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Title: What’s Driving Obama Down?
Source:
Frontpage.com
URL Source: http://frontpagemag.com/2010/06/01/whats-driving-obama-down/
Published: Jun 1, 2010
Author: Dick Morris
Post Date: 2010-06-01 15:51:34 by Badeye
Keywords: None
Views: 11913
Comments: 52
What’s Driving Obama Down? Posted by Dick Morris on Jun 1st, 2010 and filed under FrontPage. President Obama’s job-approval rating just hit an all-time low. And there’s a pattern behind the trifecta of issues that are driving the drop — the oil spill, the Arizona immigration-policing law and the fallout from the Greek crisis. After four months of hovering between a low of 46 percent approval and a high of 49 percent, Obama just fell to 42 percent in the daily Rasmussen polls. What’s hurting him and why? On each of these issues, the president originally seized on the issue to make populist political hay. But then the problem wouldn’t go away — and voters began to realize that Obama is, in fact, the president and (logically enough) started giving him much of the blame. When oil started to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, Obama seized the opportunity for a partisan attack — blaming Republicans who had chanted “drill, baby, drill” the whole summer of 2008 as high gasoline prices gave John McCain’s candidacy new steam. Even though the president had himself, with lamentable timing, moved to allow expanded drilling a few weeks before the rig exploded, the impetus for drilling was clearly seen as Republican, and the disaster hurt Republican ratings. Obama couldn’t resist also piling populist scorn on BP, lambasting big oil for the spill. But then the leak didn’t stop — and the slick kept heading to shore. Now the public is wondering why it’s seen no presidential action to stop the spill. As the oil seeps onto the beaches of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, it also seeps into Obama’s poll numbers and drags them down. His press conference was a clear effort to look decisive and effective, and stop the bleeding — but it came awfully late in the crisis. As soon as Arizona passed its law authorizing cops to pick up illegal immigrants, the president jumped on the issue, trying to use it to drive up Latino turnout for Democrats later this year. But it became clear that the majority of Americans strongly back the law — and now Obama is sending 1,200 National Guard troops to the border to stop the bleeding in his polls. Then there’s the stock market. After the crash of 2008, Obama was quick to blame banks and other big businesses for their irresponsible behavior and then to take credit for averting a global collapse in the aftermath. So when Greece exploded due to its top-heavy debt load and dragged the market below 10,000, people wondered if Obama’s populist treatment of the financial markets and his big spending and borrowing were subjecting America to economic peril. When Moody’s announces that it is considering downgrading the credit rating of the United States of America — the richest nation, by far, on earth — it raises understandable alarm. Of course, Obama’s polls will rise and fall in the weeks, months and years ahead; today’s 42 percent may prove a long-forgotten blip. But it’s bit like noticing the line of seaweed on the beach. The tide comes in and go out — but the seaweed marks where it will likely return to. Look at it this way: Obama got 52 percent of the vote in 2008 — so his 42 percent approval means that one in five of his voters has turned on him. And it’s a traumatic event for someone who voted for Obama and had stuck with him since, saying he approved of the president’s policies, to finally turn and says he doesn’t approve. That voter may go back to approving of his president again — but it gets easier and easier to voice disapproval. Especially if the oil keeps spilling, the illegals keep coming — and the market keeps tanking. Dick Morris and Eileen McGann are authors of the new book “2010: Take Back America — A Battle Plan.”
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#2. To: Badeye (#0)
well, if anyone knows about going down......
Putting the Rasmussen issue a side, they'd have killed to have their Boy Blunder @ 42.
Obama has gained 4 points in Rasmussen's approval poll since Morris wrote this. But there's something to consider, yes Rasmussen does well picking the Presidential race, but he is horrendous in pretty much everything else. Wall Street Journal:
Don't know if thats true or not, GO65. What I do know is EVERY poll has Owe-bama falling. There is a part of me that enjoys watching you leftwingers getting a dose of illogical 'katrina' type thinking these days. The other part is horrified at the long term implications of whats happening in the Gulf. This isn't Owe-bama's 'katrina'. Its his 'Iranian Hostage Crisis'. Every day for the next two and a half months the American People are going to be bombarded with updates of enviromental and economic destruction in the region. And just wait til this oil shows up on Florida coastlines. Politically, its a deathblow to the administration. Owe-bama can't do anything about this, any more than Bush could stop a hurricane. He can't do anything about the ongoing damage, any more than Bush could wave his hand and clear 90,000 square miles of roads and airfields to get relief columns into the region in 05. What goes around comes around.
And just wait til this oil shows up on Florida coastlines. Politically, its a deathblow to the administration. So if we elect Republicans then we'll get more federal government involvement in the gulf? Is that the 2010-2012 platform? What happened to "government isn't the solution, it's the problem"?
Is that the 2010-2012 platform? What happened to "government isn't the solution, it's the problem"? This is about Owe-bama and his era, not the Republicans. And 'we' won't elect Republicans this fall, why even post that to me? (chuckle) His policies are failing, GO65. Across the board. Its telling you reflexively attack the GOP. Don't blame you. There is nothing positive to cite about the Dems or their Messiah with clay feet these days.
Nope, Republicans are running against Democrats. You are telling us that if Republicans were in charge, we would see more federal involvement in the Gulf. "We're from the government, we're here to help" - Vote Republican 2010!
This is about Owe-bama and his era, not the Republicans.
#20. To: Badeye (#18)
If the election consists of "do you approve of the job Obama is doing, yes or no" then you have a point. But, Republicans want the jobs Democrats now have, and as such, they need to articulate what they would do differently. At this point all I'm hearing from folks like yourself is "more government!"
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestDick Morris
#3. To: go65 (#2)
After four months of hovering between a low of 46 percent approval and a high of 49 percent, Obama just fell to 42 percent in daily Rasmussen polls.
#4. To: war, badeye (#3)
#7. To: go65 (#4)
#10. To: Badeye (#7)
This isn't Owe-bama's 'katrina'. Its his 'Iranian Hostage Crisis'. Every day for the next two and a half months the American People are going to be bombarded with updates of enviromental and economic destruction in the region.
#14. To: go65 (#10)
So if we elect Republicans then we'll get more federal government involvement in the gulf?
#16. To: Badeye (#14)
This is about Owe-bama and his era, not the Republicans.
#18. To: go65 (#16)
Replies to Comment # 18. This is about Owe-bama and his era, not the Republicans.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 18.
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