•••••• Gallup Daily Tracking: Approval at a new low - 42% ••••••

[smalll]

Well, Obama did the right thing to stand up for the First Amendment vis-a-vis the Ground Zero mosque, but it seems he may already be paying for it: Today's Gallup Daily Tracking has his approval rating at a new low of 42%, as opposed to a 49% disapproval rate.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx

Between around July 19 and August 4, Obama faced an unprecedented half-month underwater (disapproval over approval.) After popping up above water for one day around August 5, Obama sank back underwater. He reached a new low of 43% in yesterday's released numbers, before sinking to today's new low of 42%.

[dkf]

1. Jobs jobs jobs. Every other issue is a distraction.

Man when is he going to get the message?

And telling us about the wonderful job he and the congress has done is stupid. You get no credit in a crappy economy.

[tridim]

3. You really think Obama doesn't know this?

Do you not remember when the Republicans said "NO" to loans for small businesses? It was only a few weeks ago.

[fogonthelake]

43. We need a massive (FDR type) jobs programs, not just tinkering

at the edges with the loans to businesses--which are helpful but just a drop in the bucket for this huge problem.

[ncteechur]

52. The government simply cannot hire everyone. Business need to get off their asses

and hire. Many larger ones are sitting on huge profits only because they cut back overhead including people.

[yourneighborsdog]

78. When did New Deal programs lower the unemployment rate?

When did New Deal programs lower the unemployment rate?

Unemployment was still in the double digits in September of 1941 when the military draft was reinstated pulling young men out of the work force by the hundreds of thousands. Only then did the unemployment rate drop.

The problem we face today is outsourcing fueled by price shifting in response to our excessively high corporate tax rates. Internationals perform money making operations in low tax nations then avoid our taxes by inflating the prices of products shipped to their American subsidiaries (price shifting). The jobs go to the low tax nations where the money making operations are performed. The 35% corporate tax rate costs us tax revenue and jobs. It's the worst of both worlds, and we do it to ourselves.

[becxx]

68. Problem is top down stimulus efforts do not work

Obama listened to the corporatocracy and did a top down stimulus. We needed bottom up stimulus, however, of the type that was used in the Depression -- public service jobs. His bill was too small too. Pumping money into medium-sized business is more top down nonsense. We need bottom up -- NOW.

Do I think Obama cares about the many who can't get jobs and who are losing their homes? About 24 million USA kids who are hungry? Nope, I don't. I have lost all faith in Obama. He seems to mainly love the sound of his own voice talking. If I hear Obama say once again, "I'm going to address that -- I will give a speech", I think I will puke.

Until Obama, I believed that some politicians could be trusted. Now I think very few. I think Obama is owned by the corporatocracy -- the folks who benefited from his so-called economic stimulus, health care reform and financial reform bills.

[Imajika]

8. Well, this is "recovery summer"..

Running with that was pretty boneheaded in light of the economic news we have been seeing for the last couple months.

Thankfully, I think the administration has mostly dropped the term. Haven't heard anyone mention "recovery summer" in awhile.

[Exilednight]

26. I heard them use that term yesterday. I cringed when I heard it ......

they better pray like hell that September has one hell of a set of great economic numbers. If not, rethugs are going to run like crazy with it.

[Splinter Cell]

21. ....

Yeah, well the President doesn't create jobs. And corporate America is making record profits right now, so blame them for not creating jobs.

[dkf]

31. Corporations aren't charity organizations. If they were they would be non profits who pay no taxes.

[lbrtbell]

2. There could be another reason for this

Like, vacation #541 while most Americans are struggling to make ends meet. ~facepalm~

I'm so sad right now.....

[smalll]

4. I really don't think anyone resents the Obamas taking a day or two at the Gulf Coast --

he's just trying to be a booster for tourism down there.

[sandnsea]

9. You should read some gulf coast newspapers

Those people hate everything he does. They hate him when he doesn't come, they hate him when he does. Do you know, when Michelle went down a couple weeks ago, she work a black and white outfit to symbolize the oil soaked gulf? They're insane and more than a few DUers pick up any form of insanity, from anywhere, to bash this President. I wish more people would understand what is going on.

[flyarm]

60. Do you live on the gulf? Do you? Maybe it is you that has no clue what is really going on!

In fact from many of my Fla friends I have gotten reports Obama never swam in the Gulf..he swam in an area near the Gulf..and he kept all reporters and media and Photographers away from him and the only photogrpaher allowed to film him was the White House photographer! Now why would that be if he was really in the Gulf swimming? Well I don't know but people in Fla are damn fed up! I can't speak for the rest of the Gulf region, but i know where I am people's lives are being destroyed while the Obama's vacation! 36 hours in Fla?? but grandeous vacations everywhere else!

How would you feel if your property was losing value daily, your business was destroyed, you were exposed, as were your children to toxins, and the air you breathe is poluted with toxins? The businesses all around you are going belly up.

Do you think you would have all the smug answers??????????

And the outfit Michelle wore was a White dress with big black giant spots on it..and our media was shocked she wore that insensitive dress to the Gulf!

You lose everything and get nothing but a big pile of horseshit and nothing but lies and you tell us how much you woud feel the love!

But maybe you have never lost everything and you are totally clueless how it makes one feel..or maybe you are just damn insensitive!

[Name removed]

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[okieinpain]

46. yes they do. n/t.

[tridim]

5. Not surprising you completely missed the point of the Obama's going to the Gulf.

[BeyondGeography]

10. I know...He's always taking Saturday and Sunday off

:wtf:

[Pirate Smile]

12. I love the fits about weekend vacations - he went to Maine and now to the Gulf. The horror.

Why aren't any Republicans trying to help the gulf boost tourism? Obama is supposed to fix it but they will slam him anyway. I'm glad he went to Florida.

[impik]

15. So now Saturday-Sunday off is "vacation"?

[Exilednight]

28. That's a totally seperate issue .............

but, since you brought it up, how would you as president explain to a single mother of two that has to work three jobs to make ends barely meet as to why you are taking even a single weekend off while millions are suffering without work and millions more are killing themselves 7 days a week with dead-end low-wage jobs to just get by?

There's only one right answer the president can give, and it's not George Bush's when he said "you work three jobs? that's great, that's the American way".

[vaberella]

40. Obama took every single off?

On average most Americans get the weekend off or one day of the weekend off. Or they get two days during the week off. So I'm not following your point. He's a man who does need a break, it's not like he's twiddling his thumbs while in office.

[Exilednight]

49. That's not what I said. What I said was ..............

how do you explain that you took even a single weekend off - meaning that you took just one complete weekend off. Especially when there are many Americans who either can't find a job, or work every single day of the week just to make ends meet.

[Alcibiades]

61. He didn't take the weekend off

A weekend off would be spent at Martha's Vineyard, or someplace nice like that, not Florida in August, which is nice only if you like heat and sunburn.

If not for the spill, and his compassion for the people of the Gulf, he would have been in D.C.

[geek tragedy]

16. Thank you for your CONCERN. nt

[vaberella]

39. Vacations to promote revitalization of the gulf is *face palm* worthy?! You've got to be kidding.

Jesus, what is wrong with you people. And as for Michelle going to Spain, she used her own money--not US money. I think it's good that the first family went to parts of the US for vacation and they sent their oldest to sleep away camp. Putting back into the US economy is how I see it.

[becxx]

66. I have to disagree on the Spain trip

When the country is in such dire straits, a trip to Spain on a presidential jet costs the taxpayers a lot of money. And no, Michelle Obama did not pay for all of that jet fuel -- she merely paid for a couple of first class tickets. Also, our country needs Michelle Obama's business. Struggling stores and restaurants in the USA would have to have Michelle Obama's business.

Michelle Obama has joined a lot of other unpopular over consumers. These include:

Nancy Reagan
Marie Antoinette
Nellie Olson (the fictional little clothes horse on Home on the Prairie)
Imelda Marcos
Cindy McCain

Michelle Obama would do well to find some different role models. She might try:

Eleanor Roosevelt
Janet Reno

As it is, Michelle's insensitivity is causing her to join her husband in garnering low approval ratings. She not helping her husband by even one iota.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Gordan Shumway]

83. Yes, you are sad

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sad

2 be, or not 2 be. You decide which definition.

[nmbluesky]

6. if his poll high up

The jobs are back!!!
sigh!!!!

[Imajika]

7. It is way too early to say if this is a result of the mosque...

It might have had some effect, but it is too soon to tell.

I definitely think speaking even generally of being in favor of the mosque, even if all the President was doing is saying there is a legal right to build it, will probably hurt the Obama. This is a wedge issue, but wedge issues work very well sometimes. The conservatives just keep tossing them out there hoping something sticks, and this one seems to be at the moment.

Still, the bottom line for President Obama and the Democratic Party is pretty simple. So long as the economy is floundering, approval ratings will continue to creep downward. By closing on 2 years in, people expect results. The economy is not growing fast and unemployment is actually worse than it was in November 2008. Does not matter that this horrendous economy is the result of Republican mismanagement. People forget. It is sad and frustrating that they do, but it is what it is.

The concern at this point is most of the economic news is bad. Where did the green shoots go? Can this even be called a "recovery" anymore. If we don't even have hopeful trends of things getting better, well, it could be horribly ugly come November.

[Name removed]

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[impik]

14. Wow, that's got to be a new cursing record in one post

[impik]

13. Whatever.

[Politics_Guy25]

17. Never fucking mind

What's the point...Deleting this post

[CBR]

18. ...

[John Agar]

19. It's jobs and the economy of course. nt.

[BluegrassDem]

20. Gallup tracking polls are notoriously fickled. He'll be at 49% on Tuesday.

I don't know why people get so tore about these tracking polls. They vary wildly from one day to the next.

[Imajika]

22. Yeah, but the trend has not been pretty lately...

I see that volatility as well, but the overall trend has not been particularly good and is inline with most other polls showing Obama's approval rating in decline.

With these polls you have to look at the long term trends. The downward trend is unmistakable at the moment.

I don't think individual issues like the mosque have all that much to do with it really. It's the economy that matters and over time more and more people place the blame on the President and the Democratic Party instead of Bush and the Republicans. There is just no way to avoid that. If the economy turns around or even shows real signs of improvement, Obama's numbers will start ticking back up.

But yeah, a single poll hitting a new low doesn't mean much.

[Beacool]

23. It's not about the mosque, Michelle's vacation or any other distraction.

It's about the lack of JOBS. Fair or unfair, he's the head honcho and the one who is going to get the brunt of the blame.

:shrug:

[Nedsdag]

24. Where are these jobs coming from?

Corporate America? Congress? Who?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

27. Exactly what I want to know

People keep talking about jobs as though there is something specifically President Obama can do about it. The Bush tax cuts haven't expired yet, so they obviously can't be the reason why businesses aren't hiring and creating new jobs. :eyes: Health Care Reform hasn't fully become law yet, so that can't be blamed (and even when it does take full effect, it SHOULD theoretically HELP businesses not hurt them). Obama's stimulus was helpful but more is probably needed but is Congress going to give him more money? Can they get more money through to him? Climate change legislation is currently stalled in the Senate (where else?) There's money in there to create some new "green" jobs but (surprise, surprise), the Republicans are (un-)helpfully obstructing that- along with a host of other things. If we have a capitalist society, it should be private businesses generating all or most of the jobs, so why aren't they doing it? I know that- rightly or wrongly-Presidents are either blamed or rewarded for the state of the economy at any given time but what can Obama himself immediately do to correct the situation??? What's going on? :shrug:

[impik]

25. It's mostly the economy, for sure

I agree. But not just. There's a very serious machine working against him, and they know the job.

[StevieM]

35. Oh, I don't know Bea. The jobs picture was no better last week or last month. Something must have

changed to account for the recent decline. I think it was the vacation nonsense and/or the mosque nonsense.

Then again, I doubt it will last. Give it a few days and it will blow over.

How have you been?

Steve

[Beacool]

36. I don't know, we'll see.

I've been OK. Not much happening over here, except for the heat. Although it's been in the 80s the last few days. How's your summer?

:hi:

[StevieM]

37. Extremely hot and humid. Summer has never been my favorite season. BUT...something good

is coming of this summer.

I started smoking when I was 17 years old. That was 18 years ago. This summer I resolved to quit, once and for all. I've been using the nicorette gum. I haven't had a cigarette in 44 days! And as part of my quit smoking regiment I am swimming every single day. Lap after lap. So for once I don't mind the summer heat because it means the pool is open, and swimming is helping me find something to replace smoking with, at least for now.

Steve

[Beacool]

48. Congratulations!!!!

They say that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine. So it must have been very hard for you to quit after so many years of smoking. It's probably the single best thing that you have done to prolong your life. I hope that after the summer ends you find some other physical activity that will keep you away from smoking.

Best of luck!!!

:pals:

[AtomicKitten]

29. He'll walk it off. nt

[Robbins]

30. Well

I hope people will be happy with Republican House and a barely Democratic senate where nothing will get done because that Is where we
are headed.You complain Obama and Democrats don't get anything done and are no different than Bush?Boy you are all headed for a
rude awakening.Obama Is about to have no power to get anything passed through Congress.You don't think enough Is being done to create
Jobs now you haven't seen anything yet.

You can look forward to the following come january

Hearings on 14th amendment repeal.
Investigations of Obama to try to Impeach him
attempts to repeal anything Obama has gotten passed
Attempts at more deregulations
attempts for more tax cuts for the wealthy(If those like Bayh and Dogan preveil and the bush tax cuts are not allowed to expire they
will become permeant)
more gutting of social security,Medicare,and medicaid
Fillerbusting any Obama nominee for any office

[becxx]

67. What's the difference I wonder

When I think about how little the Dems did with their great majority and the way Obama quickly gave up the public option, I can't see that much difference between the Dems and the Reps. Don't get me wrong, I voted for BO, gave money to his campaign and even volunteered for the campaign.

Then I see his performance and the lousy performance of congress. Nancy Pelosi is the one who seems to have our actual interests at heart. At this point, I have lost faith in Obama and certain in the Dem controlled Senate. I think we could all starve to death and the Obamas and the Senate would not even care.

[Name removed]

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[smalll]

34. Another fan!

:hug:

:shrug:

[Name removed]

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[LatteLibertine]

38. If he goes low enough

the Clintons are going to let loose on him.

President Obama did the right thing standing up for religious freedom and the majority of Muslims who have nothing to do with terrorism.

I'd agree he does need to keep the party focus on what the GoP are actually all about; concentrating money and power upwards to the most wealthy at the expense or interests of the overwhelming majority of the US population. He needs to relentlessly point out how the GoP vote against the interests of the poor and middle class every chance they get. He needs to contrast that with the goals and initiatives of the Democratic party.

[Bobbie Jo]

41. You're killin' me, smalll.

[karynnj]

42. August polling is often very very weird

A complete conjecture of mine:

Far fewer people are home to answer the phone - even from pollsters that make multiple attempts. At some point the assumptions that the people who answer are similar to their peers in the same demographic group who don't answer falls apart. I would bet that mid to late August is likely to be a time where a greater number of people are on vacation. When non-response is extremely high, the people responding may not by similar to those responding.

[Imajika]

51. Do you have any evidence August polling is inaccurate?

I've never heard this. What trends have you seen in past August's that lead you to believe August numbers are screwy? Because honestly, when people dispute poll results I have found they mostly just don't like the results.

[sakabatou]

44. I just had to

[FrenchieCat]

45. I suggest that based on this news.......

with all of the *****

I recommend that......

I heard that this works with future results of polling outfits;
that and keeping our foot up Obama's ass, where all the jobs are hiding!

[fogonthelake]

53. I think your language is vulgar and there is no need to make Dems look

so vile.

[John Agar]

72. What does this even mean?

Honestly, i don't get it.

[smalll]

47. ••• MONDAY'S NUMBERS: Approval 42% -- Disapproval 50% •••

With today's results, Obama's disapproval reaches an all-time high: it had hit 49% a number of days over the past month or two; this is the fist time it's hit 50%.

[fogonthelake]

50. oh my. bad monday.

[NJmaverick]

54. Yup, what happens when you keep the President's feet constantly in the fire

[joe black]

59. Isn't that what he wanted.

make me do it blah, blah, blah.

[impik]

64. He didn't want to be burned

Which is exactly what the professional left has done to him.

[Dr.Phool]

65. How can you keep them in the fire, when he's got them in his mouth?

[NJmaverick]

71. Way to give all the critics a free pass for the consequences

[sabrina 1]

69. Bullshit, this is what happens when you constantly attack

your base and cater to Republicans who are NEVER going to vote for you.

And it's what happens when you have a COS and a press secretary who say they do not need the people who elected you in the first place. DU doesn't have that much power, get it? Only the WH can do this to itself and if they had listened to the 'left' instead of whoever is advising this president, his poll numbers would not be dropping like this. Oh, and for the record, people like you don't help either.

Watch the poll numbers soar if this president were to take a real stand and MEAN IT, against the people who are the real cause of the problems in this country, and NO it is NOT the left. DID YOU FORGET? It is REPUBLICANS.

Let him start acting like Alan Grayson, (ever hear HIM slamming the people who elected him? of course not, he's way to smart for that), and then watch his poll numbers go up.

If he doesn't start working on winning back the people who elected him, he'll be left with people like you who don't care what he does so long as he has a 'D' after his name, but you are very, very much in the minority and the sooner someone can get past his DLC advisers and point this all out to him, the sooner he will start winning those voters back.

He could start by firing Gibbs and Rahm and watch his numbers soar ... and then on to catering to those who elected him rather than those who absolutely hate him.

[NJmaverick]

70. You can "bullshit" all you want but it won't change the fact

that excessive and unfair criticism is going to hurt the President

[John Agar]

73. What about reasoned and fair criticism?

The Birthers and Teabagger conspiracy theories are one thing (and justly condemned as harmful and crazy).

Frustration over the wars or DADT , in contrast, are much more specific, reasonable, and understandable.

Or so it seems to me.

[NJmaverick]

74. Fair and reasoned is less harmful especially when balanced with proper praise

but that's definitely not what we are seeing

[John Agar]

75. I don't understand what you mean by "proper praise."

Could you give an example?

[NJmaverick]

76. The President has made many impressive and historic accomplishments

they have been listed and the list exceeds a 100 items. There are many critics who refuse to even acknowledge that list. This is some what dated there have been more since it was published

http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com/2010/03/100-accomplishments-of-president-barack.html

[John Agar]

87. OK. I thought "praise" sounded a little strong. "Credit" seems more like it.

I have not seen that list before, but I have read references to it.

Thank you for the link.

[sabrina 1]

77. And that is coming from the right while

his aides are battling the left. And to combat the excessive and unfair criticism from the right, he needs the support of those who elected him which he would have were it not for those who, like you, are driving them away.

And if Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats believe that this is the case, which they do and have had two meetings with the WH to ask that they stop conflating the right and the left, I think they know the reasons why and are worried, which they have expressed, that they too are being affected by the anti-democratic rhetoric coming from this WH.

So, if you do not want Palin in 2012, it is way past time to stop alienating the people Democrats need most and start facing facts.

[dionysus]

79. "start by firing Gibbs and Rahm and watch his numbers soar " that's a mighty alternate reality you

live in.

only a few whiny bloggers give a shit about Gibbs. you think people base their support of the administration on who the press secretary is?

man, it's a damn good thing you guys don't run things.

[yourneighborsdog]

81. The loss of support isn't coming from Democrats.

The loss in support isn't coming from Democrats (83%/80%). The loss of support is coming from independents (74%/39%) and Republicans (51%/12%).

[sabrina 1]

82. The loss of support is coming from people who voted for him.

Left leaning Independents are probably even more to the left than liberals. To win, getting those people back on board is going to be necessary.

As for polls aimed only at Democrats or 'liberals', most people who are democrats and who voted for the president, will not tell a pollster they do not support him. Such polls do not reflect the dissatisfaction within a party. They also don't reflect who will be actively working this time, to keep a Democratic Majority.

Iow, slamming your most likely supporters on a regular basis is something even right-wingers know not to do publicly. It's bad strategy and it makes them look like amateurs who do not belong in politics.

[dionysus]

55. well, you must be thrilled!

[joe black]

56. You think...

Maybe what Gibbie said the other day may have had a slight effect.

[joe black]

57. You know what.

Maybe Obama should do what's right and not worry about the polls.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

58. as usual our resident soothsayer 'smalll; tells us beware the ides'

[LittleBlue]

62. I will predict the next 24 months, and it will be a disaster unless this ship is righted

This fall-- Dems are soundly beaten. We probably won't lose the entire congress. The faithful at DU reject any criticism, claiming it was faithless Democrats who cost us the election.

Early next year-- Poll numbers for Obama and Dems continue to slide. Again, everything but the kitchen sink and the White House are blamed.

Late next year-- Drawdown in Iraq begins. President has large ceremony and will get no boost in the polls from such a brazenly political act.

Early 2012-- With approval at an all-time low, Obama realizes 3 years too late it really is the economy (stupid.)

Middle 2012-- Proposes a stimulus closer to what we should have had in 2008. Too little, too late; Rethugs kill it and wait for November.

Election 2012-- We lose the House and Senate, and possibly the presidency depending on how kooky the Republican nominee appears. DU in meltdown and despondence, many bans and accusations that traitors cost us. See: Republicans in 2008, with heads firmly planted in sand rather than listen to criticism.

It's fucking sad, really.

[smalll]

63. I only agree with your first prediction -- "we won't lose the entire congress" --

My best guess at this point is the Repubs take the House, and the Dems maintain a thin numerical lead in the Senate (very thin.) But with the whole 60-vote thing there, the Repubs will essentially prevail there too.

After that? It's the second half of Clinton's first term: suddenly, rather than seeming like a weak President in the pocket of the Dem Congressional leadership (at least legislatively) pissing off righties and lefties alike --- Obama will suddenly be the maintstream, fighting Dem President standing up against a crazy Repub "Do Nothing Congress" -- and he'll ride home to victory on that basis, just as Clinton did in 96, and Truman did in 48.

[dionysus]

80. oooh, fail pron!

[smalll]

84. ••• TUESDAY'S NUMBERS: Approval 42% -- Disapproval 51% •••

Disapproval hits a new high at 51%, after yesterday's new high of 50%.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx

[Robbins]

89. The downturn continues

Approval 41 percent

Disapproval 52 percent

I hope you like hearing Speaker Bohener and Majority Leader Mcconnell.

You think Obama hasn't gotten anything done in 2009/2010.Well come january he can do nothing.

[smalll]

90. Thanks, but I don't see those new numbers on the Gallup website yet --

where are you getting them from?

[smalll]

92. ••• WEDNESDAY'S NUMBERS: Approval 41% -- Disapproval 52% !!! •••

Not yet on the Gallup website, but it is reported at RealClearPolitics:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

Approval - 41% - new all-time low for Obama.
Disapproval - 52% - new all-time high.

Will Obama fall into the thirties before November? Signs point to yes.

[Beacool]

94. This surprised me.

He's been polling lower than on Rasmussen for days. It's usually the reverse.

[impik]

95. Aren't you a happy cat, ah? And you have no shame to use

his picture as your avatar. Screw you and your bold letters.

[and-justice-for-all]

93. I do not buy it...sorry..nt

[Uzybone]

96. Can we make this a sticky? So we will know what DU is all about.

[smalll]

97. ••• THURSDAY'S NUMBERS: Approval 41% -- Disapproval 52% •••

No change!

The hemorrhaging has, at least temporarily, stopped.

[fogonthelake]

99. good.

[Aramchek]

98. only a psychic vampire would keep bringing this zombie back to life

what do you get out of this?
some sick satisfaction??