[Smurf-316]

07.04.2009


Americans More Optimistic; Still Hate GOP

The latest New York Times poll is loaded with good news for the Obama administration and news that would be devastating for the GOP if it were ever able to penetrate the conservative-media echo chamber. While the public is still pretty pessimistic about the future, it's considerably less so than it was before Barack Obama took office. Thirty-nine percent of respondents in the Times poll think the country is going in the right direction and 53 percent say the wrong direction, a substantial improvement from January, when the numbers were 15 and 79, respectively.

Similarly, 20 percent of those polled think the economy is getting better and 34 percent worse, versus 7 and 54 in January.
But it's the political numbers that are truly striking. Obama has a 66 percent approval rating, which is the highest this poll has recorded, while the GOP's favorability is at 31 percent, the lowest the poll has recorded in 25 years of asking the question. Arguably more remarkable still is that, asked whether Obama or the GOP Congress would be more likely to make "the right decisions about the nation's economy," respondents broke for Obama 63 percent to 20 percent.

That means that even within the 31 percent rump that holds a positive view of the GOP, at least a third trust Obama's instincts on the economy equally or more. And why shouldn't they? Despite Rush Limbaugh's best efforts just 2 percent of respondents blame Obama for the state of the economy, compared to 33 percent who blame George W. Bush. (Wall Street and Congress come in for 21 and 11 percent, respectively.)

Americans Still Hate the GOP

[Thundering Hooves]

I'd like to see the pollster. If it's Scott Rasmussen, he only talks to conservatives? Was the pollster mentioned? There is a high degree of probability that I completely missed that.

[savage one]

did chairman maobama take the saudi king a i-pod...ha ha ha

[sbskeeper]

To be quiet honest I don't buy the sediment that the economy is improving. When there is a change of presidency, the honeymoon period can uplift the economy for a short period of time, and once it subsides we will slink back into darker recessionary periods... perhaps even a depression if the budge of Democrats keeps climbing as is. Once this honeymoon phase is over, and that positive effect it has on the economy subsides I believe Obama's approval rating will dip. I think more people will vote more in a third party than ever before... spliting the Republican vote, (possibly a small percentage of the Democratic vote) and as a result of the split vote Obama will win the presidency again. After that I think Republicans will try and incorporate something that the third parties are doing to attract voters and as a result end up winning the presidency following Obama's re-election.

Could be wrong... just what I think.