How are you measuring the success of President Obama?
Posted at 6:00 AM on July 23, 2009
by Eric Ringham
(29 Comments)
Filed under: Politics/Government
Barack Obama came into office riding one of the highest waves of popularity enjoyed by any new president in modern times. Lately, his approval rating has slipped. How are you measuring the success of President Obama?
It is far too early to judge our President. Problems are large and time will be needed to solve them. I stand behind my support for him. -James B., St Paul, MN
I will measure Obama's success based upon how his policies resemble his promises. It will take at least his first term to determine that though. It is shortsighted to attempt to rate his success or failure is such a limited timeframe as many seem to be doing. It took 8-10 years to get into this mess; why do people insist it get fixed in 8-10 months? -anonymous text message
I compare the 6 months of the Obama administration to the 8 yrs of the Bush administration and add 25 points to my approval rating. -John Robertson, Morton, MN
I measure President Obama by the debt he's leaving my children. -Barry
I'm not! Impossible to judge effectiveness based on 7 months on the job! He' running the entire United States! Give him time. -anonymous text message
I'm not. He's just another self serving politician w/ a Christ-like cult of personality ego. -anonymous text message
Comments (29)
It might be true Jan that the 'World' thinks more highly of the U.S.A. since the election of President Obama, but when the smoke clears, the dust settles, and time gives way to eternity, the only thing that matters will be what God thinks of us.
President Obama, his administration and the Democratic Party cannot murder their way to heaven by accepting abortion as a "Choice" and thus fail to think more critically about defending the God-given and Constitutionally mandated Right to Life for every citizen of America, including the unborn.
Do you agree that we have tied a very heavy millstone around the conscience of America today, or do you think Life is not as important an issue as other government benefits that will someday pass away?
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever."
To remain silent and not defend the Right to Life, or to promote the death of innocent children in their Mother's wombs such as the Obama administration & Democrats are doing, can only spell the spiritual death of America and possibly the souls who will not reject Satan's lies.
God's name is Mercy - there's still time while we live to "Choose" LIFE!
God will forgive us and may even save our nation if we as individuals reject the Culture of Death.
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they will become white as snow."
Pray for an end to Abortion America. Life is not ours to destroy by the millions through "Choice."
Phil Garceau
If you have anything to do with the world outside of the States, you can see easilly how Obama has managed to change a great deal of negativity towards the USA to a more ammicable opinion. To me this is a huge achievement in such a short time (7 months) after the disasterous effects of eight years under Bush.
If Obama does not get a government option in the health care plan through there will be no success whatsoever. A situation where people are mandated to BUY (not simply to have) insurance, whether or not they can afford it is tremendously scary. people's lives are not like a car -- it is okay if we cannot afford to buy car insurance, we simply will not drive, but this could create a situation where people cannot afford their life itself. We need comprehensive health care reform; the plan Obama is accepting is too close to simply requiring people to give money to health insurance companies. What is there to guarantee that these notorious companies will actually follow through and pay on the claims, rather than dropping the very very ill, or charging them outrageous rates. There needs to be at bare minimum a government plan guaranteeing insurance to low-income Americans (if we cannot have a single payer plan like much of the rest of the Western world).
He's doing something positive -- or rather, many positive things. That's more than could be said of the last president in two terms.
Considering the multiple disasters handed to him by the previous administration, he's doing good. He should tell those who accuse him of being too socialist with his healthcare program to Go home and unhook their toilets from the socialist sewer system, flush, then be cleansed by their anti-socialism.
Infrastructure, such as sewers and healthcare are better overseen by burocracy rather than crooks.
I voted for Barack Obama based on his character, intellect, values, integrity. Every time he refuses to create a new world crisis and promotes a paradigm shift in world policies, or refuses to be baited into political sparring resulting in inertia, or promotes domestic policies that will improve life in the long term rather than short term feel good solutions, I say, "Yes!". He has proved himself frequently, continues to do so, and I am very happy with his performance. I expect folks will have to become constructive rather than continue the usual desrtuctive political status quo as a result.
I have actually been refraining from measuring his success. He's only been in office for six months, we have 7 more periods that long to go through before he leaves office.
I think he'll be remembered for his vision and how far he can steer America towards it. Visions are build with ideas. Lucky for Obama, apart from finding ways to galvanize opposition to him (by redefining the word "socialist," for example), I see absolutely no new ideas coming from Republicans. So, in juxtaposition to them, Obama is a resounding success.
So far, I have been cautiously satisfied with his performance. I expected him to be thoughtful and careful and that's what I have been seeing. I think people who, for emotional reasons, already disliked Obama and wished to see him fail all along have been the first ones to tie the economic crisis to him. Other people recognize that this situation is far bigger than any Presidency, or politics for that matter.
And contrary to how Obama's most irritatingly cynical opponents want to portray his supporters, I never thought and I still don't think that Obama is a miracle worker. I know that real solutions will take time.
Just because we still feel a little sick after taking two penicillin pills is no reason to go back to the leeches.
To Clark
Bush will never look like a genious. Remember we got where we are now under his watch. All the legislative branch were under republican control almost all of the recent past. Think about it.
The people that think he has the wrong ideas, should support his ideas, let them fail, then change it in the next election. It should be easy if you are right.
It is too early to evaluate his performance now.
And as far as the current health care debate goes, I never hear anyone saying that it's fine the way it is. Let the house, senate and Obama come up with something different and give it a try. I'm sure he would listen to and accept genuine ideas from the other side, which is different than what we are used to.
i judge obama by his results globally. since he's been in office, there has been much more respect for america, and people just feel less scared of us. i think we all benifit from having more freinds in the world and fewer enemies
The current culture of our country is one of impatience and getting something for nothing. It is not Obama's so called failure at creating the changes necessary for economic growth, but the immaturity of our society to be patient for the effects of the Stimulus package that has barely started to be felt.
Case in point; I have a brother who lost his job as a master plumber, his wife lost her job at a window manufacturer. They then lost their home. Last month they received money through the stimulus package to go to school for over the road trucking. The have now been pre-hired by a trucking company for when they
become licensed next month.
I am ashamed of fellow americans not having the patience nor the
support for this president who is undertaking multiple difficult issues that we put off by our own voting choices for so long.
I'll measure him by how well he keeps his campaign promises (orderly withdrawal from Iraq, Health care reform, Gitmo closure). Will these things happen or is he just great speaker who didn't understand the complexity of the situations at hand.
I agree with many other commentators that it is too soon to judge the success of the presidency of Barack Obama. I find it interesting that many in our nation find it so easy to oppose reform. Of course, if you support reform you have to DO something. I certainly put our President in that category of those willing to DO something and remain hopeful that we will continue to be protected by our Constitution and guaranteed our basic needs by our Nation
Hate to say it, but by how he's NOT hurting the country. The previous administration lowered the bar.
In 80 years, no president has entered the Oval Office to find as big a pile of stinking (stuff) as did President Obama.
I am not enamored of his speaking style or his rock-star vibe. But, having read his books and carefully watching his deeds, I believe he is working through a progressive agenda for the country.
I do appreciate the manner in which he processes thought. I like about 80% of the people he has in his inner circle. I like his authority and his humility.
It is much too early to predict the score...we're still only in the first inning. In these six months, however, President Obama has been criticized (CRITICIZED!) for undertaking too many policy initiatives. Which of these issues is unimportant enough to wait till later?
I give Mr. Obama an F minus so far.
I measure President Obama's success by how zealous he works at promoting the Culture of Life - for how can 'A Person' who is killed in his or her mother's womb enjoy all the other benefits of our government when they have not had their Constitutional and God-given right to Life protected. It's so easy to dismiss this single most important concern when we - who read this - already enjoy the gift of Life, and when some people 'Choose' to eliminate other people's lives because they are expendable and inconvenient.
What gift or governmental protection can be more important than LIFE itself. Just ask all those who read this.
A nation that kills it's own unborn children, is a nation without hope.
If only Mr. Obama and other members of his party and administration would only consider the Last Four Things (Death, Judgment, Heaven & Hell) we would realize that we are spiritual beings who have been created in the image and likeness of God. And that all people, born and unborn alike, have the right to life, and eternal life for those who obey God. "Thou shall not kill."
Fortunately, God's name is 'MERCY' and He awaits the repentance of all who promote the Culture of Death.
Praise and Glory to the Most Holy Trinity.
As I listened to his news conference last night, my first reaction was to breath a sigh of relief knowing that our country has finally elected an articulate and knowledgeable president. Even though a person may disagree with his stands on certain issues, it is a relief to hear a president speak in a clear voice.
That being said, I am waiting for him to speak as confidently about the safe return of our troops as he does about health care.
President Obama's lack of experience is showing. The government program to help people in foreclosure is a huge government waste of money and only a few are getting help. The same will be true of the health care reform. I am a 65 year old grandmother and I am afraid for my grandchildrens future taxes to pay for all this. If I am already paying $1200 a year in extra health care costs to pay for the uninsured then why do I have to pay more under this program? Will my monthly cost go down? I don't think so.
President Obama gets high marks for his focus on our country's most critical needs, namely health care reform. Yesterday I read about the over-attention to set-backs to healthcare reform, and under-reporting of progress. See link below.
The fact remains that the majority of americans support reform that looks very much like the House bill. Including a public option to compete with private insurance and keep them honest.
A little context on public support for the President and the level of controversy, would be appreciated, and well, responsible. Including the very significant steps toward reform (AMA, industry, pharma...) he has achieved in six short months.
http://mediamatters.org/research/200907220012
If President Obama is able, with the help of Congress, to pass health care legislation, climate change legislation, and steer the economy towards a recovery I would argue that he should be considered one of the most successful presidents in history given his short time in office.
Barack is moving forward with the issues put forth during his candidacy. I am grateful he is able to stay above the current dysfunction of the media and populace and stay the course. We need to look at how our behavior as a people will effect his outcomes and ask ourselves how we can help make a better country for ourselves and each other. Are we holding so tightly to our opinions because of fear? is our fear, divisiveness and inflexibility increased by the media and sites like this one?
I am in a 'wait and see' mode. I believe it is still too early. IF the politicans can take the politics out, on both sides, and concentrate on what is really good for the people and country, we should have a good program. However, this has been 40 years trying to be solved and I think it may not be taken care of for the betterment of America. Too bad, we all need help.
I measure his success by how often I find myself screaming at the radio in frustration over what he/his directly appointed people are doing.
So far his success rate is waaaay ahead of the last dude whose butt was in that chair.
p.s. anyone who thinks universal health care is communism needs to:
a) take an economics course (this might be socialism, but it sure ain't communism)
or
b) talk to a native of a country with this health care - like Sweden or Germany - who is living in the U.S.
or
c) go abroad and get sick
I think measuring our President's success at this point is like calling the winner of a horse race before the first turn. I'd rather measure our success as a country and I am very disappointed at how, in spite of the trying times upon us, we continue to bicker, continue to point fingers at each other, continute politics as usual. I expect the latter will ever be but I take my hope from those in the grass roots who are making a sincere effort to work with our President and those who are working to build strong communities and local business environments.
Obama was just elected president. I would imagine that as president there is a slight learning curve. I would hope that as a new 'employee' I wouldn't be judged so harshly in my first few months 'on the job.' He has more than 3 1/2 years to go. Let's give him some time to gain his footing...
I measure President Obama's success by his ability to work with the legislature and to provide leadership to pass real health care reform. Measuring how he moves from speeches to effective leadership and makes real change. Priority issues are health care, education, reducing pollution and repealing the defense of marriage act.
James, what Obama is working towards is far from Communism. The funny thing about universal health care that isn't linked to employment means that it would give you the opportunity to choose your career based on something you are passionate about, rather than being limited to finding a company which offers health care benefits. Are you in a job you love that also gives you great benefits? Well, lucky you then. I know a lot of individuals in jobs they loathe but put up with to hold onto the health insurance. Many people who, for example, work in the non-profit sector, unfortunately have to forego good health care benefits to work for the good of others, and then there are the folks who may not be qualified for higher-paying positions but work as hard as they can at low-pay jobs and cannot afford high health care premiums on their income. Are these people less deserving of good health care than their peers in the white-collar world? This has NOTHING to do with natural selection.
To answer the question: Obama has unfortunately entered a position where everyone he turns to expects him to make miracles. I think he's working as hard as he can to fix one emergency at a time - we've seen the new home buyer credit, and now cash for clunkers is coming to fruition. By seeing things "getting done" in a matter of speaking, I think he's doing the best he can at a time like this.
His ability in increase the economic pie rather then just redistribute the wealth. So far he is an absolute failure. Why would anyone who creates wealth want to invest in expansion if Obama and the far left democrats plan to confiscate income and wealth and pass along to their union friiends, illegal immigrants and welfare lowlifes. Sorry but in 2 years, Bush will look like a genius compared with this clown.
My Grand Father and Father fought AGAINST Communism, now our politicians are trying to stuff down our throats! I don’t think so.
If you can't afford health care it may just be natural selection.
President Obama is attempting to address issues that will improve the lives of people. He got elected, in part because of his grassroots network. He listens. As long as he continues to work on improving the lives of all people, he is being successful.
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