Both Rasmussen and Zogby have his job approval at 49%. The average of all polls at Realclearpolitics show that 57% of Americans believe that the country is going the wrong direction. Both of these numbers are below what Jimmy Carter had at this point in his presidency. And that needs to be viewed with the understanding that Carter never had the nearly full blown backing the the Television MSM that Obama has, and still does enjoy.

In short, I think Obama and the Democrats are in deep trouble. The economy is not recovering at nearly the pace that the American people expect it to. The CBO is projecting over 10% unemployment before the end of this year. The administrations foregin policy efforts are not making many people happy. And Obama really put his foot into it when he decided to say that the Cambridge, MA police department acted stupidly even after saying that he did not have all the facts. I would not be surprised at all if Obama's popularity, job approval, and other poll numbers drop more precepitiously than any president's ever have since such polls started being taken.

De Oppresso Liber

Rob, no so way back on the day of his inauguration I said he was enjoying "his most popular day in office."
http://www.network54.com/Forum/594658/thread/1232499626/last-1234234791/Obama-++Benchmarks+for+Midterm+Success

The decline in his popularity was inevitable as he had to get away from general campaign promises of "hope" and start making decisions that would piss some people off.

Many liberals are angry with him because we still haven't pulled out of Iraq and are actually increasing our presence in Afghanistan (and Pakistan too really). Further, the far left is angry that his healthcare reform is not the single payer plan they prefer and seems (at this time) to be falling apart in any event. Contrary to the ignorant expectations of some, he has not been able to wave a wand and make the recession disappear, or bring peace to the Middle East.

Of course, conservatives (who never supported him anyway) are galvanizing against any notion of national or universal healthcare plans, higher taxes, and outrageous deficits.

"A man never drinks anything that a plant lives in" --DBone (A Real Man).
http://vimeo.com/4938173

I have talked to a whole lot of people about the "Bankruptcy" of Chrysler and GM and the bank/insurance company bail out. Very few agree with what the Federal government has done.

I personally have been a GM buyer all my life but it will be a very long time before I buy a GM product or a Chrysler ever again. The way I and one heck of alot of others see it Obama bailed out the UAW. They were the ONLY ones that came out "whole" if not "fat" in those deals.

The average dud objects to people that have been making twice as much as people in other industries doing the same job getting their tax dollars.

The average dud thinks it stinks that the same SOBs that will charge a person 22% or more on their credit card interest ends up getting their tax dollars.

And IMO, the average dud is RIGHT! Thus my next vehicle will be a Ford or a Toyota.

Chrysler and GM should have been allowed to go through a standard bankruptcy and not bailed out. The product lines that were successful would have survived under new ownership just as Saturn has with it's procurment by Penski. The only real difference would have been the UAW would have been a thing of the past.

Now don't get me wrong. I do not blame just the unions for the demise of Chrysler and GM. I blame the UAW AND the Managment.

De Oppresso Liber

The average DUD is a proper name for any average dude that would rail against unions...and vote Republican...

There are two types of Republicans...millionaires and suckers...


"We're going to crush labor as a political entity"
Grover Norquist - Republican economic guru

It's not just Republicans and Conservatives that are unhappy with the bail out of the UAW and the Financial houses. In fact I have been having a problem finding anyone in the every day folks I happen to talk to that likes it. Of course brain dead partisans from either side will defend almost anything their party does but most people aren't that way.

De Oppresso Liber

As I stated earlier this life long GM man won't be buying a GM or Chrysler product for a very long time if ever because of the bailout of the companies and the UAW. It seems quite a few people are thinking along the same lines.http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/auto_industry/july_2009/46_more_likely_to_buy_ford_cause_it_didn_t_get_a_bailout

Perhaps Ford stock might turn out to be a good buy.

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You know that they are in trouble when the MSM (with a straight face no less)starts talking about a "jobless recovery" in postive terms. I gotta feeling it is going to be a very long time before this economy gets back on track.

De Oppresso Liber

Bfgrnn, this is not the AOL Boards. Let's please avoid name calling. If you disagree with Rob's perspective on unions feel free to explain why without personal animosity.

Additional note: Bfgrnn, I regret that you felt you were not able to comply with a simple request to talk to people civilly while expressing your own perspectives. It is a pity, when you do choose civility you often have quite worthwhile things to say.

If you change your mind, please feel free to post away at any time.


"A man never drinks anything that a plant lives in" --DBone (A Real Man).
http://vimeo.com/4938173