It isn't just that the honeymoon is over. The couple seems headed for divorce.
Rocked by the growing backlash against his rushed and radical health care overhaul and his unprecedented spending spree, Barack Obama's popularity is plunging: down to nearly half the country, after starting his term with soaring approval.
"This is a president who needs a vacation," Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart told NBC News.
Maybe. But it's a good bet that anger and opposition to his health-care takeover will only grow over the August congressional recess, as most members of Congress face agitated constituents for the first time since the sweeping changes were proposed.
Those congressmen who have already had town halls and such have been met with derision, laughter, catcalls and anger by the public.
Already, those who believe the health care bill will only lower quality and increase cost outnumber the people who think otherwise.
Obama is also seen in polls as failing to provide an effective economic stimulus, despite prodding Congress into borrowing $787 billion for it. And polls show the growing deficit has Americans increasingly concerned.
Obama may have set himself up for this fall by running last year as a centrist. He clearly is not, and is governing from a far-left position. Between the health care debacle, the stimulus boondoggle, the record deficits and the bailouts and heavy-handed incursions into the highest levels of the private sector, more and more Americans are concerned that the country is on the wrong track and headed for socialism.
Those of us who studied Barack Obama's record last year aren't surprised. He was schooled by socialists, and nothing in his scant legislative career indicated he would turn out to be anything else.
Moreover, most economists can tell you that a government-centric approach cannot drag a free-market economy out of the doldrums. Only time and a free people can do that; Obama has given us the opposite.
And while he has talked a good centrist, bipartisan game, Obama's "I won -- deal with it" approach has only worsened the partisan divide in Congress as he and Democratic leaders see little need for input from the loyal opposition.
No surprise there, either: Once the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, he has never shown a proclivity for working across the aisle.
In short, his personal charm was the only thing putting off the day of reckoning and America's slow realization that he's taking us down the wrong path. Now that his policies are being judged, though, his popularity is nosediving.
He has vastly overestimated his mandate, despite a slight margin of victory, as well as America's thirst for wholesale change of its time-tested institutions.
A vacation? It will likely help only if he comes back chastened and willing to -- dare we say it? -- change.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Obama is caught between the progressive Democrats and the American people. Today, 53 liberal members of the House Progressive Caucus sent Democratic leaders a letter calling the Blue Dog compromise pact on health care "fundamentally unacceptable" while demanding a public option be part of any bill. The majority of the American people don't even want the Blue Dog compromise version, yet he has to somehow appease his life wing base. His attempts to push through his socialist plans when there is no money to pay for any of it has half the people of the country disapproving as evidenced by his falling popularity. Obama looks like he could limbo pretty well and that's good because that pole he is sliding down is going to be placed horizontal soon. On this issue the question about his popularity is going to be "How low can you go?"
It's no surprise the young socialist that worshiped the teachings of Karl Marx and was cultivated by the likes of Bill Ayers and the right Rev. Wright would be the most liberal member of the senate. And it's no surprise that even though he "promised" to lead from the center, the president that chose H.Clinton, T.Vilsack, K.Sebelius, and E.Holder, and J. Napolitano would be the most socialist president in the history of this (and most other) country. As a result, it should be no surprise that the radical socialist agenda being tried in a capitalist, democratic republic would be very unpopular. The easily led, and often misinformed, "undecided" can only be tricked as long as they are misinformed or uninformed. Once they learn who and what Obama is, his strangle hold is lost. This may be the beginning of the end.
On the grammar front, I didn't find any today, and you were easy on the colons and semicolons. Usually you have more colons than a Gray's Anatomy book.
And all this is a surprise?
President Obama's problem is that he hasn't lead! President Obama has let Reid and Pelosi run the show while he cheer leads from the side. What ever comes out of the house and senate will be fine with Obama and he will sign it. In his speaches about health care he goes over and over the same ground with out giving any road map of how it will work. The working portion is left up to congress and Obama is left in the dark.
First of all the people that claimed he hasn't lead and hasn't accomplished anything step back and realize he has accomplished something only 43 other men have accomplished he is the President of the United States. Secondly, the ACES could try to have a little credibility and not be so hypocritical. This is the 3rd article this week about polls and popularity while Bush/Cheney broke all the presidential lows not a word. I mean atleast attempt to have some integrity. So much for wishing.
concernednative - you are right, he has accomplished the same thing only 43 others have accomplished. And THAT IS THE ONLY THING HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED! Finally a left winger that has actually given an accomplishment of the one-who's-name-must-not-be-spoken.
Wishful thinking, conservatives, wishful thinking. He hasn't had time to accomplish much yet. Be patient. Conservatives are supposed to be patient, are they not? Isn't that the whole idea of being a conservative?
Odumba down in the polls? No, say it ain't so! Where's JUSTUS ranting about the "non-minority media?" I'm sure it's all their fault. I'm loving it. JINDAL/HUTCHISON 2012.
I still can't understand why the people of our great nation (or should I say idiots) put this liar in office. His true "colors" were clouded with campaign lies. Why couldn't the idiots see his record? And they are surprised by his actions?
The only thing I have to say about Obama is I would to have a president not someone still running for president. I feel as if he doesn't know anything but how to campaign.
Obama's ascent to POTUS is possibly the worst mistake American voters have brought upon themselves. We can't continue on this path for another 3 1/2 years. It is high time we consider legal means to impeachment proceedings. Impeachment based on pure incompetence.
I beleive fo one dat dis will ruin democrats for the next 12 years it get passed.But medicare and social security will be broke in just a few years this is just one way to pay for it. This will be like raising everyones taxes by like a thousand dollars a year.
mgroothand...Perfect Comment...It's only EIGHT years too late. Where were you when we invaded Iraq, tortured prisoners, spied on Americans without warrants, left people on their roofs and dying in the Superdome after Katrina, and lined the pockets of Halliburton with Tax Dollars??? Where were you then buddy?
You see they been just taking money out social security on the down low .Wit out no body knowing so this just a way to get they money back.
What should we expect when the inept and incompetent prezbho has appointed 30+ czars (who circumvent the legal process) to do the job that he is suppose to be doing? As I said months ago, all he is capable of doing is to campaign. That's all he has done since he first ran for IL senate (who is billions in debt), then US senate (voting present) and now POTUS (flying all over the place) and showing he is totally clueless without his teleprompter. Why did anyone expect anything different?
As long as he is above 50% he is OK. I do see his numers dropping in the opposite direction of the jobless rates.
Bush isn't in office now. Everytime facts are given about prezbho and his horrible admin and plans, the fawning followers go back to attacking Bush. Try paying attention to what is happening to our country now. That's what we're doing. If you're not outraged - you're not paying attention...
Stealth Nationalization How government programs are saving insurance companies from disaster. http://www.slate.com/id/2223936?nav=wp
he'll mix up a new batch of koolade and everything will be rosey again. jim jones and david koresh can't hold a candle to this ???? whatever he is.
His approach to handling things is to start a NEW crisis and use his scare tactics and threats. You can be sure that some new diversion will happen. That's been the game plan, so far.
keep up the good work, mr obama, they just mad, f the poll.
mgroothand...Perfect Comment...It's only EIGHT years too late. Where were you when we invaded Iraq, tortured prisoners, spied on Americans without warrants, left people on their roofs and dying in the Superdome after Katrina, and lined the pockets of Halliburton with Tax Dollars??? Where were you then buddy?
Posted by fred1217 on Sat Aug 1, 2009 8:39 AM I love the lefts blindness to facts! EVERYBODY, THE RUSSIANS, BILL CLINTON THE CIA (DIRECTOR OF CIA SAID IT WAS A SLAM DUNK ON WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. It is debatable if inhanced interrogation was torture, Bill Clinton , with the help of Eric Holder practiced rendition when they sent prisoners to other coountries to be tortured. Nagan and Blanco were negligent in handling Katrania. Money that was supposed to be spent on preperations was spent on studing bridges, instead of evacuating the city he hold up in a hotel and had no idea how bad the storm was. The NO communication equipement was so bad he could not communicate with Baton Rouge. Bush over spent and Obama has kept all the programs for spoying in place thaqt Bush had....
Rasmussen Poll today...30% strongly approve how Obama runs the country. 38% STRONGLY DISAPPROVE. Overall 50% still approve of his presidency, but the trend is clear. Downward. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administra...
Wow.... I definitely wouldn't want many of you to be my judge and jury. Obama has barely been in office a lil over six months some of you are already calling for his impeachment and resignation. Somehow, I have a feeling that no matter what Obama does you will find something negative to say about it. If things begin to improve, some of you will still continue with your disparaging remarks. Since some of you are obviously more competent and adept than Obama what are your suggestions for improving the United States? Give me details. Get together and write up a proposal to send to your local, state, and national legislators. Heck, run for a government position yourself. Remember, if you aren't a part of the solution then you are a part of the problem. The last time I checked constant complaining gets nothing accomplished but may lead to strokes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and ulcers...lol.
Please give us some details of the great things prezbho has done for you and our country...
fred1217...Where was I when we invaded Iraq. I was rooting for out troops who were taking down a tyrant in support of a U.N. resolution, in cooperation with our allies, and approved by Congress. Where was I when we were "spied" on? I was rooting for the intelligence guys who were catching terrorist in this country talking to terrorist overseas, using a Congressionally approved and court approved program. Where was I during Katrina? I was watching in amazement at what can happen when you have a Democrat governor who refused to let FEMA come in and stage 48 hours prior to Katrina, a Democrat Mayor who was too stupid to order an evacuation using available school buses, and a population who were too stupid to evacuate with 3 days notice. Just for you fred, I will concede I was not happy with ANY of the "no-bid" contracts, although nothing illegal has been shown. Where were you during all of this fred1217. Listening to Rev. Jeremiah Wright and hollering "Bush did it"? Obama's polls are sliding because people now see he is a racist, Communist, anti-American nutcase who appoints Communists and "sterilizers" as Czars, tax cheats to run the IRS, ACORN for the Census, and racists to the DOJ.
Well prezbho certainly isn't part of the solution so he must then be the problem...
Obama is NOT a liar. He promised to destroy (change) the country as we have known it and he is keeping the promise. His spread the wealth, not go get a job, promise supports all his actions. If he really wanted to create jobs he would put money in the hands of the people to spend not into new gov't agencies.
Converted Southerner, let's make this productive. Obviously, you don't have any suggestions.
I've noticed many of you are good at harping on things in the past that can't be changed but make very few suggestions for the future. What plans would be better for our nation? Even if McCain was president, I doubt the present situation of our country would have been any better at this point. Not because he is a Republican but because the country in general was already moving in a downward spiral (economy, health care, education, other issues etc.). There is still a great divide amongst us as Americans even though folks may not want to admit it.