numbers on the economy were beyond terrible. They were horrific.

Obama then pursues Republican economic policies and now his number are dismal as well.

Whooda thunk it?

[indepat]

12. Yeah, who woulda' ever thought that continuation of junior's wars, fiscal policies, and tax policies

was not what the economy needed? :shrug: :patriot:

[CarmanK]

2. Less than 34% approve of the TBAGGERS and they are fine!

In fact the TBAGGERS are running the US House and several states right now. And their power doesn't seem to be discipating at this time. There is plenty of time between now and the election. Let the repug clowns have the headlines for now. They are doing fine showing the world what they are.

[Bluebear]

5. Yeah everything is fine. Fabulous.

[Better Believe It]

6. In November 2012 how will most voters respond to the question .....

"Are you doing better now than four years ago?"

The answer to that most important question will determine how President Obama's administration will be judge by most voters.

"It's the economy, stupid!"

[Raine]

11. So no worries then, Obama is doing fine

he might as well keep on doing what he's been doing ... it's working so well for him and the country. :eyes: :silly:

[girl gone mad]

14. They also seem to be setting White House economic policy to a large degree.

I wonder why that is.

[kenny blankenship]

3. But the good news is DENIAL is still running at 91%!

So there's that.

[RKP5637]

4. I hope he takes bold steps and blames the republicans for the

consequences if they do not go along with his proposals. I think in the face of failure for bold steps to fix the economy, he has to demonstratively call out the republicans as responsible.

There comes a time to drive a stake in the ground and say this is it, this is what must be done, and blame failures on the republicans.

He heeds to change his strategic posturing IMO. He needs to call all of the shots and quit doing his compromise thing with the republicans who are manipulating him to fail, even if it takes the country down. He must be seeing this by now.

Frankly, at this stage, I'd throw in a few 'fuck yous' too, but then again I could never be a president.

[Better Believe It]

8. That's exactly what Jon Walker advocated in his article on Tuesday! Please read it.

What is Needed is Doomed Big Jobs Plan as an Excuse for Unilateral Action
By: Jon Walker
August 30, 2011

Going small would be a political disaster in every scenario. I agree with David Dayen, it is probably impossible to structure any stimulus plan in a way that gets Republican support. If Obama goes small, he will piss of his base and still get nothing. On the off chance the GOP agrees to a really small-bore jobs plan, it will probably not do enough to improve the weak economy noticeably. That leaves Obama with a still bad economy and everyone blaming Obama because the Republicans agreed to “his plan” and it didn’t work.

Demanding a big jobs plan that is destined to fail in Congress is better politics, but only slightly. It at least helps inspire the base and gives Obama an excuse for blaming the poor economy on the GOP’s refusal to act. Passing the popular parts of the big jobs plan can inspire people to vote for Congressional Democrats in 2012. While this better rhetoric should help politically on the margins, presidential elections are mostly decided by the state of the economy. Even really good speeches won’t be enough to improve what looks to be a stalling economy.

That is why the Obama administration needs to choose a third course. Obama should acknowledge the economy is bad, lay out a big direct jobs plan, and demand the GOP pass the whole thing. When the Republicans quickly make it clear they won’t pass the big jobs plan, Obama can publicly make it clear that Republican intransigence “forced” him to be creative with the powers he currently has. At this point, Obama should unilaterally implement his “Plan B,” creatively using unspent TARP money and using the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to implement massive mortgage refinancing and own-to-rent programs. If done right, it’s a substantial stimulus.

If the economy still doesn’t grow even after the added unilateral stimulus, Obama is doomed; but he would be doomed regardless of the jobs speech he goes with. But if the economy experiences strong growth, Obama can take sole credit for it. Similarly, if the economy grows only modestly, he sets himself up to take all the credit for what growth there is giving the blame for the slowness of the growth to the GOP and its refusal to pass his big jobs program. Politically, this positions Obama as best as can be expected given the state of the economy.

Read the full article at:

http://elections.firedoglake.com/2011/08/30/what-is-needed-is-doomed-big-jobs-plan-as-an-excuse-for-unilateral-action/

[RKP5637]

10. Thanks for this! I'll read it in detail. Got to step out a minute, will read it

what I get back.

Thanks!!!

[RKP5637]

13. Excellent article! Thanks! n/t

[Tx4obama]

7. And probably the majority of the folks polled don't have a clue about the economy or that ...

the situation that we're in is the fault of Bush.

By watching some of those people-on-the-streets questions/answers videos on YouTube - there aren't very many average Americans that know much about our government/civics, geography, history, etc.

[Better Believe It]

9. They know if they are working, they know if their pay/hours/benefits have been cut,

they know if homes are being foreclosed in their neighborhoods, they know if the economy is getting better or not.

You don't need a PHD to figure this stuff out!

[treestar]

15. Oh cool! If it stays that way he might lose!

That would be great. Then we can have a R president who will confidently and strongly get all he wants.