Can the U.S. Recover From Obama's Ravages?

[jbg]

Are you suggesting people should die for the temerity of writing in on a ballot?

The Darwin Award does not equal capital punishment. My view is that to the extent possible voters should choose among people who are bona fide candidates for an office. Writing in "Donald Duck" or, on a U.S. ballot, Stephen Harper or Justin Trudeau is a waste.

[waldo]

Probably...same as polled Canadians who wanted to vote for Obama in 2008.

this is the U.S. Politics Forum... nothing to do with your perpetual want to 'make it about Canada'

.

[Shady]

Obama's approval ratings are at an all-time low, including his disapproval rating of his handling of the economy. Which now stands at 55% disapproval. Which is quite odd considering some say that his record is better than Reagan and Clinton. I wonder why those two presidents rate so much higher.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval_economy-2820.html

[Shady]

Uh, that's why I asked for proof.

Ever heard of the phrase "its the economy stupid"? When the economy's strong, right track numbers are always better. Are you actually disputing that? Do you actually believe that when the economy is good, people think the country's going in the wrong direction? That's a level of denialism I've yet to encounter.

[Argus]

Obama's policies have actually made things worse in almost all aspects. So no.

Really? The economy is in much better shape. Unemployment is way down. The deficit is lower. Doesn't seem to me like things are in much worse shape...

[Argus]

Bowing to and apologizing to a Saudi King? Supporting Morsi over other alternatives in Egypt? His wife's "just beginning to be proud" of America? His failure to put his hand on his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, and failure to wear a flag pin on his lapel? That's just a start.

One bows to kings if one wants to be diplomatic. It's not like it hurts or costs anything. And a man full of self confidence that he is the most poweful man on earth can afford to humour the locals. Americans have tried to support democratically elected governments for some time now. As for hand on heart and pin. C'mon. That's childish.

[Black Dog]

Ever heard of the phrase "its the economy stupid"? When the economy's strong, right track numbers are always better. Are you actually disputing that? Do you actually believe that when the economy is good, people think the country's going in the wrong direction? That's a level of denialism I've yet to encounter.

I'm open to be convinced. Show me the "historical data" and we'll go from there.

[Black Dog]

The Darwin Award does not equal capital punishment. My view is that to the extent possible voters should choose among people who are bona fide candidates for an office. Writing in "Donald Duck" or, on a U.S. ballot, Stephen Harper or Justin Trudeau is a waste.

You have no idea what you're referring to.

The Darwin Awards are a tongue-in-cheek honor, originating in Usenet newsgroup discussions circa 1985. They recognize individuals who have supposedly contributed to human evolution by self-selecting themselves out of the gene pool via death or sterilization by their own actions.

[Black Dog]

OK, did a real quick google about "right track/wrong track". Found this:

Sixty-nine percent of Americans say things in the United States are pretty seriously off on the wrong track — the highest number since CBS News started asking the question in 1983. Today, just 26 percent say things are going in the right direction.

Sounds pretty bad, must have been during the recession...

October 6, 2005

Oh nurtz.

Still, the economy wasn't great back then. Earlier data would surely show something diff...

Wrong track
Now
69%
9/2005
63%
5/2004
65%
3/2003
41%
11/1994
65%

Huh. How about that.

[Shady]

Really? The economy is in much better shape. Unemployment is way down. The deficit is lower. Doesn't seem to me like things are in much worse shape...

Unemployment is way down because labour participation is at an all time low. Are you fooled that easily. The deficits have been record deficits, even this one is bigger than any other president has ever had. He's going to add more debt than all previous presidents combined. Yep, much better.

[Black Dog]

Unemployment is way down because labour participation is at an all time low. Are you fooled that easily. The deficits have been record deficits, even this one is bigger than any other president has ever had. He's going to add more debt than all previous presidents combined. Yep, much better.

I always thought it was a cardinal tenet of the right that government can't create jobs. Seems pretty obvious to me that the onus on that lies with business.

[waldo]

Unemployment is way down because labour participation is at an all time low.

why repeat this again? Your repeated statement/claim was dealt with here: you didn't respond to it (or the like follow-up post from MLW member, 'Mighty AC'. You just choose to repeat your statement and implications. Of course you do!

[bush_cheney2004]

There is no imperative that commands the private sector to create jobs. If market(s) demand more goods and services, then jobs may follow, but so will efficiencies that eliminate or relocate jobs.

[cybercoma]

Your cherry picked data was amusing. But doesn't jive with the overall mood of the country

Screw the facts. Let's reify the country and talk about its "mood." You're hilarious, Shady.

[cybercoma]

Like you, the public are entitled to their own opinions. But not their own facts.

Welcome to the society that commentary masked as news creates.

[cybercoma]

Just look at the historical data. I know, I know, us serfs just don't realize when we're livin' large right?

You don't care about data. You want to talk about the country's mood, I thought?

[Shady]

You don't care about data. You want to talk about the country's mood, I thought?

Because you're data is inaccurate and cherrypicked. If your data was correct, the mood of the country would reflect that. But it doesn't. Because the rosy scenario you present is complete nonsense.

[Black Dog]

Because you're data is inaccurate and cherrypicked. If your data was correct, the mood of the country would reflect that. But it doesn't. Because the rosy scenario you present is complete nonsense.

Meanwhile, some of us are still waiting for that historical data that proves the mood of the country is an accurate reflection of the state of things.

[Shady]

Meanwhile, some of us are still waiting for that historical data that proves the mood of the country is an accurate reflection of the state of things.

Are your assertion is that when the economy is really good, people tend to have a negative view of the direction of the country? Is that what you're insisting? That's completely absurd and more than laughable tripe.

[cybercoma]

Because you're data is inaccurate and cherrypicked. If your data was correct, the mood of the country would reflect that. But it doesn't. Because the rosy scenario you present is complete nonsense.

So post the historical data then.

[Black Dog]

Are your assertion is that when the economy is really good, people tend to have a negative view of the direction of the country? Is that what you're insisting? That's completely absurd and more than laughable tripe.

No, goofus, I'm asking for the historical data you say shows the mood of the country is an accurate reflection of the state of things. I'll withold any statement one way or another until you provide a cite for your claim.

That said, it wouldn't surprise me if what you dismiss as "laughable tripe"* weren't true: public opinion is often woefuly out of step with reality. For example:

A new survey for the Royal Statistical Society and King's College London shows public opinion is repeatedly off the mark on issues including crime, benefit fraud and immigration.

...

Hetan Shah, executive director of the Royal Statistical Society, said: "Our data poses real challenges for policymakers. How can you develop good policy when public perceptions can be so out of kilter with the evidence?

*is "laughable tripe" the new "complete nonsense"

Edited September 10, 2014 by Black Dog

[overthere]

I don't think it is possible to accurately or consistently guage the 'mood of the country' in Canada.

We have become a group of regions, each sefishly ready to screw anybody to get their way. Well, we nearly always have been that, but the disconnect is stronger now than ever. I credit the Quiet Revolution in Quebec with having a heavy influence on that evolution. Bitching has come to political threat and pressure, and .... it often works. Our bad.

[Topaz]

Each president has their "Pros" and 'Cons" but GW, this guy made a mess, just for the reason he wanted to take Hussein for personal reasons and not for the reason that he was a threat to the US. Hussein did keep things relative peaceful in the Middle-East as to "terrorists" activity. Now, he's gone and look at the mess the M-E . Terrorists will be coming after the world for many years to come and many citizens of those countries will have a mark on their back because of it. As I heard on the American news the other day, GW, will go down in history of one of the worse presidents in American history.

[Landaw]

Rapid Trident 2014.
Do you live in the NATO member country? Do you feel yourself an idiot? Then tell Mr.Obama that you are not.
My Dad happened to be present at the planning conference on the Ukrainian-American tactical exercise Rapid Trident. He is Canadian officer. And he was in Lviv for another business. But Ukrainians are so negligent and tumultuous that he got lost in their military base. The only thing my Dad tells is that Americans have weaved a complex shady scheme of delivering Ukrainians NATO equipment on the quiet during this exercise.
Once again U.S.A. makes decisions for entire NATO. May be all other countries should leave the Alliance? Let Americans to play on their own. I don't like the idea that they manage our inpayments and our forces as if they own them. And after that it turns out that ALL NATO members support another bloody massacre somewhere in NAME region or in East Europe or on the Moon.

[Black Dog]

So post the historical data then.

And still we wait.