Obama report card on 1st 100 days

[craigimass]

Our system, like it or not, is based on one thing.
Winner takes all.

A lot of people argue against that form of government - and I see the point. I think of the 110 or so democracies in the world, only about 6 of them are like us - winner takes all. The others use proportional representation.

As a result of winner takes all - Clinton once won with 42% of the vote. GW got in the first time with 49% of the vote.

Based on that, it is hard to imagine a president ever getting an approval rating of over 70%. While a lot of Repubicans might like the guy, they still want to be the winners.

I agree that the letter grades are strange. Actually, all these polls are a bit strange. To study more carefully you would first have to identify their party (dem,gop or independent...at least) and then ask the questions.

A good way to poll - if possible - is to find undeclared voter and independents and just poll them. That way, you take out all the people who are still mad about losing.

[erps]

Based on that, it is hard to imagine a president ever getting an approval rating of over 70%.

You don't have to imagine it. Didn't dubya have 90% approval rating Sept 2001?

A good way to poll - if possible - is to find undeclared voter

Maybe, maybe not. Your suggestion might end up polling the people who know so little about politics, they haven't formulated any opinions.

That way, you take out all the people who are still mad about losing.

or still giddy about winning.

[PBzeer]

All things considered, why aren't his numbers higher?

[rigamarole]

Bush has the distinction of having the highest and tieing for lowest. Truman was also a high and low President.

Direct from Wikipedia

Highest approval rating
George W. Bush holds the record with 90% (9/21-22/2001 -- after the September 11 attacks).
George H. W. Bush is second highest, with 89% (2/28/-3/3/1991 -- after the Gulf War).
Harry S Truman is third highest, with 87% (6/1-5/1945 -- after the end of World War II in Europe).
Franklin D. Roosevelt is fourth highest, with 84% (1/8-13/1942 -- after the attack on Pearl Harbor).


[edit] Lowest approval rating
George W. Bush is tied for the lowest, at 22% (1/11-15/2009 -- during the Late 2000s recession).
Harry S Truman is tied for the lowest, at 22% (2/9-14/1952 -- during the Korean War).
Richard Nixon is third lowest, with 24% (7/12-15/1974, 8/2-5/1974 -- during the Watergate scandal).
Jimmy Carter is fourth lowest, with 28% (6/29-7/2/79 -- during the Iran hostage crisis).

From Bloomberg today:
Obama Approval Rating Is 68 Percent, New Nationwide Poll Shows

[craigimass]

A good war or attack is a different thing. You can't compare - nor can we call that a good thing! I predict that if we get hit by a nuke next week and Obama walks through the radiation - he will get that 90% in a minute!

Better to compare GW at 100 days......which was before 9/11
Or compare him for his entire second term.

Or, perhaps the most telling number. This fall 9% of people thought the country was headed in the right direction. That number is up by a factor of 500% plus - to about 48-50%.


(and you really thought you could fool us with the post-9/11 numbers?)

[erps]

(and you really thought you could fool us with the post-9/11 numbers?)

Nope, no fooling at all. But you didn't honestly think you were the only one who could cherry pick to prove some sort of point did you?

Or, perhaps the most telling number. This fall 9% of people thought the country was headed in the right direction. That number is up by a factor of 500% plus - to about 48-50%.

OMG! You mean just under half the people think we're going in the right direction? That seems to imply that more people believe we are not going in the right direction.

[PBzeer]

Actually, at this point in their terms, Bush and Obama are basically equal in poll numbers.

[erps]

So Craigimass,

Tell us the truth. We're you one of the 90% that approved off Bush after 9/11? Or were you one of those 10%'ers?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Actually, at this point in their terms, Bush and Obama are basically equal in poll numbers.

Which poll?

CCN - strong leader at 100 days.

Obama 76%
Bush 60%

[erps]

Obama at 100 Days Is Average in Polls, Better Than Bush, Worse Than Reagan, JFK - Robert Schlesinger (usnews.com)