Obama Pulls A Major Coup!

[ProSense]

***Obama Pulls A Major Coup!

by StuHunter
Mon Feb 09, 2009 at 11:06:42 AM PST

Republicans are going down the drain into the abyss! There are two very public reasons why they are faltering...

....add to that a new "coup" just announced by the White House!

Firstly, there are two polls out in the past few days, one from Gallup and a new one this morning from CNN:

CNN, shows that President Obama is viewed very positively in the legislative battles over the stimulus bill, while the Republican Party remains the unpopular player in this game

Obama has a 76% overall job approval and 23% disapproval. On the economy specifically, his rating is 72%-28%. Meanwhile, Congress has a very poor rating of 29%-71% -- but it quickly becomes clear that this should be not be simply laid at the feet of the majority Democrats, and is instead the GOP's fault.

The Democratic leadership in Congress has a solid rating of 60%-39%, while the Republican leaders are at 44%-55%. Furthermore, respondents said by 74%-25% that Obama is doing enough to cooperate with Republicans, while they say by a 60%-39% margin that Republicans are not doing enough to cooperate with him.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/09/poll.obama.stimulus/index.html

A new Gallup poll shows that President Obama is continuing to enjoy high approval in handling the economic stimulus debate -- and his brand is solidly beating the Congressional Republicans, too.

The numbers: Obama has a 67% approval and only 25% disapproval on how he's handled the stimulus bill, compared to Congressional Republicans' 31% approval and very high 58% disapproval. Congressional Democrats aren't as popular as Obama himself -- explaining the GOP's efforts to tie the bill to Nancy Pelosi, instead of Obama -- but they're still in the black at 48%-42%.

In addition, a 51% majority of independents say it is critically important to pass a stimulus bill, 27% say it is moderately important, and only 17% say it's not important. The numbers among the Republican base, as we might expect, are wildly different: Only 29% say it is critically important, 37% say it's important but not critically so, and 31% say it's not important.

more

[williesgirl]

1. off to the greatest page.

[Doremus]

2. K&R n/t

[Solomon]

3. Even a blind squirrel could foresee this.

I have been saying over and over, despite the den of the naysayers, that Obama is absolutely crushing them. How would it look for him to meet with the "bad" people they don't want him to talk to, and NOT meet with the stupid republicans. It's not brilliant strategy. It's just common sense. It looks brilliant because it is unpopular with the folks who think they know better.

He OWNS them. All he has to do sometimes is just get out of the way and let them destroy themselves. When you set things up the right way, they have a way of flowing right on through.

He takes advantage of every underestimation of him. He is the most powerful man ever to occupy the chair precisely because his enemies perceive him as weak. Big mistake. And one they keep on making.

[Cha]

6. But, it worked so well..

last century:silly: :dunce:

[serbbral]

51. I feel you!

I've been saying this all along during his campaigne when all the knuckleheads were saying he needs to do this, he needs to do that, or can he fight(?). Obama is not a stupid or weak man at all. He knows what he's doing.

[wryter2000]

55. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[BlueCaliDem]

68. Excellent response, and one I share. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[damonm]

85. Dead on, and welcome aboard!

As I've said elsewhere:
"Bear in mind that Obama cut his political teeth in Chicago - if you think for ONE SECOND he hasn't got a plan, you are understimating the man at your peril."

[Cha]

4. This is the way it is..so

it's really great to see the People get it in spite of the enemy aka the corporatemedia.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

61. the enemy aka the corporatemedia--- so true

I get so angry...but in reality I think it is exactly this kind of situation overall that will put down the SlimeFromTheVideo.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. EXCELLENT!

:bounce: :bounce: :toast:

[Life Long Dem]

7. 2 week’s into Obama's presidency, we have CNN telling...

us, we have no turnout for the stimulus package.

[DerekJ]

28. Why can't Obama close the deal?!!!

:rofl:

[Solomon]

8. He's focused and he is incredibly disciplined.

A deadly combination. He's just getting started. Hit the ground running.

I've never heard such weeping and wailing from the other side. They are literally screaming about it.

Might as well get 8 year's supply of popcorn. It's going to be a hellava ride.

[Cha]

13. Buy popcorn

stock.:popcorn: :popcorn: From Organic Farmers.

[Vickers]

81. "Might as well get 8 year's supply of popcorn."

omg!

:rofl:

[Kber]

9. But I thought Pres Obama was losing control of the debate?

I thought the Republicans were controlling the message?

I thought Obama was making rookie mistakes and being schooled?

Do you mean that the TV talking heads were WRONG??

:)

[AspenRose]

20. "Why can't Obama close the deal?"

:rofl:

[Amonester]

32. The teevee talking heads have been WRONG for the last 8 years

(at least), but a majority of viewers began to notice that since Katrina hit

it was their wake up call, which was, sadly, too late, the damage caused by the republics was done

[JNelson6563]

40. Not to mention

a certain pack of clueless keyboard commandos....

[genna]

56. Do you mean propaganda doesn't work even when media owners have large

quantities of groupthink to spare?

The part that bothers me is the Democrats who can recite these dangerous talking points verbatim and ask what should be done to counter this propaganda? If it is a real situation, Obama would have already been handling it. If it is Sith smokescreen, then it is a diversion.

Why should any Democrat give it life? It was a lie when it was conceived, spoken, and retold.

[backscatter712]

10. He gave them enough rope to hang themselves.

Today is when Obama yanked on the rope and we hear the Republicans go "GAAAAAACH!!!!"

[Solomon]

12. They are literally screaming on their radio shows.

If it weren't so dangerous, I would think it hilarious. Butr some of it is starting to border on dog whistling.

Remember the organization Obama exhibited in his campaign and you can just imagine the base he is building right now. Organized. Focused.

[GinaMaria]

16. bout time. the other side has been organized and mobile

for a while. It's nice to see someone is out ahead of them for a change.

[nxylas]

50. "Literally" is a word that's often misused

But in this case, it wouldn't surprise me if it was correct.

[Solomon]

67. Turn on Mark Levine. He's hilarious. He screams all night.

Yes. Literally.

[4_TN_TITANS]

43. "Lynching" just took on a whole new meaning.

Watching republicans hang themselves :rofl:

[DCBob]

11. Obama wins and the GOP loses big.

They thought they had him on the ropes. Never underestimate Barack Obama. He knows exactly what he is doing.

[bdamomma]

45. he definitely knows what he is doing.

[Clio the Leo]

14. Apparently those polled have not read DU..

.... or they would know that extending a hand across the aisle will only end in the ultimate destruction of the universe. :)

In all seriousness, his strategy is working ... he will continue to use it and it will play a factor in his re-election.

Mark ...... my ......... words!

[Solomon]

15. It's working all over the world. Politicians in other countries

are running Obama like campaigns. LOL I'm telling you, the man is just getting started.

[nolabels]

30. Or listened, watched or read from the corporate owned and ran news outlets

No doubt there will always be some kind of agenda, but do the corporate thugs have to be so obvious :shrug:

[damonm]

65. OMG, this IS serious!

Mark ...... my ......... words!

CtL's channeling William Shatner again!

[and-justice-for-all]

17. Obama should smack the taste out the repukes mouth...nt

[ginnyinWI]

18. And that, friends, is why he keeps on reaching out.

Even though they slap him in the face. Even though they lie about him. He's even offering to have a beer with Hannity. The people are on Obama's side, and pretty soon the repubs will realize they've been beaten, badly and politically neutralized. Even the wingnut radio people will lose some audience. Who wants to be on the loser side?

[lonestarnot]

19. Teehee! Never doubted that for a moment!

K & R!

[boomerbust]

21. As soon as the stimulus bill is passed

They must start the EFCA. This will completely unhinge the right wing maniacs.:crazy:

[glitch]

22. Are you kidding me? Republicans are GAINING ground since Bush?!?

and that is supposed to be a good thing?

"Republican leaders are at 44%-55%."

:argh:

[ProSense]

23. "compared to Congressional Republicans' 31% approval and very high 58% disapproval" There's that,

but if you want to pick out the only remotely positive sign in the piece for the GOP (that their disapproval is 11 points higher than their approval) to complain about, go ahead.

[glitch]

83. Thanks! nt

[Two Americas]

24. serious political capital

Unbelievable, really.

the administration is in an extremely strong position. More so than Reagan ever was, in my opinion, and like we haven't seen in our lifetimes.

It bodes well.

The coup, from the link -

The White House has just announced that President Obama will be campaigning for the stimulus plan tomorrow in Fort Myers, Florida -- where he'll be introduced by Republican Governor Charlie Crist.

Remember that Crist...who hit the campaign trail for John McCain last year, and has been courted to run for the open Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez...has now broken ranks in such a conspicuous manner as to publicly appear with Obama.

....and it's not just that, but his official statement praises Obama in language that one would normally use for a political ally: "I am eager to welcome President Obama to the Sunshine State as he continues to work hard to reignite the US economy."

[Solomon]

25. Heh heh. What can they do?

He made them play their hand really early. He's crsushing them.

[Two Americas]

29. oh I don't know

The political capital mostly comes from the pain people are in, and their rejection of Reaganomics and the religious right. It reflects the public mood and the dire and deteriorating conditions, and any Democrat would have enormous political capital now I think.

This is not a sporting event we are watching, and cheering on our favorite star athlete is just not very helpful. Obama has done a brilliant job, as he did during the campaign, of building a strong positive image of himself with the public. That is valuable and important, but it is after all merely a means to the end, not an end in and of itself.

The real battles are yet to come, and the right wingers are ferocious and dedicated adversaries who will stop at nothing. Any Democrat in the White House would have to face a struggle.

[Enthusiast]

36. "who will stop at nothing"

We must remember this. What would they do to discredit Obama?

Stage a terrorist attack? I believe they would.

Take actions that would damage the economy? Yup, I can envision right wing zealots doing that.

Send a white house intern to pull up her skirt and show Obama her thong panties? Yup, worked before.

Remember, they will stop at nothing. Exactly when we believe we have the upper hand they will do something. Wait and see.

[Two Americas]

70. exactly

But keep in mind that it is Obama as a representative of the people that the right wingers are after, not Obama as a personality or a hero. Also, the success of the new administration depends upon leveraging public support more than it does on the individual skills of the President. No matter how skilled and brilliant he is, and no matter how much love people express for him, that is not sufficient for success. It may actually work against success, since it places too great of a burden on one person, and denies the administration of the vital ingredient of hearing a wide range of opinions, not all of them flattering. The administration cannot succeed on flattery and unqualified adoration alone.

The critics from the Left are not attacking Obama, they are taking some of the burden off of the administration, and they are giving the administration some breathing room. The exaggerated personal loyalty to and adoration of the President that too many people are expressing, and that they are demanding that we all express lest we be attacked as enemies, is working against the success of the administration. It is a grave threat to the success of the new administration

Imagine that we are all on a large sailing vessel, heading into a bad storm. We have a great captain, yes. But that does not mean that our job is to sit on the deck admiring him and cheering him. That does not mean that we should attack a crew member who comes up from the hold and reports a leak. That doesn't mean that we should ridicule the crew member in the crow's nest who reports sighting a reef ahead. This resistance to hearing any and all feedback, because it might be bad news and so therefore be "negative," is very dangerous. It does the captain no good whatsoever.

The goal is not to get all of the crew members to fall in love with the captain, no matter how talented and admirable he is. The goal is to get the ship safely to shore. If crew members cannot speak out, if anything other than adoration and cheer leading for the captain is going to be seen as treason, that increases the likelihood that the ship will founder and sink.

[Solomon]

74. You know, I'm not responding to you personally, but I get sick

and tired of people telling us we can't cheer or praise Obama for something he does right. It's insulting. We are adults and a lot of us can chew gum and walk at the same time. Every time somebody says something good, we get one of these "goosestepping, worship, messiah" remarks and I'm getting sick to death of it.

Can't we enjoy a simple success sometimes? I mean damn, when is the last time all the democrats voted the same way for something? Jeezuz. Give us a break. Just because we like the way he's doing his job doesn't make us fawning sycophanys.

We can't win for losing. Jeeez. Maybe we should continue to be like crabs in a barrel and knock 'em down all the time. That makes him stronger and better right.

[Two Americas]

76. no one is

Cheer him. Praise him. No problem.

A lot more people would be cheering him and praising him were the cheering and praising not being used to beat up on people who express anything other than praise and cheering. Think about that. If you truly want to support the administration and see it be successful, demanding that we all feel the same way and say the same things is actually working against that.

I hesitate to say anything positive about the administration, because people will immediately misuse that and say "see!!! We were right all along and all of those critics and all of those people who supported other candidates were wrong, and they should be dismissed and ignored! Everyone should shut up and get behind Our President!!" That is all about them, and their personal feelings, and has nothing to do with the President, nor with the success of the new administration, nor with the success of the party, nor with the salvation of the country.

I have never objected to people praising and cheering the President. I have only objected to people using that "loyalty" and "support" as cover for abusing others, for suppressing dissent, and for attacking critics.

[Solomon]

77. It's okay. I didn't mean you in particular. There are some brutal

people on this board though. And I do get what you mean.

:thumbsup:

[Two Americas]

79. a few yes

It is always easier to see the bullies on the side that we disagree with, and be oblivious to the bullying that is going on when it is for "our side."

I defend people who are being attacked regardless of whether I agree with them or not. I see about a hundred instances of people being attacked for failing to show the proper loyalty then I do people being attacked for cheering and praising the President.

Some people are mimicking the zealotry of the Bush supporters, and are a mirror image of the Bush supporters. That flies under the radar somewhat, because everyone here wants the administration and the party to succeed so we are tolerant of tactics and rhetoric that we would otherwise reject.

[The Wizard]

60. He knew what cards they were holding

And he knows they deal from the bottom of the deck. They've also been playing the same cards for so long that they didn't realize they tipped their hand. Poker anyone?

[genna]

53. The Northeast Republicans listened to the firebreathing base

WHERE are they now? Crist doesn't want to go there with the South taking a turn. Virginia and North Carolina should have caused Republican governors to sit up and take notice.

Florida has always had a large transplant population. Education is credited for the turn in VA and NC. But what if it is an actual trend?

[wryter2000]

57. And it's not going to be a repeat of 2005

Remember when Boosh went around the country trying to push Social Security privatization? The more he talked, the more ground he lost. That will NOT happen with President Obama. He'll have the whole country in an uproar for his jobs plan. Any Republicant who doesn't get with the program will be looking for another job after their next election.

:bounce:

[Number23]

26. Is anyone truly surprised by this?

Obama has the support of the entire country and (whether anyone wants to believe it) most of the world. Do people really think that his efforts to put people back at work, back in their homes and save the economy would make him LESS popular???

:crazy:

[sellitman]

27. That funny taste in the Repiggies mouth is one they better get use to.

It's the taste of defeat.

[Mithreal]

31. Yay we are winning in a poll. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. .

:evilgrin:

[snowbear]

33. Awesome thread!

.
.







~ ~ ~

[opihimoimoi]

34. He has reduced them to whining and whimoering.....The Pubs are in disarray

[Enthusiast]

37. Good, now let's stomp their

necks until they're dead. Right fucking now! :hippie:

[bdamomma]

46. double post.

[bdamomma]

47. oh yes, they have to be kicked to the curb, the media included.

[FrenchieCat]

35. Many of us called it as it was happening!

And so, will any of the naysayers ever show up and admit that they "screwed up"? Doubt it.

Point is President ain't no naive lightweight....and those who think so will be crushed by his heavyweight political bonafides.

[CadenBlaker]

38. They got a name for what Obama did to Republicans.

It's called the Rope-A-Dope! :)

[liberal N proud]

39. The media has focused on the GOP and their negativity

That is why no one understands or likes the "recovery package"

[stanwyck]

59. Agree. I've had to give up on MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

because of Scarborough and Mika whining about "there's not enough for Republicans". Why should there be? I'm not being vindictive towards the Republicans. I'm just being practical. Why does there need to be anything FOR the Republicans? The economic recovery and stimulus should be FOR the American people. Why are Republican politicians owed anything?

[truedelphi]

71. I feel you are SO right!

I rarely watch main stream media - but on election night I had to.

During MSNBC's commercial break, I turned to FOx and there was Bret Hume, chortling with glee over how cute the kids were out in front of the WH in DC. The kids were jumping around and dancing and celebrating the Obama win.

"Wouldn't you like to be down there with those kids" he said, more than a little enthused. And he looked really like he wished he could leave his corporate masters and go down there and dance with the nine year olds and their parents. Then he caught himself and went back into mainstream media corproate whore mode.

It dawned on me - "He had voted for Obama!" Why not? Hume is intelligent - and he could see what a loser Bush was.

If even Fox talking heads approve of Obama - then why would Obama reach out and help endorse the remaining few Repugs that want to stick with Bush and Cheney and the rich corporate masters' policies of bankruptcy and death?

[stanwyck]

82. The Republicans remaining in Congress

who were not defeated in the general election represent the reddest of the red areas of our country. That's why they're still around. I live in Georgia. This is a very red state. Yet, Obama made headway here. And Saxby Chambliss was reduced to winning in a run-off. Yet, the rural areas of Georgia continue to elect the likes of Lynn Westmoreland (who infamously wanted the Ten Commandments posted in federal building because he couldn't name more than 3 when asked). Philip Gingrey - "Oh, Please, Please Mr. Limbaugh. I am SO sorry." The man was on his knees last week in front of Rush after suggesting that Limbaugh was not the voice of the Republican Party. He then disgracefully and obsequiously recanted on Rush's radio show.
My point is, we're not dealing with moderates. The Republicans left are from areas which are staunchly right wing. And their elected representatives know who votes for them. Why cater to people who are clearly on the far right? These are not people who understand negotiation.

[truedelphi]

87. Anyone living in such a RED area and yet remaining true to liberal ideas is a hero

In my book.

I drove through Georgia once and my only real memory was that of a gas station owner who insisted that the TransAm I was driving needed a four thousand dollar overhaul. (Actually it needed a new air conditioner hose.)

I am sure there are good folks there - after all, Mike Malloy lives there. But I cannot imagine living around such weirdness.

[City Lights]

41. K&R

[wroberts189]

42. He roped the dopes ..... nt

[karynnj]

44. Amazing and this happenened with the broadcast media showing far more of the Republican side

I am not surprised that Obama's numbers are this high. He can command media attention on his own terms and get it. The surprise is that the Democratic Congress and its leaders are being seen in such a favorable light. Here is a link from which you can get the values for this since July. Both parties are actually improving - in my opinion reflecting overall optimism that change will end the gridlock of the last 2 years. The November numbers show why we did so well in the elections. The Democrat leaders were 47 approve/50 disapprove while the Republican leaders were 24 approve/73 disapprove. http://pollingreport.com/congress.htm

[HOLOS]

48. K&R nt

[Alcibiades]

52. Eventually, people stop paying attention to the lies

of the Republicans and the totalitarian media they control. Obama spends much time demonstrating real bipartisanship, and when the media and the pubs say otherwise, it's simply not credible.

The Republicans who want to save their party and their asses should act as if they actually believe in bipartisanship. The ones who don't, the hardcore Stalinist rump of the party, will be left behind, as their continuing to toe their ideologically driven extremist party line will become increasingly obviously out of touch with reality..

[GinaMaria]

54. why is it being called a coup?

He did it. He was successful and peeled off 3 pukes and 1 indie. The polls are in his favor, but I still don't see how that's a coup? It's a triumph isn't it?

[sofa king]

58. I just love seeing the word "coup" without having to worry about being first against the wall.

As I have pointed out ad nauseam, that 23% disapproval rating exactly matches the 23% estimate of the US population who are right-wing authoritarians. RWAs have difficulty using logic and other critical thinking skills, only believe the information given them by the right-wing authority figures they trust (like Chubby Alkaloid and the Henhouse Foxes), are prone to racism and homophobia, and are motivated primarily by fear and especially fear of change. They are the exact same kind of people who became the SA in Germany, the Falange in Spain, the Fascists in Italy, and so on. They are sad, frightened creatures deserving of our compassion and of strong efforts to make them feel comfortable and safe, by providing them with jobs, economic stability, and international security. If we do that, they will remain productive and highly valuable members of society.

But they are also assholes, and because they are incapable of forming opinions of their own, they can be ignored as individuals and treated instead as a highly pliable block of followers who will do the bidding of a GOP which has formed a vast information network to inform and control them.

So what this article means to me is that there are no rational people left in America who disapprove of President Obama. Today is a very good day.

[The Wizard]

62. Would propaganda and misinformation network

be a better fit here?
"...GOP which has formed a vast information network to inform and control them."

[sofa king]

64. Oh, definitely!

Yes. That is the entire purpose of the network, to misinform their watchers and listeners so that they adopt political positions which are diametrically opposed to their own personal interests.

[thereismore]

66. Nicely put. Yes, the 23% is the rock-solid, rock-bottom Limpball base. nt

[eyepaddle]

63. Awesome! When will "The Villagers" realize they have NO clue

what mood actual America is?

FYI: I'm not sure if the term "villager" to describe our national pundit class has caught on yet at DU--so I figured I'd better throw this in just to avoid any confusion.

Judging by how Obama and his team are playing they game, they know the truth.

[changemonger]

69. so what is the major coup ?

Don't you ever get tired of these polls and political back and forth??. Noone cares about this s*** right now. Obama will pull a major coup when he turns the economy around, prosecutes Bush&Co, end the war the useless wars...etc.

[DevonRex]

73. I'm so sorry that you're desperately unhappy all the time.

[BlueIdaho]

72. Doing the same thing and expecting different results...

Trapped in a failed ideology canonized by St. Ronnie republicans find themselves living out one definition of insanity. Its a shame they don't believe in evolution since an evolving economic and world view is about the only thing that will keep their party from becoming extinct.

It appears at long last that Americans do know the difference between shit and shine-ola.

[AlbertCat]

75. 61

Furthermore, respondents said by 74%-25% that Obama is doing enough to cooperate with Republicans, while they say by a 60%-39% margin that Republicans are not doing enough to cooperate with him.

************


And yet Dems still "need" 61 votes in the Senate to do anything at all!

Can someone tell me why that is? I mean, Repugs didn't need 61 votes to get things passed in the Senate, if I recall correctly.

What's wrong with letting Repugs stay up all night reading from the phone book if they want. It won't kill the bill and will make them look even more out of touch and just selfishly mean than they already do. (They couldn't look more ridiculous!)

Now that we've got a filibuster proof vote on the Stimulus, can we kill this stupid meme that Dems NEED 61 votes all the flippin' time? Please!

[mythyc]

78. an enthusiastic K&R!

the American people will not stand for this obstructionism. the mandate has been set and our President is running circles around them.

:dem:

[donco6]

80. If it were our bill, it would be a coup.

And if the House can clean it up (i.e., pull back on handing everything the Republicans want on a silver platter) and get it passed - which they should be able to do with this approval rating, then I'll happily wave the coup flag.

[Hepburn]

84. Proud to be the 180th Rec!

:applause:

[Danger Mouse]

86. GOBAMA!

:D

[Brother Buzz]

88. It's not rocket surgery

nevertheless, the client (us) has checked out the dude driving the bus and approves.