Bust a meme: President Obama's approval ratings

[sheshe2]

I can understand why Republicans want to spread a false meme that President Obama's approval numbers are tanking. Their whole goal in the midterms is to nationalize the election and ramp up the Obama derangement syndrome with their base.

But one has to wonder why some liberals are so intent on doing the same thing. Case in point: Elias Isquith at Salon. He sites polls taken recently in California and New York showing that the President's approval ratings have dropped in those blue states and then opines:

Put simply, my guess is that a growing number of liberals have decided that after nearly six years, and with no reason to believe a Democratic congress is on the horizon, Obama’s done nearly all he’ll ever do and the verdict is in. And although Obamacare seems to be a policy success, and Dodd-Frank is reportedly working better than many expected, many liberals have concluded that these balms are not enough to soothe the lingering pain of their unmet expectations.

http://www.salon.com/2014/09/27/obama_loses_the_left_why_his_low_approval_rat
ing_may_be_here_to_stay/

Ahhh...the old "disappointed liberal" meme. Its interesting how that one tends to always come up right before an election. These folks are always sure that THIS TIME President Obama has finally crossed the rubicon and lost the support of his liberal "base." Isquith lays the blame this time on his decision to delay action on immigration and the fact that he's "acquiesced in the face of the U.S.war machine." Surely these polls are proof that the President has finally lost liberals.

But are they? I thought I'd take a look. The first thing I noticed is that both polls he referenced are state polls that also serve the function of polling local elections. As such, the results they report about the drop in presidential approval rating come at the same time that polling firms tend to switch from polling "registered voters" to "likely voters." Could this explain the results he's focusing on?

Read More: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/09/bust-meme-president-obamas-approval.html

Michele Obama~

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it - when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost - Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward... with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/michelleob449076.html#2AEJqcxWWovEs3rf.99

No, not everyone got their pony. I have no clue why everyone believed they would. Change is painstakingly slow and sadly history tends to repeat itself, ask a woman or an AA, we are still fighting the same battles. LGBT has made great progress under Obama. Yet none of their fights will never be over in my lifetime.

We need to vote in every damn election. We need to remain vigilant. We can never take our eyes off our prize, our future and our children's future are at stake here. I have long since passed the halfway point in my life, yet I have a way to go considering some of the longevity of my relatives.

It's not about your pony or mine. It's not about me me me, it is about us. All of us. We need to do this together.

[katmondoo]

1. Tweety on Hardball was jumping for joy

as he tells us the GOP will win the Senate. They are ahead with 3 candidates. I just can't believe it unless every woman stays home.

[sheshe2]

2. It is not happening and you can take that to the bank, katmondoo.

Tweety can jump all he wishes.

[Andy823]

17. I don't believe it either

It's simply an attempt to try and discourage enough democrats to stay him because, according to them, the GOP will win. That's just BS. When democrats get out and vote, republicans lose, and the know it. It's the doom and gloom tactic, the same one they used back in 2010. I would think democrats would have learned from that mess how important it is to get out and vote.

[madokie]

3. Spot on once again Sheshe2

it depends on who is polled and the way the questions asked are asked. you can get whatever result you're looking for with the right questions asked a certain way.

I haven't lost one ounce of support for Obama, in fact I'd say I'm in the growing numbers even though I'm about at a 99% approval already

[sheshe2]

5. Ha! Love you madokie and I thank you.

You are right, tip the poll so you only hear what you wish to hear. Then go out and stir that pot.

To hell with that, you listen to the ground game. I did in 2008 and and 2012 and I was sure Obama was going to win. Honestly, I was sure and I damn well shut out the noise. Something was happening and you had to listen hard, it was there.

I am so very proud of this President madokie!

[Andy823]

16. Exactly!

Polls are not reliable at all, especially those from the MSM. As you stated you can get the kind of answers you want by asking the questions a certain way. These polls are bing pushed by the MSM, the right wing, and some here on DU simply to try and discourage people from voting. It's the old "why bother when our guy is losing".

One thing republicans know for a fact, when democrats get out and vote, republicans lose. Their goal is to stop voters no matter how they do it, from cutting voting hours, purging voters, to using polls that show what they want you to "think" is happening. The only way to stop them is to vote, then they lose.

[Vattel]

4. Dropping to 39% approval in NY is a bit of a tank there.

He was 45% in July. It is kind of surprising that a deep blue state like NY would be so unhappy with his performance.

edited to add: nice film of ponies!

[bigdarryl]

15. Its because he's governing to the right all this war talk isn't helping him

[BrotherIvan]

6. Memes

[sheshe2]

7. Ooooh~

[Triana]

8. Hear it every day somewhere, including freaking NPR

(which someone in my office has on a lot, else I'd not be forced to hear it).

In order to "win" the so-called "election" in 2014, they are tying Dems to Obama as if that is a bad thing. And that denigrating tactic won't work unless they can portray Obama as immensely unpopular and ineffective, so that's what they're doing. No matter how popular he IS WITH ACTUAL HUMANS or how effective he is in any way, shape or form, they will constantly push the meme that he is the most unpopular president E V E R and tie Dems to him.

That's the M.O.

[Andy823]

18. I hear it here on DU everyday. nt

[TBF]

9. You had me until the ponies -

insulting the base is not going to help your case.

I would be very surprised if folks on DU do not vote. We are the part of the populace that is more interested and involved in politics. I really don't think you have a problem on here. We may not love every policy (and some of us may hate the system itself) but that doesn't mean we're stupid enough to stay home and risk having every state taken over by lunatics. For myself I am in Texas. You'd better believe I'll be at the polls voting for Wendy. Despite the fact that as a leftist I find myself routinely insulted by centrists on this website every.single.day.

[katmondoo]

10. Happy to hear that TBF

I do not think women will stay home only said this as an "IF" not that they will. I am a big supporter and fighter for women's rights also am a woman. I only worry about those who do not think we have a woman's rights problem.

[TBF]

11. It may be better in the north but down

here it is war on women. After growing up in the midwest I think I was a bit complacent in thinking we had made progress. But everything we've worked for since the 70s (and earlier) is being dismantled. It's infuriating.

[BKH70041]

12. Didn't spill a drop.

Just like Lou Reed sang about. TAWOTWS.

[Jamaal510]

13. K&R

[Andy823]

14. Good post

Even with all the negative crap we read here everyday, I do think that the real democrats, and liberals on this board will vote. The goal of the right is to stop democrats from voting, any way they can. They use so called "polls" to try and discourage voters to not "waste" their time voting because it's already a done deal! The right owns the media, and sadly some on the left seem to be pushing the same meme that it's all the same no matter who is elected, which is total crap.

All one needs to do is think about how it will be if more republicans get elected, and if that don't make democrats get out and vote, well maybe they aren't really looking for change at all. People get discouraged, I know that, but it's the end game that counts, and with more republicans in control the end game isn't going to be good for the country or the people who live here.

Not voting helps republicans, and if democrats get out to vote, democrats win.