Obama hits 50% in today's Gallup Daily Tracking Poll!

[jenmito]

And 42% disapproval: http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx :bounce:

[jenmito]

1. Are you kidding me? Someone unrec'ed this?

Whoever did that is no Dem. :eyes:

[jezebel]

2. I rec. it too, so multiple people must have unrec'ed it. Ridiculous. nt

[jenmito]

6. Wow. Unbelievable. n/t

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[kestrel91316]

54. Hey. I'M a "true progressive", but I am not an Obama hater.

Frustrated and disappointed at times, yes. But better half a loaf than none.

[Capn Sunshine]

90. I think the "true progressive label" is as viewed through their telescope

but many who post online have the telescope backwards are are complaining how small everything is.

They may think they are "True progressives" but they are a few miles away in actuality.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. That's what I don't understand, either. They have little faith in the Democratic Party.

And they dislike the president and what he's doing. So why remain on DU? I'm completely baffled by this. And even more baffled that the moderators don't really do anything about it.

[jenmito]

34. From posts I've seen,

moderators DO know who recs and unrecs threads, since I've seen posters say that other posters had been banned because they unrec'ed all threads about positive news re: gay rights. I wish they could do this here...

[pnwmom]

55. Why do they remain?

To try to convert other progressives to their Dems-are-the-same-as-Rethugs point of view.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

59. Got it! And if you profess to be a liberal, as I do, they question your commitment

to their brand of "liberalism" if you still suppor the president.

I mean, really. Today's conservatives go after other conservatives for not being "conservative" enough. When liberals engage in the same McCarthy-like behavior simply because we disagree, it's very unsettling. Not all liberals think, act and walk alike. If we don't know this by now, I don't know what else to say. It gives proud liberals like myself a bad name.

[mkultra]

154. as far as im concerned, you get the best post of the day award

We ARE the big tent and we are not going to let any group of progressives no matter where they are in the spectrum create the litmus test. Thats exactly what they are doing WHILE claiming that we are doing it to them. NAZI tactics at their best.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

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[derby378]

98. I have faith in my fellow grassroots Democrats, but not the folks at the top

And I can't speak for everyone else, but from my vantage point, we didn't suffer through eight years of the worst administration in American history just to reap the meager harvest of the last two years. We were clearly expecting some profound changes for the better.

So now our party is back to square one, and we're going to have to take the party back from the bottom up rather than counting on the upper echelons to do it for us.

[Maraya1969]

105. Why don't you take a look from the positive and quit encouraging

the rethugs because you know they love your type of post.

You just called their accomplishments "meager" when the last year ended up with the largest accomplishments in decades.

[derby378]

106. I'm encouraging my fellow Dems, not the Rethugs

You and I both know that the Rethugs would love nothing more than for people like me to just shut up and encourage more compromise with the GOP, which is odd since that's exactly what this administration has been doing for the better part of the last two years.

I still believe in the power of the grassroots. Working together, we saw Dean get in as DNC Chair for a few years, but we took our eye off the ball, and now we're hurting as a result.

[Dawgs]

138. +1.

:hi:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

123. I totally agree with you, but the good news is that those Democrats

who were responsible for helping the Republicans obstruct are now mostly gone in the House. And in addition to that, we need to be more realistic about what happened in the Senate. You have Republicans blocking or putting holds on every single piece of legislation, no matter how important. Surely you understand that Democrats didn't have anything to do with that. And even though there was a majority in the Senate, not all Democrats think and act alike. There were people like Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln who joined Republicans. Again, not Obama's fault. And not the fault of the majority of Democrats in the House who actually did the right thing.

[mkultra]

155. on the other hand, im completly happy with the job obama is doing

in regard to avoiding the second great depression and moving us forward on all other things no matter what the pace. You wont be forming a democratic tea party that gets any traction. That would require ideological blindness the likes of which democrats just aren't capable of. Have fun though.

[trud]

139. well it could be

that we're here because we're Democrats.

[crim son]

91. I imagine you're talking about somebody like me but

you're wrong if you think I'd rejoice to see his approval ratings rise. I'm curious if there are any with my opinion of the president who would like to see him sink in the polls. I doubt it.

[namahage]

95. You do mean "fall," not "rise," right?

As in "If you think I'd rejoice to see his approval ratings fall, you're wrong"?

[crim son]

140. Sorry; I'm easily confused. Yes, I mean "fall" (slaps forehead). n/t

[Maraya1969]

134. Here is the quote that I was speaking about

"we didn't suffer through eight years of the worst administration in American history just to reap the meager harvest of the last two years"

[Maraya1969]

104. That is one of the reasons I hate those threads that say they are very disappointed

or have given up on the best president This country has seen in a very long time. Or the ones who say that he has accomplished nothing. All these things are not true so what is the motivation of the one who wrote the OP and why do all these people follow?

I always question what their motivations are

[jenmito]

107. MY motivation was to show that Obama's approval in the Gallup poll hit 50% which is

a VERY big deal. How can anyone here be against his approval rating going up?

[nxylas]

132. And the people who unrecced are all progressives, right?

Isn't there the teensiest possibility that Freepers might have unrecced it?

[toddwv]

12. There should be a rec/unrec list for each thread.

It would be an easy way to weed out the infiltrators.

[jenmito]

15. I agree...

then we'd know who people REALLY are, politically speaking.

[Phx_Dem]

41. That is pathetic. They just be bitter like John McCain.

:puke:

[jefferson_dem]

76. Wish the asshole trolls would show their faces...

So I can know who to put on ignore.

[jenmito]

89. They hardly ever do.

They hit and run.

[mkultra]

156. its the ones calling smear tactics "constructive" criticism.

[leveymg]

3. That's a GOP poll measuring mostly GOP respondents to further a GOP agenda. Dems rejoice!

Obama is doing great! Great! Great! More like it, please!

[tblue]

7. That's certainly one way to look at it.

I'm sure it makes him happy, tho.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stevenleser]

42. If you have to twist reality like that to make your assertion barely credible, what does that say to

you?

[pnwmom]

65. If the poll is skewed to the GOP, then Obama's doing even better

than they report. He must have greater than 50% support then.

[avaistheone1]

150. Doing better for who is the question?

Certainly not doing better for the working and middle class of this country.

[jaxx]

5. Excellent.

People are seeing where the trouble lies....to the pubs side of the aisle. I look for him to go higher as the nonsense gets moving from the committees in the house.

[jenmito]

9. Yup...

I think people are seeing how the Repubs.' only real goal is to make Obama a 1-term president (like some HERE obviously hope for, too). They talk about wanting to repeal the healthcare law and to try to somehow impeach Obama. What happened to "jobs jobs jobs"?

[HeroTwins]

8. that's good news

;)

[AtomicKitten]

19. Welcome to DU.

Cheers.

[HeroTwins]

60. thanks

[bigwillq]

53. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[HeroTwins]

61. hi

:fistbump:

[VeryConfused]

10. That's good news!

[DaveT]

16. This is the result of favorable media

coverage of the President's "successes" since he led the Democratic Party to humiliating defeat in November.

I do not hate the President, and I expect to vote for him in 2012. Yet I do not find anything to celebrate in this little rally. Yes the MSM says that the President is really doing great now that he has cut funding for Social Security and given the GOP more than they asked for in tax relief for the already wealthy.

Yes, the public sees that "reaching across the aisle" has "worked" -- worked in the sense of giving the GOP what it says it wants.

So his poll numbers tick up a few points. That is better than having his popularity collapse. But I oppose the President's policies on social security, national security, taxes and a long list of other substantive items. Cheerleading or automatically nay-saying are of course equally shallow and useless -- what we need is a realistic assessment.

Here is mine: progressives have a real big problem with this President whose whole political program is based on giving the GOP some of what it wants.

[OregonBlue]

17. Yes the MSM says that the President is really doing great now that he has cut funding for Social

Security? Did I miss something. I have to say it sure doesn't sound like you intend to vote for him in 2012. It sounds like you really dislike him intensely. Whatever.:shrug: :shrug:

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DaveT]

26. However I may "sound"

I do not want a Republican to win in 2012. I expect to vote for the Democratic nominee who will be Barack Obama. I voted for him in the California Primary and I was thrilled when he won the Presidency. I loved his inaurgurla address, and I am happy with his Supreme Court nominees and his ending of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Most of all, I am truly glad that we have a President who commands the respect of the world -- so different from his disgraceful predecessor.

But no, I do not support his gutting of Social Security and the other things I mentioned on my previous post.



And we, collectively, need to focus on policy rather than personality.

[chervilant]

48. Not to mention,

we need to stop bickering like a bunch of WATBs, and get busy finding ways to save our species.

[Clio the Leo]

121. "I am happy with his ending of Don't Ask Don't Tell."

and you realize that a lot of people agree with you and that would have an effect on his poll numbers, right?

[rfranklin]

136. payroll tax holiday = weakening social security

This has been the objective of the right wingers since 1936 and now they have made a great step forward.

[jenmito]

18. Obama cut funding for Social Security? Got a link? n/t

[DaveT]

22. Are you serious?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/obamas-tax-holiday-a-pois_b_793526.html

Congratulations, you will get a 2% raise this week, courtesy of the President and his GOP friends -- the Social Security payroll tax will be cut, supposedly for one year only. If you believe that it won't be extended, just like all the Bush Tax cuts just were extended, you are very gullible.

This cuts Social Security funding by around $110 billion dollars. If (when) it is extended, that will be upwards of another $100 Billion every year.

When was the last time you saw a tax cut expire?

[ProSense]

23. That has absolutely no impact on Social Security

"When was the last time you saw a tax cut expire?"

Three days ago when the Making Work Pay tax credit expired.

[jenmito]

25. Thank you...

I think we know who's serious and who's not.

[DaveT]

28. Wow

So you think that the Social Security funding cut will expire on schedule?



You certainly make an interesting point about the expiration of the low income earner's tax relief. It did indeed expire, explicitly replaced by this abomination that I am bitching about.

I concede that it did indeed expire. Nevertheless, I think it supports the point I am making -- tax cuts to the influential do not expire, while anything that helps lower income folks is definitely ripe for killing at any time.

[ProSense]

32. By your admission

"tax cuts to the influential do not expire, while anything that helps lower income folks is definitely ripe for killing at any time."

The payroll tax cut specificallys helps for lower income Americans. So by that logic it is "ripe for killing at any time."

[DaveT]

35. A in logic

F in common sense.

Yes, in terms of debating me, you scored a good point there. I said that low income benefits are ripe for the killing and the SS payroll tax holiday helps low income people more than high income people. Nevertheless, the real question is whether the Republicans and the banks who donate mountains of money to both parties will try to make the holiday permanent.

They have a real good reason to do so -- to destroy social security. In case you don't remember, they tried it in 2005. Democratic and popular opposition stopped them then.


Do you really think that this won't be a major political fight next year? The tax holiday will just expire without any impact?

[ProSense]

75. Still inaccurate

They have a real good reason to do so -- to destroy social security. In case you don't remember, they tried it in 2005. Democratic and popular opposition stopped them then.


Do you really think that this won't be a major political fight next year? The tax holiday will just expire without any impact?

Republicans do not want to fund Social Security. The current tax holiday is fully funded.

Republicans are not going to fight to preserve the current arrangement.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OregonBlue]

36. "I expect to vote for the Democratic nominee who will be Barack Obama." This doesn't ring true

given everything else you are saying about the president. Your insistence that the president cut Social Security, even though you are just speculating, speaks volumes.

[DaveT]

64. You don't really hate the Romans.

Yes I do.

Oh, yeah? How much?

A lot!

All right, you're in.
========================


I did not say he cut Social Security, which would not be true. I said he cut Social Security funding which is a fact. And I believe the Republcans are going to use this temporary breach in Social Security funding as an opening to privatize it, just as they attempted in 2005. That is speculation, supported by historical analogy. In theory it might not happen.

What do you think?

I further speculate that our side (meaning Democrats) should get ready for this needless fight that our leader set up for us by cutting the funding of Social Security. And its relevance to this thread is my assertion (unprovable, but still I think obviously true)that the President's modest uptick in popularity is in response to the favorable media attention he has been getting for his "deal" with the GOP.

It appears to me that you cannot cope with the idea that we can support our party and our leaders without pretending that everything they do is wonderful. And accusing me of lying about whether I will vote for Obama in 2012 is a weird way to show your own support for the President. Passive aggressive just ain't very persuasive.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[emulatorloo]

111. Opinion Pieces are not "Facts", they are speculation and opinion

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[Clio the Leo]

120. "I will be your President too."

Did you think this was just BS?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brdjDyzqyWQ

[AtomicKitten]

20. Nice way to start off the new year!

:party:

k&r

[Marsala]

29. Statistical fluctuation

Some days there will be a particularly favorable sample. It is true that Obama's polling average has been trending higher for the past couple of weeks or so, but one day isn't very meaningful by itself.

[jenmito]

33. He hasn't been at 50% since I-don't-know-when.

His approval is up 3 and his disapproval is down 3. VERY important marker.

[Politics_Guy25]

37. This is signifcant-actually

President Obama has NOT been at 50% in Gallup since mid-May EVEN once. I've been waiting for this. This is truly huge!

[jenmito]

39. Exactly!

I'm glad you recognize this, unlike some others here. :hi:

[Politics_Guy25]

40. Question for you Jenmito

This question is triggered since it was the gulf oil spill that sent him under 50%. I had a really hard time coping with the onslaught on President Obama during that. It was a lowpoint of his presidency for sure. How'd you get that through that time emotionally? I was nearly ready to come unglued during the entire thing. Terrified of the political effects.

And yep reaching 50% is something that any reasonable observer has to recognize:)

Happy New Year!!

[jenmito]

47. Well...

it was maddening to see the media having the "oil spill cam" running all day, every day. And even worse watching people like James Carville attacking Obama.

But I just resigned myself to the "reality" that the media portrayed, just knowing it would finally stop one day. I was glad that it happened when it did instead of closer to '12, and I yelled at my TV a lot, especially when I'd see people like Bobby Jindal attacking Obama.

But, life went on, the spill stopped, and he's BAAACK!

Happy New Year to you, too!

[Clio the Leo]

119. One thing to keep in mind when looking at his polling numbers...

.... compare them to EVERY OTHER PERSON in DC.

He's got at least 10pts on all of them (lol, except Hillary.)

#Perspective

[great white snark]

38. Wonderful news!

I can't believe disapproval went down 3. I now join in your happy bouncy woohoo dance.

:bounce:

[jenmito]

44. Thanks...

for joining me in my happy bouncy woohoo dance! :D

[CakeGrrl]

43. K/R

Too bad if this disappoints some peeps.

[jenmito]

57. Thanks...

and yes, it IS too bad-for THEM. We can par-tay! :party:

[totodeinhere]

45. When he was way below 50% in that same poll some people called the poll BS.

But now that he is up in the poll suddenly the poll is the best thing since sliced bread. Go figure.

[Kaleva]

56. They were calling BS on the polls which showed he had very high support from liberals

[emulatorloo]

110. Because it is hard for some to remember that DU is a bubble

and echo chamber

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

50. Obviously, Americans want a Democratic president moving to the right .... ????

Americans love back room deals with Big Pharma and with private Health Care

industry 'cause 76%+ of them didn't really care if they got MEDICARE FOR ALL or not!!

Then, too, who needs Social Security/Medicare -- ?

What did the Cat Food Commission hurt, afterall -- most American families hardly noticed.

And, won't we all be supportive when Obama embraces the right wing recommdations on Social

Security cuts in the ever-popular "bi-partisan" spirit which has resulted in ONLY Democratic

Party compromises?

Tax cuts for the rich -- $800 billion -- and no MEDICARE FOR ALL --

$1 BILLION a day in interest on the debt -- and no MEDICARE FOR ALL --

Of course all of this makes sense . . .



:eyes:

[jenmito]

52. Wow-you managed to get in every phony issue/talking point.

Congratulations. :eyes:

[defendandprotect]

66. Well, here's Rahm "crowing" about it all .... especially PRESERVING private h/c system...!!!

Rahm .... crowing about preserving "private health care industry" ... business s/b grateful!

Thursday, August 12, 2010


”In a Thursday interview, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel argued that rather than recoiling against Obama, business leaders should be grateful for his support on at least a half-dozen counts: his advocacy of greater international trade and education reform open markets despite union skepticism; his rejection of calls from some quarters to nationalize banks during the financial meltdown; the rescue of the automobile industry; the fact that the overhaul of health care

preserved the private delivery system;

the fact that billions in the stimulus package benefited business with lucrative new contracts, and that financial regulation reform will take away the uncertainty that existed with a broken, pre-crash regulatory apparatus.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2F85DDF-18...




Head in the sand, at all?

For more info on the "back room" deals with Big Pharma and private H/C industry,

see NY Times articles posted here at DU and in my journal.

[jenmito]

87. Your post does NOT back up all the claims you made in your earlier post. Not even

a good try.

[defendandprotect]

129. It backs up ALL of them and more -- and of course you know that ....

however, when you can't respond, rather than admit that, you make a disingenuous reply.

You're on ignore --

[ProSense]

58. Maybe Americans like a Democratic President who

accomplishes stuff.

The ARRA:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA (Pub.L. 111-5), is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009. The Act of Congress was based largely on proposals made by President Barack Obama and was intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn. The measures are nominally worth $787 billion. The Act includes federal tax cuts, expansion of unemployment benefits and other social welfare provisions, and domestic spending in education, health care, and infrastructure, including the energy sector. The Act also includes numerous non-economic recovery related items that were either part of longer-term plans (e.g. a study of the effectiveness of medical treatments) or desired by Congress (e.g. a limitation on executive compensation in federally aided banks added by Senator Dodd and Rep. Frank). The government action is much larger than the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which consisted primarily of tax rebate checks.

Add to that the home buyers credit, cash for clunkers and student financial aid.

And: Final phase of federal law restricting credit card fees, interest rates begins

And: The appointment of Elizabeth Warren to establish the new consumer bureau, for the first time ever, there is a consumer advocate and agency to begin to counter the abuse that has plagued consumers.

And: Withdrawal of 100,000 troops from Iraq and reduction of the number of bases from 357 to 94.



"What did the Cat Food Commission hurt, afterall -- most American families hardly noticed."

What "hurt"? The commission didn't do anything.



These are real: new health care law provisions

Minimum Medical Loss Ratio for Insurers

Requires health plans to report the proportion of premium dollars spent on clinical services, quality, and other costs and provide rebates to consumers if the share of the premium spent on clinical services and quality is less than 85% for plans in the large group market and 80% for plans in the individual and small group markets.
Implementation: Requirement to report medical loss ratio effective for 2010; requirement to provide rebates effective beginningJanuary 1, 2011

Closing the Medicare Drug Coverage Gap

Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide a 50% discount on brand-name prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap beginning in 2011 and begins phasing-in federal subsidies for generic prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

Medicare Payments for Primary Care

Provides a 10% Medicare bonus payment for primary care services; also, provides a 10% Medicare bonus payment to general surgeons practicing in health professional shortage areas.
Implementation: January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015

Medicare Prevention Benefits

Eliminates cost-sharing for Medicare-covered preventive services that are recommended (rated A or B) by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and waives the Medicare deductible for colorectal cancer screening tests; authorizes Medicare coverage for a personalized prevention plan, including a comprehensive health risk assessment.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Creates the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test new payment and delivery system models that reduce costs while maintaining or improving quality.
Implementation: Center established by January 1, 2011

Medicare Premiums for Higher-Income Beneficiaries

Freezes the income threshold for income-related Medicare Part B premiums for 2011 through 2019 at 2010 levels resulting in more people paying income-related premiums, and reduces the Medicare Part D premium subsidy for those with incomes above $85,000/individual and $170,000/couple.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

Medicare Advantage Payment Changes

Restructures payments to private Medicare Advantage plans by phasing-in payments set at increasingly smaller percentages of Medicare fee-for-service rates; freezes 2011 payments at 2010 levels; and prohibits Medicare Advantage plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements for some Medicare covered benefits than is required under the traditional fee-for-service program.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

Medicaid Health Homes

Creates a new Medicaid state option to permit certain Medicaid enrollees to designate a provider as a health home and provides states taking up the option with 90% federal matching payments for two years for health home-related services.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

Chronic Disease Prevention in Medicaid

Provides 3-year grants to states to develop programs to provide Medicaid enrollees with incentives to participate in comprehensive health lifestyle programs and meet certain health behavior targets.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

CLASS Program

Establishes a national, voluntary insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services and supports (CLASS program).
Implementation: January 1, 2011

National Quality Strategy

Requires the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services to develop and update annually a national quality improvement strategy that includes priorities to improve the delivery of health care services, patient health outcomes, and population health.
Implementation: Initial strategy due to Congress by January 1, 2011

Changes to Tax-Free Savings Accounts

Excludes the costs for over-the-counter drugs not prescribed by a doctor from being reimbursed through a Health Reimbursement Account or health Flexible Spending Account and from being reimbursed on a tax-free basis through a Health Savings Account or Archer Medical Savings Account. Increases the tax on distributions from a health savings account or an Archer MSA that are not used for qualified medical expenses to 20% of the amount used.
Implementation: January 1, 2011

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

86. Remember "difference" that once existed between the parties .... Dems didn't attack Social Security?

Differences between the parties are quickly fading --

and as long as you are cool with Obama moving to the right, then you

have little to complain about, evidently?

No one "hates" Obama -- and didn't Skinner suggest that nonsense was to be stopped?

We are disagreeing with Obama's "compromises" -- with Obama taking on the GOP agenda.

[defendandprotect]

67. Cave in compromises certainly do "accomplish stuff" ... for the right wing ....

America is headed for "third world nation" status --

and you're bragging about this pitiful health care reform ...

which Rahm has bragged about to business as PRESERVING THE PRIVATE

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM????

76%+ of Americans wanted single payer/government run health care --

MEDICARE FOR ALL -- and you're saying they're happy with this?

Especially after the evidence to the contrary of Election 2010 and 26 million

estimated non-voters?

Obama was given a mandate in '08 -- something he walked away from to give support

to the collapsed GOP rather than fighting for the issues the voters voted for.



See my post also on this thread for details on that to catch up --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=583350&mesg_id=583613


If you want details on the NY Times articles about the "back room" deals

and can't find it in my journal, I'll be happy to connect you with them.

..... in all sadness!!

[ProSense]

68. "and you're bragging about this pitiful health care reform ..." Well,

I'm not the only one.

[defendandprotect]

69. 76%+ of Americans wanted MEDICARE FOR ALL ... and 26 million voters stayed home in 2010 ....

That's nothing for anyone to brag about --

Least of those like Sen. Bernie Sanders who fought his pitiful reform all

the way -- like Kucinich and Schultz, to name one of the many -- who later

decided it was going to happen anyway and they might as well support it --

that doesn't mean that any of these people are happy about the back room deals.

[ProSense]

70. And

32 million more Americans will gain coverage because of the helth care law.

[defendandprotect]

72. Why not try to sell that to Europeans who have actual universal health care coverage?

Think they would make the compromise?

It's not even a half a loaf of bread --

Americans got crumbs of health care --

[ProSense]

74. This isn't Europe, but

it's possible that Ireland = Nevada

Planning a move?

[defendandprotect]

81. And it isn't Cuba, either, which also does better than us on health care ...!!

Actually, I have family in Ireland -- which, like many other countries has

been greatly harmed -- again -- by our corrupt and criminal practices of capitalism.

Just for the record, America ranks 37th in health care in the WORLD!!

Probably worse now --

50 MILLION uninsured --

certainly nothing to be bragging about -- or "crowing" about -- except for those

interested in catering to corporations/elites.

[motorcityliberal]

99. This what grind my gears

If I give the right wing credit for something and I'll give them this they vote, progressives on the other hand take their ball and run home to momma and then wonder why the House of Representative are made up of nuts and stupid people. Some progressives need to take notes from the civil rights movement when a road blocks pop up, you try to figure out the ways to get to your destination not go the hell with this and go home.

While this health care bill isn't prefect future Democratic presidents (or in a rare case a sane Republican President)can make improvements and with more Democrats in the house you might got that public option but thanks to progressives taking their ball and staying home we gotta sit through two years of mind raping ignorance from the likes of Michele Bachmann who wouldn't recognized a founding father if he stood in front of her with a huge name tag stuck on him. And pointless investigations into the Obama White House.

While I disagree with this President on some issues yet the positive things he has done out weigh whatever liberal street cred those self-appointed voices on the left wants him to have. We got a political party that's willingly to let this country crash and burn for their own personal political gain and our side rather talk about rather the president is liberal enough. And those 26 million that stayed home can't complain when the Repugs start putting the screws to them.

[Clio the Leo]

118. One of those times I wish I could rec a reply. nt

[defendandprotect]

131. This is 2011 and there are still try-outs to replace "the pink pony" ... ???

The problem is now "progressives who took their ball and ran home to mommy"?



:rofl:

[motorcityliberal]

148. Sticking by it

That's always been the problem you folks live in a fantasy world where if you were president you would get all of your legislative agenda passed with no changes or challenges to them. You hated "don't ask and don't tell" yet if progressives had done their job in 1994 you wouldn't have that because President Clinton would have more reasonable people to work with in the house. Again in 2000 there were some progressives that thought Al Gore wasn't liberal enough so what did they do they voted for Ralph Nader and we got stuck with eight years of George W.Bush.

Now we're stuck with a house filled with Republicans that aren't even qualify to work behind the counter at a 7/11. You folks chose not to vote or if you did vote for voted for some dickhead running on the Green Party side. I'm glad some of you folks were not around during the civil rights movement because all the other side would have to do is throw up enough obstacles up and the progressives would give up.

Real progressive change is a long and sometime difficult process and you guys gave it two damn years. You folks need to stop paying attention to the Jane Hamsters and the Cenks Uygurs who's only motivated by clicks on their websites and understand if you want real lasting change you gotta fight for it.

[defendandprotect]

163. Clear to see you are sticking with all of the old "pony" excuses ...

Liberals are "purists" -- "idealists" -- "don't recognize that we need 60 votes" --

and the every popular "it's only been two damned years!"

Again -- Gore won the election in 2000 --

The steal was based on a fascist GOP sponsored rally to stop the vote counting in

Miami-Dade County Election HQs --

and a fascist Gang of 5 who put W in the White House.

Nader had nothing whatsoever to do with Gore's alleged "loss."


And how long can we ignore, that while claiming to be liberals/progressives, nothing is

clearer than how you see liberals/progressives as the enemy . . .

You folks need to stop paying attention to the Jane Hamsters and the Cenks Uygurs who's only motivated by clicks on their websites and understand if you want real lasting change you gotta fight for it.

[kenfrequed]

146. The activists didn't capitulate

If you will look at the history of the Civil Rights movement, the activists never capitulated. They kept on agitating and being activists for their cause and they didn't care what the damned politicians thought of them.

Yes they voted for candidates that supported their cause (or seemed to) but they didn't sign over full super-endorsement to an entire party en masse.

He at one point stated that the racism and terror of the KKK and other organizations was less damaging than the quiet apathy of the majority. And he thought that the apathy of our friends would be remembered far worse than the hatred of our enemies.

I would avoid civil rights analogies in this discussion.

[motorcityliberal]

153. The point is

President Obama wouldn't be in the positions in making deals with the Republicans if he had a Democratic house to work with in 2011. Again the larger context of using the civil rights movement as an example is people didn't go aw fuck it when things got tougher they went ahead. We knew who the roadblocks were and instead knocking them down in 2010 some progressives help build more road blocks.

Progressive got to learn sitting at home or voting for some Green Party douchebag that has no real chance of winning isn't teaching Democrats any lessons because that Democrat that lost will find another job that's going to pay him double what he or she earned as a elected official and you might push the Democrats in that area in a different direction i.e. shifting to the right.

President Obama has done positive things and those few areas the progressive community disagree with the president on shouldn't be enough for people to say "alright let's sit home".

[kenfrequed]

157. One name: Evan Bayh

He did more to derail Anything progressive getting seriously accomplished by forming the Blue dog Senate Caucus in December of 2008, thereby cutting the legs right out from under the more progressive impulses of Obama. I find it insane that more people don't point this out, and would rather waste their time castigating the left... often criticizing the left for having the temerity of pointing this out to the administration, as they did early in the healthcare debate. When the left thought that they would get strategic on the blue dogs and play aggressive within the party they were told such tactics were retarded.

Do not give me this self righteous BS, as though we on the left have not been working hard to try to get shit done. The real problem is that the blue dogs screwed their own party sooo badly that they left congress almost nothing bold and big and progressive to run on. Healthcare reform was designed by insurance companies, and though it did a few nice things, the structure of it protected private insurance more than it promised to contain costs for people needing healthcare.

And the very symbol of how the Blue Dogs lifted their legs on their own party was how Bayh held out till the last filing date as to whether he would run for reelection to the Senate forcing that state party to struggle ten times as hard to find a viable candidate. Oh yeah, he also took his election warchest home with him as well. Democratic donors donating money for the cause of getting a democrat reelected.

Oh and one more thing...save the Nader baiting crap for the people with no attention span.

[motorcityliberal]

159. Again the point is

I agree a large chunk of the problem were Democrats that acted like Republicans they help the real Republicans to gum up or help water down legislation but the best way to limit the impact of the remaining blue dogs were to elect more Democrats that share your values. Ironically some progressives have increase their pull in the senate because those remaining blue dogs will only think about saving their own ass for the next two years and they will make sure the Republican scum bag they will run against have no ammo to use against them. As for this "Nader baiting" Am I right or Am I wrong did Nader votes made the 2000 election easier for the Bush Crime Family to steal? Short answer is yes.

Self-righteous? Hardly it's the god damn truth for too long there are some in the progressive movement when they don't get 100% of their demands they respond by sitting at home or voting for some Green Party asshole which helps the Republican to get elected. And once that Republican gets elected they want to climb on the S.S. complain with me about the Republicans in Washington.

Another problem is that we got people who are only railing against the President because they want more clicks to their websites and views on their YouTube channel.

[defendandprotect]

165. You're correct, corporate Democrats no matter their labels, did great harm ....

the best way to limit the impact of the remaining blue dogs were to elect more Democrats that share your values.

Evidently, you don't know that Rahm Emmanuel was soliciting Blue Dogs -- using them to

undermine even incumbent Democratic liberals?

Ironically some progressives have increase their pull in the senate because those remaining blue dogs will only think about saving their own ass for the next two years and they will make sure the Republican scum bag they will run against have no ammo to use against them.

This is also naive when rw Democrats have caucused with the GOP --

As for this "Nader baiting" Am I right or Am I wrong did Nader votes made the 2000 election easier for the Bush Crime Family to steal? Short answer is yes.

No -- but Buchanan "butterfly ballot votes" -- more than 3,000 of them probably did --

and, certainly the 300,000 "Democrats" who voted for W in Florida did --

There is ZIP to suggest that this alleged "loss" by Gore had anything to do with Nader.

2000 was simply a GOP steal --


Self-righteous? Hardly it's the god damn truth for too long there are some in the progressive movement when they don't get 100% of their demands they respond by sitting at home or voting for some Green Party asshole which helps the Republican to get elected. And once that Republican gets elected they want to climb on the S.S. complain with me about the Republicans in Washington.

The "purist" argument is long dead -- rotting -- and it smells.

No liberals vote for Repugs and its inane to suggest that --

Voters stay home when they lose confidence in leaders and the party --

amd when they feel betrayed. but since your effort is solely to try

to absolve Obama of any wrong-doing and of any responsibility for 2010

losses, I doubt you're interested in that.


Another problem is that we got people who are only railing against the President because they want more clicks to their websites and views on their YouTube channel.


More "liberal and liberal commentators are the enemy" -- ?


:rofl:

[defendandprotect]

164. This might have been some good advice for Obama re his lethal "compromises" with Repugs ....

Some progressives need to take notes from the civil rights movement when a road blocks pop up, you try to figure out the ways to get to your destination not go the hell with this and go home.

[Clio the Leo]

117. lol if there's one way to destroy your own argument...

.... it's to cite Ed Schultz.

[defendandprotect]

130. Schultz ... another liberal on your enemy list?

:rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

141. Nope, he's the ONLY one...

.... ok, it's Schultz and Hamsher.

[defendandprotect]

166. "Liberals and liberal commentators are the enemy" -- the latest mantra ....

And DU must protect me from them?

:rofl:

[sabrina 1]

133. Just talked to another friend today whose insurance premium

has gone up by $300 dollars a month. Romneycare, all you have to do is look what happened to premiums under Romneycare.

The Health Insurance Corps windfall is a Republican bill. In fact, some Republican HC proposals were more progressive.

My advice to you is not to remind people of that disastrous piece of legislation.

Forcing people to pay corrupt Corps for a shoddy product is a Republican idea, it sure never was a progressive idea. Not to mention that Candidate Obama agreed with that and slammed Hillary for promoting the idea. He was right then, which was one small difference between him and Hillary and swayed people, like me, to support him. Then he turned around and did exactly what he called 'wrong' and 'unfair' in the campaign.

Flip flopping on issues like this loses credibility for a politician. Same thing with offshore drilling, he slammed McCain for supporting it then turned around and did the exact opposite.

The middle class are worse off now than they were just two years ago, but Wall St. Execs are doing great. And that's what matters in this country. Keep the wealthy happy and you'll get good press, and your poll numbers will go up.

[defendandprotect]

167. Keep tellin' it .... we need to be reminded all the time -- !!

:)

[Clio the Leo]

116. This would be the...

"Newsflash: Not all of the country agrees with us." point the President was making. ;)

[JaneQPublic]

51. Add to that the upcoming State-of-the-Union Speech bump!

Anyone care to guess what the polls will say then?

[Number23]

63. Excellent point!

I'm being terribly lazy but can anyone tell me when the SoTU speech is?? Thanks! :hi:

[Clio the Leo]

115. Tentatively scheduled for 1/25. nt

[defendandprotect]

71. If obama supports Cat Commission attacks on Social Security -- as he suggests he will --

and if Obama continues his own attack on "entitlements" --

and pushing for more compromise with Repugs -- then, I'd predict

that 2012 will be a disaster for Democrats.

Ironic, isn't it, that we began 2008 with the GOP in collapse and

how effectively they were resurrected from the ashes by Obama willingness

to work on their agenda for them!

Privatizing schools, for one of the saddest in that lot --

Preventing single payer - MEDICARE FOR ALL -- and Medicare negotiation on drug prices --

for two more.

Continuing the tax cuts for the rich while we have two Bush/Obama wars continuing on

bankrupting the Treasury -- and $1 BILLION a day in interest on the debt!

My question these days is, "How does Obama sleep at night?"

[tallahasseedem]

73. It's getting ready to go higher...

with the Republicans taking over the majority in the House. It's only been a couple of days and they're already sealing the deal for us in 2012.

[cduebelhoer]

77. Only place to go is up!

He's going to get a big bump I feel here in the first part of the year like others have mentioned. State of the Union added to the fact the GOP will fall flat on it's face with control of the House.

[bowens43]

78. Americans have very short memories.

No one who is paying attention is part of that 50%.

[jefferson_dem]

80. Which 50%?

Surely, you mean the 50% who are NOT approving...are not paying attention.

[defendandprotect]

82. The silenced majority .... anyone here ever answer these poll phone calls??

[jefferson_dem]

94. Silenced majority? What does that even mean? Ah...the last refuge of reality-deniers...

Ignorantly dismiss an uncomfortable poll result without providing a shred of counter-evidence.

You do realize that polling, and sampling, is a science, right? And many firms (gallup included) call cell phones.

One has to wonder why one would be so cavalierly dismiss a favorable approval rating for this Democratic president anyway.

[defendandprotect]

97. 76%+ of voters wanted MEDICARE FOR ALL ... that's reality ....

and 26 million expected voters stayed home in 2010 --

and Dems lost --

It would be ignorance to disregard that reality --

What we understand of computers is they can be hacked --

What we understand of statistics is they can be manipulated --

as the questions can be manipulated to create a specific result --

Again -- I've never responded to a phone call for a poll -- have you?

One has to wonder why one would be so cavalierly dismiss a favorable approval rating for this Democratic president anyway.

Because given the evidence of 2010 election, it isn't believable --

and because so many DU'ers are expressing high levels of dissatisfaction with Obama and

Dems which has to be considered as reality --

In fact, it is unusual now to see anyone supporting Obama's corporate agenda over past

two years!

Except Blue Dogs and DLC, of course --




PS: "Silenced majority" is a play on Nixon's "Silent Majority" which didn't exist --

and an acknowledgment of our corporate-press which is mainly a right wing Mockingbird.

Eh ... that refers to "Operation Mockingbird" -- probably also a valuable bit of info

for you to be aware of.

[jenmito]

100. I know this post wasn't to me, but I was called by Gallup 3 times (& Quinnipiac once). n/t

[defendandprotect]

125. And you answered their questions? They must like your answers ... !!

[jenmito]

151. No. They didn't end up asking me anything after, "Was your birthday the most recent birthday in

your household?"

[Number23]

108. They're doing the same thing with the Wikileaks stuff

Ignorantly dismiss an uncomfortable poll result without providing a shred of counter-evidence.

A CNN poll showed that damn near 80% (an extraordinarily large number) of people disagree with what Wikileaks has done and don't support it. The response?

"The question is biased/skewed."
"The results are bullshit."
"People are so uninformed" (not necessarily untrue, but you gotta love the implications that if people disagree with certain folks here, it is the person that disagrees that is uninformed).

etc. etc. etc. The exact same attitudes are exhibited by Birthers, but apparently we aren't supposed to notice that.

[jefferson_dem]

113. More evidence that the extreme right wackos do not corner the market on "truthiness"...

[defendandprotect]

127. "A CNN poll" .... and since when is CNN less than corporate-press...???

In fact, we basically have nothing left but corporate-press --

but presume you haven't noticed that?

[Gman]

79. With the GOP in control of the House and

obstructing in the Senate, he may only have to sit in the Oval Office and just smile while his ratings go up.

[defendandprotect]

83. Agree ... meanwhile, according to the support for "compromise" and the impossible "60" votes ...

that Obama got here when Libermann was being made the Superman of the Congress --

and the cave in compromises began . . .

GOP should actually be able to do ZIP, NOTHING, NIL --

And this is a mid-year "win" -- based on 26 million voters staying home -- and

a Democratic president -- and Democratic majority Senate!!

And doom once again is being predicted -- correctly, because the GOP wins whether

they are the majority or the minority!

Hear any talk of "compromise" from the GOP?


:rofl:

[underpants]

85. Funny how this is rarely mention in the MSM - HE is UNDER ATTACK you know

don't YOU want to be part of the ATTACK on HIM??? Don't YOU want to be just like everyone else?

[jenmito]

92. It's only mentioned when he "hits new lows." Let's see if they mention this

on Morning Joe tomorrow. I doubt it, but I emailed Chuck Todd asking him to tell Joe to mention it. He usually writes back and agrees with me.

[defendandprotect]

128. Oh, sure ... the liberal plan is to have Obama adopt a rw agenda on health care + S/S ....

so that we can spend our time criticizing him -- !!!

Who could possibly want MEDICARE FOR ALL over the chance to "attack" Obama!!

:eyes:


The pink pony, the "hatred," the Chess Game, the Magic Wand, the Superman ....

all worn out and now beign replaced by this?

[Fearless]

88. Look what happens when he does something his BASE likes.

[jenmito]

93. Yup-AND when he compromises to get things done.

[Fearless]

162. Yeah, no.

[Lucky Luciano]

96. To me, this proves how powerful the republican noise machine is.

Only two months after the election and a huge change in the approval rating...stock market improvements notwithstanding.

[Clio the Leo]

114. and THAT is the real story.

Climbed almost 8pts since the election. Says it all right there.

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tx4obama]

102. BUT the Rasmussen and Fox polls will ALWAYS bring Obama's average at RCP down ;(

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

[jenmito]

103. That's why I'm only talking about Gallup-apple with apple. n/t

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

109. Uh oh

The Boner's gonna hit the sauce pretty hard when he hears this.

Okay I mean hit the sauce harder.

[Clio the Leo]

112. I believe this is what is commonly known as "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" nt

[Clio the Leo]

122. "It's the jobs report, stupid."

lol NOT calling YOU stupid of course Jen .... but it just clicked .... Sunday night represented three full days of Gallup polling AFTER last Thursday's unemployment figures came out ... the ones showing the first sub-400,000 claim since 2008.

I was trying to figure out the reason .... and that's it. ;)

[Narkos]

124. k and r

[earcandle]

126. Moving on up. Dennis helped me over the hump....

[pam4water]

135. How about you stop looking at polls and learn enough about economic to realize we are still fucked

and two years from now it's going to be worse, because Obama has no idea how to govern.

[Name removed]

137. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jenmito]

144. If you think Obama is a Republican...

you must not know what a Republican IS. Which other "Republican" president would pass laws like the Lilly Ledbetter Law or the repeal of DADT among over a hundred other progressive things?

[obxhead]

142. Proof that you can fool most of the people some of the time.

It will drop again. I'm sure 2011 will be filled with Republican handouts.

[Omar4Dems]

143. He hit 50%? That 50% is gonna be sore for a week.

:hide:

[creon]

145. Decent numbers

Considering the state of the economy and the state of politics today,a 50% approval rate is good.

[wpelb]

147. Significance?

I don't see much significance in this one way or the other. Pres. Obama has bounced between about 40% and 52% positive and 40% and 52% negative for the past year.

In late April/early May of 2009, his approval numbers were in the upper 60s. By September of last year, his positives had settled in the low to mid-50s, while his negatives were were in the upper 30s to low 40s.

As others have pointed out, don't compare Gallup to Rasmussen or anyone else. For someone who does tracking polls, however, it's good to look at his numbers over a period of time. So if Rasmussen, for example, has Pres. Obama at, say, 38% positive and and 52% negative (purely hypothetical numbers, of course), it doesn't mean anything unless a couple of days before he was 45% positive and 42% negative. Even Rasmussen's "strongly approve" and "strongly disapprove" numbers don't mean squat unless they change significantly (i.e., an index of, say, -20 doesn't mean anything unless it was -10 the day before).

Similarly, of course, if Pres. Obama polls at, say, +5 (e.g., 48% approve, 43% disapprove), it doesn't mean anything unless he was at -5 (e.g. 45% approve, 50% disapprove) 24 hours earlier.

My guess is that in any of the polls, no matter how biased they may be, his approval numbers will hover between 40% and 50% (or within any other 10-point range), at least till the 2012 campaign begins.

[jenmito]

149. I don't know why you went on with this long explanation about not comparing

different polls. I did no such thing. Obama hasn't been at 50% in the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll since May. It's a big deal being at 50%. It means he's in a strong position that those in Congress will want to be associated with.

[boycottfaux]

152. wrong, wrong, wrong

This can't be true . .

Bildo said 'The folks are NOW against Mr. Obama and his #'s
are now dropping' . .

I mean if Bildo said it on faux, he would be fired if he LIED,
Right?

[jenmito]

158. Surprisingly, MSNBC has been mentioning Obama's 50% approval today! n/t

[bigwillq]

160. My local news

A CBS affiliate, also mentioned it today.

[jenmito]

161. Wow! How 'bout that?

I just KNEW there'd be NO mention of it. I'm glad to see it getting some recognition.

[shockra]

168. Sounds about right.

If half the people polled were Michael Vick fans.