You know it is a slow news day; when you have to look at another Conservative Blog for see if there is any news at all.
Good Lord.
According to the latest Rasmussen Report: (H/T to Ed Morrissey, who can find news anywhere! đŸ˜€ )
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 30% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8 (see trends).
Just 25% believe that the economic stimulus package has helped the economy.
Overall, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. Today marks the first time his overall approval rating has ever fallen below 50% among Likely Voters nationwide. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.
Eighty-three percent (83%) of Democrats continue to approve of the President’s performance while 80% of Republicans disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 37% offer a positive assessment. The President earns approval from 51% of women and 47% of men.
Wow. What a huge drop! The President’s poll number has dropped faster than I’ve ever seen before. At least since I have been paying attention to such stuff. Of course, A liberal will say that Bush’s numbers dropped too. Sure; but it did not happen so fast. Bush maintained high poll numbers for well into his Presidency. That was until the Iraq War turned ugly. That was when, finally, his numbers started tanking.
Heck, even Bill Clinton’s numbers did not start tanking badly until the Lewinsky Scandal hit. So, this is a major development. This could very well spell the beginning of the end of the romance between America and the President. The newness could very well be wearing off rather quickly.
I have few theories as to why this is:
- The Economy: So far there has been no big clear sign, that the Bush Initiated and Obama expanded Stimulus Package has even worked. Perhaps a few token projects, in a attempt to make the Administration look good to the American people. But so far, no real progress has even begun.
- The Stock Market: I realize that this one and the previous point might be intertwined, but for the purposes of explaining, I separated them. Anyone who has even remotely follow the markets, knows what I am talking about. The Markets are totally unstable, one minute the markets are swirling the drain, the next minute they are soaring. That makes investors nervous and distrust the leadership in Washington D.C.; Plus, most hardcore Capitalists are not too thrilled about the idea of the Government venturing into the Private sector.
- Unemployment: Unemployment is still rising, it is now at 9.7 Percent. Here in Michigan it is at 15.4 percent across all 7 market sectors. The folks see this and they blame the Governmental leadership.
- Obama’s Healthcare Plan: This is perhaps the biggest reason Obama poll numbers are going through the floor. Most rational thinking Americans just do not like the idea of the United States Government telling them that they MUST take some sort of insurance plan or they will be taxed. There are some, like this writer; who find that to be a infringement upon my Constitutional rights. Thus this would cause Obama poll numbers to drop dramatically.
- Broken Campaign Promises: Gosh, Where does one even start here? Transparency Promise, Broken. Promise to end the Iraq War, when Obama took office; Changed and then, Broken. I am sure that there are many more that he has broken, I just do not remember them all. To be fair, Bush broke many himself; Some were for the good. Like the Privatizing of Social Security. That is one, that I am personally glad to see did not get fulfilled. Seeing how the markets crashed.
- Overexposure: AllahPundit over at HotAir wrote about this last night. It is quite true, Obama has had four major news conferences. People are just sick and tired of seeing the President on T.V. trying to get his agenda passed. They would rather just not see him all the time. They elected him; great. Now, please, get to work sir! That is basically the feeling of the American people; at least I believe so anyhow.
To sum this up. Obama needs to work on being the President and quit trying to be a rock star. It could only help.