Comments on: Democrats squandering opportunity for self-examination, Obama at another new low

By: Finrod

Finrod — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:44:28 +0000

Even when Bush was down around 35 percent total approval on Rasmussen, the strongly disapprove number didn’t get above the mid-40s or so. Today’s update for Obama: total approval of 45, a new low, strong disapproval still at 41.

By: E Pluribus Unum

E Pluribus Unum — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:16:22 +0000

The significant thing about the R+5 is the history. Check here for a more lengthy history. The change has been rather dramatic.

By: Erick Brockway

Erick Brockway — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:13:56 +0000

Only that something stinks

By: IJB

IJB — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:47:58 +0000

Because of the historical legacy of pro-Dem gerrymandering, a R+5% spread among likely voters would very likely lead to a GOP take-over of the House.

What I’m more troubled by are the actual numbers: 38%D to 43%R – that means a full 20% of *likely voters* won’t commit to voting for either party yet (or plan to vote 3rd Party).

*That* to me is troubling, though it may be that Rasmussen isn’t “pushing” ‘soft-leaners’ to one party or the other at this point, and so ‘soft-leaners’ aren’t showing up in the numbers – I imagine Rasmussen won’t start “pushing” that way until Fall of 2010…

By: throwback59

throwback59 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:52:43 +0000

During the campaign when ever Conservatives warned America that Obama was a leftist, wanted to change the country radically, associated with America-haters, didn’t even like the country, we were dismissed as extremists. BHO was a black JFK, a mainstream liberal, we were assured. Now the truth is coming out. Even some moderate democrats see this.
It has only cost us 10 trillion dollars to say “I told you so.”

By: publiussteve

publiussteve — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:47:03 +0000

Hopefully voters are starting to wake up to Obama’s hypocrisy, overspending, and callous disregard for the concerns of middle America during this “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression” as he likes to blather.

Just read the Wall Street Journal article (8/26) that stated Obama and his entourage “took over the entire Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow for three nights in June.” I wonder if the Chosen One stayed in the best suite which costs about $16,000 per night. I understand the need for security and all that, but geesshh.

By: E Pluribus Unum

E Pluribus Unum — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:10:10 +0000

That is noteworthy. Holy cow, that’s quite a core of ‘strong disapproval’ people. IMO, when everybody gets back to Washington and the Dems renew their efforts to jam this through, these numbers will intersect soon enough.

If I was to guess, the Dems will try a few new focus-group-approved terms (they’ve already substituted “co-op” for “government plan”), a little shake-and-bake, a little behind-scenes persuasion-by-tire-tool of Blue Dogs, and count on the press to spin it as popular support and get it past the House.

I also predict that Americans have already decided that “no health care bill of any kind” is the only solution that will not bring out wholesale revolt.

By: sickofitall

sickofitall — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:01:02 +0000

Our glorious leader is a murderer, a tyrant, a panderer, a lair, a racist, a Marxist and he hates our country. Now we can add being a child manipulator and a hater of educators as well. W never had a mandatory broadcast to school children about going to war or fixing dole (excuse me, I meant social “security”). How pathetic! I hope that the dagger to his heart that this historic failure represents will be the first shot in the war to dismantle the welfare/nanny state and put important decisions about healthcare, aging, retirement, education, etc etc, back in the hands of the people who should make them- honest hardworking God-fearing Americans!

By: katesmith

katesmith — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:48:24 +0000

Just heard this discussed on radio show, alleged reason is pep talk for kids to do well in school. Many parents won’t know about this until after the fact, will not have the opportunity to view it along with their child. Will be mandatory viewing for all kids during taxpayer funded public school education time. More from his servicewire.org, project of Youth Service America. It is highly inappropriate for many reasons. If parents knew, perhaps they could stop it or keep their kids out of school. Children have been told to sell their parents on global warming. What will it be this time?

By: Marcus_Traianus

Marcus_Traianus — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:34:25 +0000

I find the spread on voting for a Republican over a Democrat somewhat troubling.

To me, it shows we have done a good job of saying what we are against and not enough time promoting ideas.

Oh, and Barack called. You are off his circle of friends.

By: skorrent1

skorrent1 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:23:15 +0000

Of the left is factored in, that’s not a bad thing for the GOP. A lack of enthusiasm by the Dem base could lead to good things in ’10 and ’12. One might say that a lack of GOP base enthusiasm in ’06 and ’08 aided the Dems.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:13:20 +0000

Our guys need to take a few debate courses. They let the Dems monopolize the debate.

By: rbdwiggins

rbdwiggins — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:10:36 +0000

The “52″ have been overwhelmed, and they’ve been sidelined by the new “53″ which continue to grow.

By: r0per

r0per — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:56:12 +0000

Would somebody please get Mike Pence off of television. He has to be the worst spokesman for opponents of ObamaCare I have seen so far. I just watched an interview in which he let Debbie Wasserman-Schultz walk all over him and use up about 3/4 of the interview. If we win any seats back in 2010 it will be a miracle and only because the Dems are more adept at shooting themselves in the foot than we are.

By: IJB

IJB — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:32:51 +0000

I agree with you that at least some of the “53% disapproval” (even some of the “41% strongly disapprove”) numbers are from embittered Lefties who are mad that Obama hasn’t thrown all Republicans, conservatives, Jews and observant Christians into the ovens yet.

That’s why a perhaps more useful metric is the “Generic Congressional Ballot” number – while there may be embittered Lefties who disapprove of Obama, they definitely are NOT going to show up as prospective GOP voters!

Therefore, the R+5% numbers on the Generic Ballot question is a *real* effect, and indicates the unpopularity of Obama and the Dems’ programs and policies.

By: IJB

IJB — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:27:30 +0000

Vetos work best to nuke proactive spending and new program creation.

But it’s very difficult to use it to *force* spending.

I think a GOP House would have the upper hand in defunding something like this, esp. being a new and not fully-implemented program, provided they hold the line and don’t fold their cards.

By: suzieQ

suzieQ — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:01:42 +0000

And we need the data on exactly why his numbers are falling so much. I know some of it is because of many on the left who feel he is just like Bush. I talk to people every day who are upset because he hasn’t pulled out of Iraq yet, or hasn’t closed Gitmo yet, or hasn’t given us socialized medicine yet. While these people may add to Nobama’s disapproval numbers now, they will not vote republican in 2012.

We need to make sure that when the opportunity arises, we have a true small government, less spending, real conservative to challenge him when that time comes.

By: texas214

texas214 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:39:13 +0000

Bill Clinton understood that when HillaryCare, his version of Cap and Tax, and other liberal proposals failed he needed to move to the center to save his presidency. Obama has shown no interest in moving to the center and the American public is starting to see the results of the ’08 election in a new light.

My belief is that it’s not in Obama’s DNA to move to the center, nor would it be believable at this point.

By: Susannah

Susannah — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:37:14 +0000

Great job EPU!!

Oh, and I loved the picture.

By: Finrod

Finrod — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:31:53 +0000

Is the day when Obama’s total approval is less than or equal to his strongly disapprove numbers in Rasmussen. Then we’ll know the tide has seriously turned against him. Considering that he’s at 46 approval 41 strong disapproval as of today, that day might be coming sooner than we think– my guess is October 20.