"For Obama, glass is half full"

[Clio the Leo]

For Obama, glass is half full
By: Glenn Thrush
November 26, 2010 06:04 AM EST

His party just suffered staggering losses, his no-drama West Wing is besieged and a few outlier Democrats are even demanding he surrender to fate, assume the fetal position and embrace a one-term presidency.

But when President Barack Obama meets with Speaker-to-be John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the White House next week, he’ll walk in as the most popular politician in the room — which still counts for something.

And that is one reason why, nearly a month after the wipeout in the midterms, Democrats both inside and outside the White House are spying a few rays of hope knifing through the gloom. They see the makings of a serious potential rebound for Obama — if he settles on steady message, the economy finally cooperates and Sarah Palin takes the presidential plunge.

To be sure, Obama’s approval numbers are squishy, especially in must-win states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. Yet he is registering a baseline national approval rating between 42 percent and 48 percent over the past two weeks, better than Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton at comparable points in their presidencies — a reservoir of goodwill he could build upon.

“His standing with the American people ain't all that bad,” said former Bill Clinton adviser Paul Begala. “Bush was in the 20s with a stronger economy. If Obama can generate some jobs, my party will be fine.”

Veteran Democratic consultant Dan Gerstein, who has urged the White House to focus on rebuilding bridges with disaffected independents and right-tilting Democrats, said the playing field for Obama is actually pretty good, all things considered.

“It’s easy to argue that Obama’s reelection glass is half full,” Gerstein said. “His approval numbers are better than Reagan’s at the same time, his likability numbers are still good, and the matchups, in general, are looking bad for Republicans at a time when he’s reeling. He’s got plenty of time to recover.”

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=860F894B-AA12-87F8-44A98EFCF6FA15EC

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. "If Obama can generate some jobs, my party will be fine."

If if there are no jobs... one term is guaranteed.

"He’s got plenty of time to recover.”

Sure... plenty of time.. sigh.

[Hawkowl]

4. Not much time

About 20 months to turn at least perceptions around. He has enacted no policies to date, that will take us in a turnaround direction in the remaining timespan of his term. All his "accomplishments" have done is slow down the implosion of the economy and the health care system. Simply buying time. If he had made really hard choices at the beginning, i.e; breaking up banking monopolies and prosecuting banksters, combined with massive public works jobs programs. Then we might be in the same position today, BUT the next two years would look much, much brighter.

I see Obama getting his ass kicked into next week come election time in 2012. We need a primary challenger now.

[treestar]

2. Rec'd good point.

It's not a "wipeout" either. There's still a Senate majority. Funny, did they call 2006 a "wipeout" for Bush? Probably not.

[grumgrum]

3. WTF: "Rebuild Bridges with...right-tilting Democrats"...His problem is tilting too much Right!

The problem was Obama's obsessive desire to keep building bridges with ANYTHING right and ended up getting that bridge burned every time. So rebuilding with right-tilting is STUPIDITY! But yet he will continue especially since the media tells him he should.

Evan Bayh is a happy man today!

[otohara]

5. Self Delete

[Jakes Progress]

6. For the unemployed clients I work with the glass is empty and dry.

They would be overjoyed for a half full glass. Not much chance of that though.

[old mark]

7. Many people don't have a glass at all, and are losing any hope of having one...

I'm glad the future looks bright to him, but I would like to see just a bit of the real Democrat I thought I was voting for...My glass isn't even damp.

mark