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Sagging polls, infighting: trouble for Obama

By
July 21, 2009

President Barack Obama used to command sky-high approval ratings from Americans in the polls.

No more.

The President’s job approval rating is down to 55 percent — below the two-thirds popularity enjoyed by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush at the end of their first six months in office.

Both Carter and the elder Bush were one-term Presidents.

Obama’s inability to deal effectively with the many problems affecting the nation, along with growing dissatisfaction not only among rank-and-file Americans but also within his own party, signals trouble for the young, inexperienced President.

Democratic sources tell Capitol Hill Blue that party insiders are nervous and worried about loss of Congressional seats in the 2010 mid-term elections.

"Six months ago, we felt the mid-term elections would increase our party’s majorities in both the House and Senate," says one Democratic strategist, who asked not to be identified. "Now, some are worried about holding on to the majority in the Senate and we’re looking at possible GOP gains in the House."

The party in control of the White House routinely loses seats in Congress during the mid-term elections. Republicans seized control of Congress in the 1994 mid-term elections during former President Bill Clinton’s first term.

Clinton rebounded and won a second term but Democratic insiders say privately that Barack Obama is no Bill Clinton.

"Obama gives a great speech but he doesn’t have Clinton’s savvy in the trenches," says a Democratic consultant. "He’s no Bill Clinton."

Moderate Democrats increasingly look for ways to distance themselves from Obama’s big-spending policies, fearing a public backlash when the bill for his expensive programs come due.

For some Democrats, gallows humor is emerging.

"I was going to mention the Titanic," says Sen. Chris Dodd, "but I thought that might be a bad analogy."

A growing number of Democrats admit privately that Dodd’s analogy may be spot on.

Posted by on July 21, 2009. Filed under White House. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

11 Responses to Sagging polls, infighting: trouble for Obama

  1. griff

    July 21, 2009 at 9:45 am

    The only thing that worries the Democrats is losing power. The only thing concerning the Republicans is regaining power.

    Where are the American People in all of this? Unemployed or dying overseas. Losing their homes and their country. Power-less.

  2. AustinRanter

    July 21, 2009 at 4:04 pm

    Until when we (the nation’s voters) can get it through our thick skulls that we don’t have a Republican or Democrat (aka conservative or liberal) problem…we have a POWERISM problem…that is a result of a joint venture between Washington and special interest…then we’ll wander aimlessly in the land of the ignorant.

    I don’t at all give a damn about titles anymore. All Washington members are up to their asses in political debt owed to very powerful special interest.

    Special interest continues to manipulate the political behaviors inside our government to meet their specific needs. And they sure as hell only use party titles and the notion of philosophical divisions as a means to an end…and that’s to control both U.S. and world resources.

  3. JerryG

    July 21, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Yeah, and I’m painting my house black and boarding up the windows! Another fear monger and doomsday post!

  4. scrugun

    July 21, 2009 at 10:00 am

    So sad and so true, griff

  5. bogofree

    July 21, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    Big surprise! The itty bitty attention span has kicked in and what the hoi polloi see are what was around when the new year started only worse. Obama owns this economy now and the collective temperament of the masses will change sound bit to sound bit.

    Cut through all the crap and the bottom line is this country has taken on 2 trillion in debt and climbing. Now more to be added? Republicans will now start to frame it with the same old and usually successful rhetoric.

    Giff and Austin nailed it.

  6. JerryG

    July 21, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    55% and below today, 60% tomorrow, 50% next week, 55% the week after! Which polls? Who is paying for them?

    Polls are for strippers and Republicans living on C Street!

  7. almandine

    July 21, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    How profound.

  8. woody188

    July 22, 2009 at 12:26 am

    Americans might be fed up but if they elect an “R” or a “D” they have not wised up.

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
    R U Main Core?

  9. acf

    July 22, 2009 at 1:48 am

    Considering the array of problems facing Obama, and the fact that he is attacking multiple issues at the same time, the poll rankings are not that bad in my eyes. Sure I’d like to see them much higher, but if you get into fights, you’re going to get dinged. Speaking of those polls, I don’t put too much stock in ones like USAToday/Gallup, and Rasmussen (sp?). They slant too much to the right for my taste.

  10. griff

    July 22, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Blah Blah Blah. No fear…Just reality. And if you ain’t scared by what’s going on, then you haven’t got two brain cells working in unison.

  11. Klaus Hergeschimmer

    July 22, 2009 at 3:15 am

    When times get tough, the D-Crapper Congress & Senate go running…but fear not, we have Hairy Reed and his famous Churchillian phrase:”We’ll never give in, never!”

    And Nancy Fancy Pants ‘No More Blank Checks For Bush’s War -er…Obama’s War’ Pelosi will persevere and end funding for da Wars.

    Moderate D-Crapper’s shouting out “Run Away, Run Away” as they distance themselves from Obama’s health care bill.

    I sing a song for the D-Crappers in both houses: “When Danger Reared Its Ugly Head, The D-Crappers Turned Their Tails and Fled -Brave, Brave, Brave, Brave Democrats!!!

    Yep! The D-Crappers are just as willing to be led around by the nose as the Republikaners.