Slate examines why the Presidents approval is dropping

[liberal N proud]

This is just more propaganda designed to diminish a great man and a great President. But that is my opinion, you can judge for yourself...

Slow Down, Mr. President
A look behind Obama's declining poll numbers.

We're behind you, Barack, but slow down. That was the message from a dozen independent voters who chatted with veteran pollster Peter Hart Wednesday night.

Hart, who regularly conducts these focus groups for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, had expected a harsher assessment. He'd just finished working on the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll in which President Obama's approval rating is at 53 percent. The Pew poll and New York Times/CBS poll have shown similar drops. When people are asked about the president's performance on the issue of the day—health care—their assessments are even grimmer. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 42 percent now say that the president's plan is a bad idea, which is a 10-point increase since last month.

We're behind you, Barack, but slow down. That was the message from a dozen independent voters who chatted with veteran pollster Peter Hart Wednesday night.

Hart, who regularly conducts these focus groups for the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, had expected a harsher assessment. He'd just finished working on the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll in which President Obama's approval rating is at 53 percent. The Pew poll and New York Times/CBS poll have shown similar drops. When people are asked about the president's performance on the issue of the day—health care—their assessments are even grimmer. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 42 percent now say that the president's plan is a bad idea, which is a 10-point increase since last month.

"We've found out he's not Superman," said Obama voter Nora Seeley, 54, a dental hygienist, when asked what she had learned about him in the last six months. "He's on a fast train," said Seeley. "Things aren't being considered." Nearly everyone echoed this sentiment. "Slow down," said Alex Chambers, a 27-year-old teacher, when asked to give the president advice. "The speed that he's doing things—it's a little bit of a gamble," said Tim Polen, a 24-year-old student. Many worried that by moving too quickly—particularly on health care—Obama was going to make the situation worse.

There were lots of concerns expressed on everything from the growth of spending to the Wall Street bailouts. But speed was the big issue. "People just need to breathe," said Hart. "It's like trying to shove a meal down in a minute. These people are saying, 'Slow down, Mr. President.' " This echoed something I'd heard earlier in the day from House Minority Leader John Boehner. Talking about the Blue Dog Democrats, who were slowing the pace of health care legislation in the House, Boehner said: "It's not surprising these members would have to stand up and say 'stop.' That's what most Americans are saying."

http://www.slate.com/id/2223909/?GT1=38001






The propaganda from the right wing media and GOP is working. They will no doubtedly crank this up even higher moving into the mid term elections.Pointing to things like the fact that economy didn't turn around as soon as Obama took over and money for Cash For Clunkers ran out in a week (never mind how big a success it was) and he didn't get health insurance reform passed before August.

[Avalux]

1. I am wondering why Dickerson would write such a negative article about Obama.

He's not a puke and went after Bush relentlessly, exposed Plame details.

A thought about negative tactics 'working' on the American people....

All the pukes and Obama detractors do is say no, criticize, attack and offer no alternative. It's easy to do; the status quo is easy. Change can be tough and people don't really like change. People voted for Obama because they said they wanted change but now that he's doing the work, they are nervous. THAT is what the pukes via the media are capitalizing on.

[OHdem10]

2. Corporate Control of Media. Has anyone taken note of the fact

that the Media turned with one motion and almost overnight.

[rurallib]

6. 24X7X365 since 1/20/2009 negative. TV, radio, newspapers, magazines.

even the vaunted Jesus Hussein Christ would lose a couple points in that kind of onslaught.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. It took Bush breaking 30% before anyone in the media acknowledged he was unpopular

Obama gets down to 55% and he's suddenly a political pariah. It's a remarkable phenomenon.

[FrenchieCat]

5. By the time everyone and their mama has had a crack at

the Whipping Boy, he will be down to 12%,
and my ass will be living in another country.

It is amazing how everyone always has all of the answers,
and appears poised for the pile on.

Seems like giving him even a year has shortened down to half of that,
midway through a process that ain't even fucking finished.

[rocktivity]

4. You can be part of the solution or part of the problem.

The time and effort Dickerson put into writing this crap could have been devoted to ridiculing the birthers, shaming the deathers, debunking the health care reform lies, pointing out that corporate media depends on for-profit healthcare ad revenues, and connecting the dots between Congress and health industry lobbyists! To simply whine in this manner simply enables Obama's opposition. Also, it's only ONE poll--comparing the it to other ones wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

The people are not saying, "Slow Down, Mr. President." They're saying "FIGHT BACK!!!"

:mad:
rocktivity

[KoKo]

11. Yes...Fight Back!

[Jennicut]

7. Eh, he was down to 52% on the Gallup tracking and now is up four points today to 56%

It will bounce back up. Besides, its summer and lots of people only half pay attention to the reality of news.

[MarjorieG]

8. Always been fashionable to kick our own. Add the MSM, no one will remain with critical thinking, or

appreciate Obama. Maher said last night that he's Michael Jordan on a bad team, but I think he's working them and getting us a government.

[firedupdem]

9. Slow down?

WTF is he smoking? I'm sure he would be a lazy, good for nothing then. Articles like this are truly ridiculous. He could have found something else to do with his time.

[quiller4]

14. It isn't just independents that want Obama to slow down. About

half of those who attended my Dem District barbeque last week said the same. They especially want him to slow down on cap and trade. I'm talking about life-long, blue collar democrats, most retired union members 70-85.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. Well when you have legislators like Evan Bayh going on the FNC &

undercutting the leader of his own party, is there any wonder? I have a feeling that the Blue Dogs will kill any meaningful health care reform, and the president will get the blame for it. They'll either water it down so much that he has to veto it, or they'll kill it on the Senate floor.

I've prepared myself for a few blue dog defections before the mid-terms. The progressive caucus and other progressive groups have turned up the heat, and I think a few of the bluest dogs will switch parties.

[uponit7771]

12. Obama's poll numbers are STILL higher than RayGuns at this time in his admin

...WTF are these people talking about!?!?

[Prism]

13. If a dozen people said it, it must be true

What an odd little story. Twelve people to base massive assumptions about eddies and currents in national approval?

The President's numbers are fine. People (and the media especially) need to pace themselves. The numbers will go down, the numbers will go up, and the world will keep on twirling, twirling, twirling.