Don't fret about poll numbers

[StrongBad]

Though it is a little discouraging, I'm really not surprised at all that Obama has the lowest approval ever in Gallup at this point in a presidency.

He was elected on hopes and promises to ease the very real pain that the vast majority of Americans have had to endure over the past several years. This objective isn't going to be fulfilled anytime soon but I am willing to make a prediction of what will happen when it does.

If, let's say in two years time for good measure, the economy is on a steady pace of adding jobs month after month and we're starting to see a slow decrease in the unemployment rate - and we were able to avoid the pitfall of a double dip recession, Obama will have numbers mirroring the goodwill he was shown immediately after being elected and assuming office.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. When the most likable and politically gifted guy on Earth walks into

a situation nobody really blames him for and ten months later is fighting to stay at 50% and blamed for everything it seems safe to say that something along the way could have been handled a little better.

Yes, he faces great difficulties but he seems to have squandered an immense reserve of goodwill with minimal result.

I don't think he's actually a very good politician. Smart and good? Sure. Very. But politically just right place, right time.

Very much like Carter who happened to be the idealistic outsider in a year when that was precisely what was wanted. And then people turned on him--including for some things that were obviously not his fault.

[StrongBad]

2. Or the electorate could be ignorant on subjects they profess to be wise

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. When we blame the electorate in politics it's all over...

It's like a high-jumper blaming gravity.

The electorate is all kinds of fucked up, yes, but they are the water in which politicians must swim. The job is to make the best of the electorate's fucked up ways.

[StrongBad]

8. True. But the electorate's fuckedupness is amplified by the crisis we're in the midst of

He'd be raked over the coals no matter what path he took because there really is no quick fix to the mess we're in.

[Clio the Leo]

7. Exactly. NT

[NJmaverick]

3. Like the destructive criticism heaped on our president by so many DUers

Edit to add the post I responded to was edited. It originally talked about things could have been handled better.

[MNDemNY]

6. Is that the "wise" advice from one who worships a TV Doctor?

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :hi:

[NJmaverick]

9. Who "whorships" TV doctors? More importantly it's telling that you refuse

to take responsibility for YOUR actions. You savagely attack our President for months, then act like it has no effect.


Oh and when you answer the doctor question, please try something different and back up your claim/answer with some FACTS.

[MNDemNY]

11. "savagely attack" ??are you fuckin crazy??

Your blatant water-carrying for everything that is Obama is nothing less than nauseating. The only thing I 'attack" are Obamas policies, actions , and in-actions that I have a disagreement with. I often praise actions that I agree with. There is no doubt that I feel he has not lived up to Democratic Principles in many ways, But I am enamored of his handling of the economy, his actions that have brought us more respect around the world , to name a couple. But you and your ILK back the MAN, in what ever he does, or says, even when he does things that you railed against under Bush, but now seem OK with it. And another point, you are delusional to think that ANYTHING said on this board has enough weight to effect any national poll. Pure delusion. And to answer your silly question, why would anyone , on a political message board , have for his avatar , a picture of an actor who plays a pissy doctor on a stupid T.V. show, unless there is some sort of "worship" goin' on?:crazy: :crazy: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
.
.
"whorships" ..that's Freudian!:rofl: :rofl:

[NJmaverick]

24. you have no clue, do you?

I also noticed you lacked the honesty to answer the question, but that is part of your MO (isn't it?):eyes:

[MNDemNY]

27. What? I answered your question, AND slapped your water-carrying ass down

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[NJmaverick]

28. In your delusional dreams maybe. You know illegal drugs have been known to impair

mental ability

[MNDemNY]

30. Did Dr. House tell you that??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Undercurrent]

12. This is so true!

savagely attack our President for months, then act like it has no effect.

Public attacks on the President of our own party have consequences.

People forget that when they post attacks against the Democratic President on a website called the Democratic Underground it's open for all to see. The public, and the media as well. So it isn't surprising that the public and media come to the conclusion that this open hostility reflects a significant hatred of the President by Democrats themselves. "Hey," they think, "if Democrats are attacking their own President he must be really terrible."

Many of the readers of these comments don't think for themselves. They just pick up on the hateful words.

I'm NOT saying STFU to criticism. Far from it. It's just more helpful to reaching the goals of our party to drop the hate, and personal attacks, and discuss policy differences.


(But I'll probably be attacked for saying this. haha)

[MNDemNY]

14. I make NO personal attacks.

I do (loudly, and rudely) point out POLICIES, ACTIONS , AND IN-ACTIONS that I think go against Democratic Principles.

[Undercurrent]

19. While I my have

been off the mark using the quote as I did, not seeing the entire context of it's posting, my comments were intended to be of a general nature. Not directed at you. I'm not familiar with your previous posts in particular.

That said, I still agree with the quote in a broader sense.

[NJmaverick]

26. No you are not off the mark. Here is a link that is typical of this poster

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=47578&mesg_id=47612

[Undercurrent]

29. Wow.

Missed that.

I didn't slog through the whole thread when it had already been reported that Persily had worked for other Alaska governors too. He was not Palin's property. (Plus he's very well qualified to oversee the pipeline project.) It was clear from the jump that the fact that it was going to be another bash fest.

[NJmaverick]

25. Your post number 11 shows this claim to be false

[MNDemNY]

18. poke

[Clio the Leo]

10. Or .....

.... when a seated President presides over a 10% unemployment rate, a major bill struggling to get through Congress, a frustrated base, a controversial troop deployment and the fact that his job approval numbers dance around the 50 point mark is "news!" ........ it says that the man in question is bit more exceptional than the average bear.

Now, when you add to that the fact that his PERSONAL approval ratings remains un-phased since the election....
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJlgoxuwi0lE&pos=9

*I* would say he's the man who should be here during such difficult times. No one else has the intellect, judgment and ... for lack of a better word .... swagger, to handle all the BS.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Rasmussen....

.... can suck it!



How many of them Nobel thingies did Reagan get?

Yeah .... that's what I thought.

[ruggerson]

13. Obama will be reelected very easily

I don't understand why people breathlessly post daily favorability fluctuations. It's truly idiotic.

If the economy is moderately favorable and we haven't lost 10,000 kids in Afghanistan and barring some unforseen event - Obama will coast to reelection.

Very tough to unseat an incumbent when the nation feels even slightly upbeat.

[DCBob]

16. Totally agree. Almost any improvement in the economy and barring any unforeseen...

catastrophes, he's a winner.

[StrongBad]

22. Agree completely

[Kdillard]

15. No Gallup has him rising at 50 % and if all these polling people

Conducted polls for other President's as they do this one I am sure the poll numbers would show the same rise and falls especially when they were tackling difficult problems. All these poll every day are just an excuse for the MSM to have to undermine the President's agenda, popularity, and give them something to fill up the 24 hr newscycle. Pay attention to the polls when it matters as we get closer to 2010 elections and 2012.

[DCBob]

17. yes, I agree. Furthermore, the 2012 elections are a long, long way off.

It is really ridiculous to fret over polls at this point.

[tridim]

20. It's also a different era of communications.

We all know Faux sucks, but there is no doubt it has a huge effect on perception. The Internet and RW radio serve to amplify the stupid.

JFK would probably be at 30% right now.

[lib2DaBone]

21. You mean to tell me it had nothing to do with appointing Gates..."

a staunch NEOCON ... Obama gave him a free pass to our military... and this is not Obama's fault..how?

[StrongBad]

23. No, I really don't think Gates has anything to do with it

People are responding to the fact (or perhaps now just coming to the realization) that economically speaking we've really gone off the rails as a nation the past few years. True, we haven't quite reached Great Depression levels but it's easily the worst since then. When any course of policy that a president can take will take years before the effect is fully realized, I can understand how people who aren't intimately familiar with the economy can get impatient and sour on the guy in charge.