This article provides excellent historical context to presidential approval ratings in general and President Obama's predicament in particular. While the author poohs poohs any concern over the president's political fortunes at this stage, I found one of his disclaimers/footnotes to be very interesting:
Let me add a bit more nuance here: I think you can make a good (although probably not rock-solid) case that the idea of a substantially progressive Obama presidency is on the line right now. But there are a lot of scenarios where the combination of voters getting a little something out of their system in 2010, combined with (eventually) an improving economy and perhaps a foreign policy success or two, could leave Obama personally in fairly good shape in 2012
In essence, Silver sees no cause for the White House to have immediate concern that they will be looking for new jobs come 2013. However, the change liberals hoped for may be DOA.
Before Republican types rejoice, never forget the lessons of Bill Clinton. His pivot to the center salvaged his administration.
I also find interesting that editorialists just join feeding frenzies, say little specific, and certainly don't contribute ideas. It is the lot of the Presidency to have to be accountable for all past and present errors. Mr. Obama is presiding over 80 years of poor economic mismanagement. Of course, he knew that coming in, but with a 13 trillion public debt foundation we need to leave customary political practices together. The consequences of past actions now requires fewer Monday morning quarterbacks, and advanced surgery.
ReplyDeleteRichard Lefrancois
I cannot relocate where that the ceiling of the national debt is being raised to about 14.5 trillion, and since it is difficult to confirm, I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteRIchard Lefrancois
John Tillotson said...
ReplyDeleteThe Obama Presedency, some times I wonder if this is the last President we will have before Christ's second coming. All the natural disasters with oil spills and earthquakes and Tsnamis. I wonder sometimes if our panet will make through the next several years.
Clinton shifted to the center to for many valid reasons that required that type of response. Obama began a bit further to the left and one of the key reasons that the victory was so large was because the anti-Right vote was so strong. The ideals of change were not so large as some people think. Since the main platform was health care and as we can all tell the public opinion was much more narrow than even the vote showed. A move much further right now could be a disaster for Obama. There is still a strong feeling against the Right currently and even the center is taking a beating. This is a completely cyclical thing and really has nothing to do with anything more than people are tired of one side so the other side is put into power. Obama may make another four years but as almost every cycle in history has proven their will be a Republican elected. The thing that REALLY scares me is how little power the president really has and how many people turn out to vote for the office. Also, how much power congress has and how few people vote for these offices.
ReplyDeleteCorey Crawford