Democrats' fright club
Obama's approval rating is fine, but his party's fear of the Republicans means they'll suffer at the polls
Michael Tomasky
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 22 August 2010
Question: among Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which one had the highest approval rating at this 20-month mark in his presidency? The answer is Obama, who, at 44% or 45%, is a few points better than each of those predecessors was. The Bushes were both more popular, but they were governing under special circumstances – George HW Bush was launching the Persian gulf war in his 20th month in office, and his son was still wearing the post-11 September halo.
Now consider Obama's list of legislative accomplishments, which, even accounting for the negative political impact of the still-unpopular healthcare reform, is substantial. Financial reform and the stimulus (which Republicans inveigh against in Washington and then, once back in their districts, celebrate by cutting the ribbons on highways rebuilt with stimulus money) are only the best known of a long list. One piece of legislation reformed the student loan system in the US, which had been mired in a scandal that cost taxpayers billions of dollars. In calmer times this bill, the largest change to higher education financing in the US in 50 years, would have been politically meaningful. Now, no one even remembers it happened.
The narrative in Washington today could very easily be "Obama holding his own under tough circumstances". But instead it's "Obama teetering on edge of collapse as more Americans catch on to his socialist-Muslim schemes". The electoral view is that the Democrats are going to be wiped out at the polls this November. The Republicans might take control of the House of Representatives (one respected handicapper, Charlie Cook, said last week that it's no longer a might, but a will). They could even capture the Senate. The sharks of 2012, when Obama must seek reelection, are beginning to pick up the scent of blood.
(More here.)
Michael Tomasky
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 22 August 2010
Question: among Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which one had the highest approval rating at this 20-month mark in his presidency? The answer is Obama, who, at 44% or 45%, is a few points better than each of those predecessors was. The Bushes were both more popular, but they were governing under special circumstances – George HW Bush was launching the Persian gulf war in his 20th month in office, and his son was still wearing the post-11 September halo.
Now consider Obama's list of legislative accomplishments, which, even accounting for the negative political impact of the still-unpopular healthcare reform, is substantial. Financial reform and the stimulus (which Republicans inveigh against in Washington and then, once back in their districts, celebrate by cutting the ribbons on highways rebuilt with stimulus money) are only the best known of a long list. One piece of legislation reformed the student loan system in the US, which had been mired in a scandal that cost taxpayers billions of dollars. In calmer times this bill, the largest change to higher education financing in the US in 50 years, would have been politically meaningful. Now, no one even remembers it happened.
The narrative in Washington today could very easily be "Obama holding his own under tough circumstances". But instead it's "Obama teetering on edge of collapse as more Americans catch on to his socialist-Muslim schemes". The electoral view is that the Democrats are going to be wiped out at the polls this November. The Republicans might take control of the House of Representatives (one respected handicapper, Charlie Cook, said last week that it's no longer a might, but a will). They could even capture the Senate. The sharks of 2012, when Obama must seek reelection, are beginning to pick up the scent of blood.
(More here.)
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