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Let me say first I am looking forward to hearing President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress. The “not quite state of the union” speech should be interesting. And, hopefully, it will provide a good roadmap of where the President intends to go for the next four years.
Whats not so good is what he is likely to say. See, no matter what the “spin” is, whether its “landslide” (no, fewer electoral votes than Bill Clinton is no landslide) or “bi-partisan”, Barack Obama is speaking to his constituency that gives him his authority. Specifically, the unions, the government workers, those who have come to believe they are dependent on the government for their stability, and those who think that tax refund is something the government is “giving” you. Without their generous support, we could all live our lives free of government intereference. But I digress…
In fact, this President has LESS SUPPORT across party lines than any President since they started keeping track in Eisenhowers day.
After a month in the hot seat, 90 percent of Democrats approve of his work, dropping to 67 percent of independents and 37 percent of Republicans. The 53-point difference between Democrats and Republicans in assessing Obama is numerically the biggest in data back to Eisenhower
Reagan started with 89 percent approval among Republicans, 71 percent among independents and 56 percent among Democrats. Bush’s first-month approval ratings from these groups were 90, 74 and 64 percent, respectively. Those are 18- and 33-point gaps for Reagan, 16- and 26-point gaps for Bush.
That changed with Bill Clinton: He started with 86 percent approval from Democrats, but just 59 percent from independents and 40 percent from Republicans – gaps of 27 and 46 points, respectively. Then George W. Bush – 86 percent in his party, but dropping to 54 percent among independents (-32 points) and 37 percent among Democrats, 49 points lower than in his political base.
Now, you can argue that there is some similiarity between George W’s numbers and Obamas. But if we are the “hey, the polarity is the same” argument, then those who trumpet Obama as bipartisan have already lost.
He isn’t. He won’t be tonight.
Also, I am precognitive in the chime I will hear from the armadillo crowd. “It has to do with the number of independents or decline to state!”
Answer: No, it doesn’t.
As this chart will teach those who trumpet the “third way” as anything other than belonging to the path of oblivion, the group is made up equally of those who have failed to register as Republican or Democrat. And they DO NOT vote third party when it matters.
So please don’t bother going there.
Later tonight: The robust and erudite RESPONSE to the “Not Quite the State of the Union” speech by Bobby Jindahl.
Later tonight: The robust and erudite RESPONSE to the “Not Quite the State of the Union” speech by Bobby Jindahl.
How in the world does Jindahl KNOW what the president will cover? Hear that woo-woo-woo sound? It’s the sound of the reality train about to smash Mr. Bobby Jindahl for being a partisan hack in front of the nation immediately following the President’s speech.
Here’s a clip you might be interested in. Dennis Kucinich, “Lets Move From Bank Care To Health Care!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_8RGBVUskk
LOL!
Ok Vixen, but even TRYING to push Dennis “Kook”inich puts you firmly outside the “Liberal Republican” moniker Art puts on you!
*Pout*
Terry, I don’t think you even looked at the video. Dennis was putting people before bank bail out interests.
I am an EX-republican. I could never have voted for Mr. K, but he does have points from time to time. I am more of an Obama supporter. I like the smart guy, the pull-yourselfup-by-the-real-bootstraps kinda guy.
I am very much looking forward to what Jindahl has to say, too!
*It was an excellent speech by the President.
Now that Jindal has given his speech, we now know that the Republicans are still searching for a sensible moderate that can speak to a diverse electorate. Jindal is not that person.
Vixen
You are right, i didnt even look at the video. I will now…
Well, I must say I expected no less from Kucinich. Another neo-communist equating health insurance with health care.
You want to pay into a system that checks you out once a month, monitors your diet, gives you an exercise regimen, checks for early signs of cancer, what have you… and over the course of your life helps you keep the costs of caring for your health down, then fine. Go ahead.
But this “we can have a system where I can have what medicine I want, what procedures I want, do what I want, live how I want and I dont have to worry about what things cost” because someone else is paying for it doesnt work. Never will.
And it has to be voluntary, or the moral hazard when YOU dont behave as you should to stay healthy will wreck you.
This is human nature.
And insurance is for “unexpected” and “catastrophic”, not “I’m too lazy to save for it.”
Was not WOWED with the Jindal response.
Terry,
Thanks for taking a look at the video. You’re top drawer for giving it a peek.
Not sure what is all going to happen about health plans that Ol’ Dennis sees on the horizon, but Obama made it clear that there will be massive health care reforms.
And I just want to give my condolences to you on Jindal’s speech. That was a show stopper for sure. But not in a good way. He’s all done as far as I can tell. GOP needs to find a plan B.
Here is a clip called Mr. Jindal’s Neighborhood and you might get a laugh out of it like I did. It’s less than a minute, but I think it sums up what Bobby had to offer tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wROwWvq6zvw
Red, that was pretty good. But where were the puppets?
With your continued posting of “Who cares, I’m a Libertarian”, it looks like us Libs are getting under your skin, Terry.