Why is Obama so unpopular?

[angus]

Why is Obama so unpopular?

Because he has been a huge disappointment.  Like many voters, I bought into his rap.  Whatever he was selling, I was buying.  Gonna change the tone in Washington.  Gonna do the nation's business.  There ain't no Democratic America.  There ain't no Republican America.  There's just one America, and we're gonna make it work.

Within six months of his presidency, he was shuffling off to the G20 summit in Seoul and coming back empty handed, accusing the Cambridge, MA police department of "acting stupidly," and trying to convince the International Olympic Committee to have the Olympics in Chicago next time.  (Which he failed to do, I might add.)  

think about it:  One Missouri man is murdered in cold blood by a cop who doesn't get indicted and all Obama can think of to say is "we gotta respect the order of things."  But let his high-caste friend get arrested in Cambridge and suddenly he's thrown all out of whack.  His elitist credentials begin to belie him in those moments.  What a disappointment.  

What about ending the Bush tax cuts?  The one time he might have done something he promised to do in his campaign speeches, and had the popular support to do, was push for ending the Bush tax cuts.  But no, he kicked that can down the road.  Meanwhile, our bridges are crumbling.

And did he change the tone in Washington?  You bet he did.  He made it worse.  

His drone war has been downright disheartening.  He has acknowledged that American drones had killed civilians, calling them "heartbreaking tragedies,"--emphasis on the irony contained in the fact that while he probably doesn't even know the true greek meaning of the word, they were indeed Tragedies in the original sense--and yet he went on to defend drones as the most discriminating aerial bombers available in modern warfare.

It should be no surprise that some of us who voted for him in 2008 decided not to vote for him in 2012.  Obama has been a big disappointment to me, personally.  I had big hopes when I helped elect him in 2008.  He talks a big game.  I'll give him credit for that.

[angus]

I will say that I admire his words in his acceptance speech of the blatantly politically motivated Nobel Peace prize that he was awarded just a few months into his presidency.  I was incredulous that they'd award the prize to a new president with little prior experience and whose nation was involved in two simultaneous wars.  Then again, they awarded a similar prize to Yashir Arafat so it should not be surprising.  Still, we should credit Obama for publicly acknowledging all this.  In his acceptance speech, he said, among other things,

" I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.  Compared to some of the giants of history who've received this prize -- Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela -- my accomplishments are slight.  And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.  I cannot argue with those who find these men and women -- some known, some obscure to all but those they help -- to be far more deserving of this honor than I.  But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars..."

I think that was very gracious. 

I also think he showed some courage when he handled immigration reform via execution.  There may yet be backlash, but it showed guts.  Why he hasn't consistently showed such courage I do not know, but I do think that he has from time to time acted in a ways both courageous and gracious, so he isn't without redeeming qualities.  Overall, however, his presidency has been a pretty big disappointment to many of us that supported him initially. 

[angus]

I will say that I admire his words in his acceptance speech of the blatantly politically motivated Nobel Peace prize that he was awarded just a few months into his presidency.  I was incredulous that they'd award the prize to a new president with little prior experience and whose nation was involved in two simultaneous wars.  Then again, they awarded a similar prize to Yashir Arafat so it should not be surprising.  Still, we should credit Obama for publicly acknowledging all this.  In his acceptance speech, he said, among other things,

" I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.  Compared to some of the giants of history who've received this prize -- Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela -- my accomplishments are slight.  And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.  I cannot argue with those who find these men and women -- some known, some obscure to all but those they help -- to be far more deserving of this honor than I.  But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars..."

I think that was very gracious.  

I also think he showed some courage when he handled immigration reform via execution.  There may yet be backlash, but it showed guts.  Why he hasn't consistently showed such courage I do not know, but I do think that he has from time to time acted in a ways both courageous and gracious, so he isn't without redeeming qualities.  Overall, however, his presidency has been a pretty big disappointment to many of us that supported him initially.  

Courage!! Obama is a coward of the tallest order; It has been report that there isn’t any presidential (OBAMA) executive order containing language for waving illegal immigration (illegal inhabitants) from being deported. So to help avoid criminal prosecution he merely wrote a memo to homeland security to break the law and stop deportations of any non-violent criminals who will vote for democrats and sign up for Obamacare. COURAGE!!! Authored by the Clinton’s; IS, the ability to break laws and get away with it, by accolade.  

The memo, is in redacted files never to be recognized, as for the executive order of courage, show me, I'm from Missouri.

I'm not a fan of rule by fiat.  I don't like the active judiciary or the executive order in general, but a blanket amnesty from time to time is a good thing.  It clears the air.  Brings people out of the shadows.  It's good for the economy and good for the soul.  The congress wasn't going to act on this, so the president used his lameness wisely.  Obama's memo falls short of proper magnanimity, of course, but it was a step in the right direction.  I think he probably recognizes that his repeated statements regarding the constitutional limitations on his power to affect immigration policy inhibited him from making a more sweeping change.  You can spin that as cowardice.  I won't argue with you over that, but to me I think even a small measure shows some backbone.  Obviously, in many other instances and on other issues he has not shown so much.  

[angus]

Basically, I think his low approvals are a symptom of the damaging polarization that has gripped the U.S. increasingly in recent decades.

One other point I want to make is that this theory isn't really borne out.

In 2008 69.5 million voters voted for Obama.  In 2012 65.9 million did.  Obama therefore lost 3.6 million, or 5.2%, of his original voters.  How does damaging polarization explain that? 

In 2012, 51% of the voters voted to re-elect him.  This was a clear victory over his opponent's 47%.  Presumably, 51% of the voters at least approved enough of him to bother casting a vote in favor of his return to the presidency.  Now, according to the most recent poll I have seen, approximately 39% of the registered voters approve of his job performance.  (24% "strongly" approve.)  How does damaging polarization explain that?

Sometimes conspiracy theories are not the best explanation.  When that happens, we call Occam's Razor to the rescue.  The fact that he has been a major disappointment to the voter requires fewer assumption that the theory of damaging polarization. 

[angus]

If they asked me what my opinion of Obama is I would probably say unfavorable, but that doesn't mean I dislike him or wish we had a Republican president instead (or Hilary).

True enough, favorability ratings aren't to be interpreted in vacuo, but I don't think the basis of comparison is, or ever has been, some alternative universe in which a different person holds the office.  If that were the case, Obama would have a floor of about 50% and Bush would have had a floor of about 48%. 

The point of comparison to Obama isn't Bush or Hillary or Romney, the comparison is of Candidate Obama to President Obama.  This was my expectation.  This is the reality.  When the real doesn't match the ideal--and it never does--then my support begins to wane.  If the reality is far enough away from ideality, then I begin to answer the pollster in the negative.  If it gets too far away, then I do not vote to re-elect the incumbent.  Obama lost some support between 2008 and 2012, and his support has eroded further since then.  The question is why?  I think it is due to his own action (or inaction.)

[angus]

I will say that I admire his words in his acceptance speech of the blatantly politically motivated Nobel Peace prize that he was awarded just a few months into his presidency.  I was incredulous that they'd award the prize to a new president with little prior experience and whose nation was involved in two simultaneous wars.  Then again, they awarded a similar prize to Yashir Arafat so it should not be surprising.  Still, we should credit Obama for publicly acknowledging all this.  In his acceptance speech, he said, among other things,

" I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.  Compared to some of the giants of history who've received this prize -- Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela -- my accomplishments are slight.  And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice; those who toil in humanitarian organizations to relieve suffering; the unrecognized millions whose quiet acts of courage and compassion inspire even the most hardened cynics.  I cannot argue with those who find these men and women -- some known, some obscure to all but those they help -- to be far more deserving of this honor than I.  But perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars..."

I think that was very gracious.  

I also think he showed some courage when he handled immigration reform via execution.  There may yet be backlash, but it showed guts.  Why he hasn't consistently showed such courage I do not know, but I do think that he has from time to time acted in a ways both courageous and gracious, so he isn't without redeeming qualities.  Overall, however, his presidency has been a pretty big disappointment to many of us that supported him initially.  

Courage!! Obama is a coward of the tallest order; It has been report that there isn’t any presidential (OBAMA) executive order containing language for waving illegal immigration (illegal inhabitants) from being deported. So to help avoid criminal prosecution he merely wrote a memo to homeland security to break the law and stop deportations of any non-violent criminals who will vote for democrats and sign up for Obamacare. COURAGE!!! Authored by the Clinton’s; IS, the ability to break laws and get away with it, by accolade.  

The memo, is in redacted files never to be recognized, as for the executive order of courage, show me, I'm from Missouri.

I'm not a fan of rule by fiat.  I don't like the active judiciary or the executive order in general, but a blanket amnesty from time to time is a good thing.<STOP>On condition of; the liability, “0” and the asset, “1” per entry;  second, the entry must "pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."<CONTINUE>  It clears the air.<STOP> This clearing the air act implies that there’s a residual pollutant(s), this is scrubbed by; at the same time as the pollutant enters, a legal entry is granted at the pleasure and payment by the pollutant entry.<CONTINUE>  Brings people out of the shadows.<STOP> The new asset to clear it’s shadow will under oath and polygraph answer to; state all votes cast for local, state and general elections and for whom. Fees will be assessed as would any US Citizen be charged for an illegal vote.<CONTINUE>   It's good for the economy and good for the soul.  The congress wasn't going to act on this, so the president used his lameness wisely.  Obama's memo falls short of proper magnanimity, of course, but it was a step in the right direction.  I think he probably recognizes that his repeated statements regarding the constitutional limitations on his power to affect immigration policy inhibited him from making a more sweeping change.  You can spin that as cowardice.  I won't argue with you over that, but to me I think even a small measure shows some backbone.<STOP> I can only attain your rationale’s reasoning for the backbone of Barack Hussein Obama to be, his courage to, “solemnly swear, "Barack Hussein Obama" that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States", which he had to do twice because the first time, publicly, he just couldn’t do it. <CONTINUE>  Obviously, in many other instances and on other issues he has not shown so much.  

I mean, Obama isn't unpopular with me, I'm involved with him every day.

Well, as I said, I wasn't looking for an argument, but that's kinda sorta basically what I meant.  (I'm a little unclear on the last sentence you wrote--the one about being involved with him every day--but I'll assume sardonism and just let it go.)

Yes, it's reasonable that with the amnesty the presumption is of some feeling of devotion.  I hadn't used the term "loyalty" exactly, and I would not necessarily require a pledge to that effect, but it is very likely that when a nation which affords great economic mobility to its people allows immigrants from nations with less economic mobility, those immigrants will naturally feel some allegiance with their new nation. 

Yes, there's some pollution in the national mindset  when its citizens feel that they cannot be totally honest on their tax returns.  I'm a bit unclear on the "fees will be assessed" aspect, but I assume that you're referring to taxes.

On the third point, I think that either you are misinterpreting me or I am misinterpreting you.  Obama took the same oath that 43 other US Presidents took, and I assume that all 44 of them meant what they said.  That's not particularly courageous.  And the little contretemps that Obama experienced the first time was due to the fact that Chief Justice John Roberts made a mistake, not Obama. 

Don't read too much into it when a politician floats an idea to see if it catches on.  Sure, he could have shown more balls, but don't let Jeff Sessions tell you what to think about Obama.