National

rasmussenreports.com Rasmussenreports.com – Wed Nov 4, 10:02 am ET
One year ago today, Senator Barack Obama became President-elect Obama. He and his team had run nearly a flawless campaign and were about to embark on what turned out to be a nearly flawless transition effort. By Inauguration Day, the man who had won 53% of the vote saw his overall job approval rating soar to 65%.

As expected, once the campaigning was over and the governing began, those numbers began to slip.

As president, Obama lost the support of Republicans in February during the debate over the stimulus package. Over the summer, economic concerns and the health care debate cost the president support among unaffiliated voters. By October, a month-by-month review showed that Obama's overall job approval had slipped to 48% among Likely Voters.

This morning, on the anniversary of his election, the president's Approval Index rating is at -13, just one point above the lowest level yet recorded and down 41 points since the Inauguration.

Economic conditions have played a role in dimming Obama's support. For much of the past year, voters continued to blame George W. Bush for the economy, but the blame is more evenly divided now between Bush and Obama.

The core promise made down the stretch to voters by candidate Obama was a pledge to cut taxes for 95% of all Americans. Now, more than 40% expect a tax hike and hardly anybody expects their taxes to go down. Not surprisingly, 74% of voters now view the president as politically liberal.

Just 33% believe the stimulus package has helped, and most opposed other economic initiatives including the takeover of General Motors and the cash-for-clunkers program. Among the priorities established by the president, voters consistently see deficit reduction as the most important but least likely to be achieved.

The health care plan proposed by the president is struggling and is supported by just 42% of voters nationwide. Confidence in the War on Terror spiked during the first weeks of the Obama administration but has now fallen to the lowest level in nearly three years. On a related topic, one of the president's earliest initiatives, his promise to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, initially received mixed reviews but is now opposed by most Americans.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of voters now expect politics in Washington to become more partisan over the coming year. That's up 25 points since Inauguration Day when a plurality believed politics might become more cooperative.

Despite the struggles and challenges, however, Obama's overall ratings remain mixed. He retains very strong support from Democrats and endures very strong opposition from Republicans. Among those not affiliated with either major party, there is some dissatisfaction, but it can clearly be turned around if the economy improves.

The president himself remains more popular than his policies. That gives him some good will to draw upon. However, as was shown in yesterday's election results, the president's ability to help other Democratic politicians may be limited.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

He cannot be out in public without a teleprompter, especially after the "speech" he gave on the shooting at Fort Hood, I know more than a few soldiers that were not just horrified but angered by the lack of feeling and disrespect he showed....it took him a couple minutes to get to the issue and he gave a shout out and a wave and thanked a bunch of people for a conference before he addressed the families and victims.....it was pretty bad I have to say, I was very disappointed.....this from our "commander in chief"????

I heard President Obama'a statement about the shooting at Fort Hood and I guess you must have heard it differently than I did.

from the whitehouse.gov website:
Now, I have to say, though, that beyond that, I plan to make some broader remarks about the challenges that lay ahead for Native Americans, as well as collaboration with our administration, but as some of you might have heard, there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don't yet know all the details at this moment; we will share them as we get them. What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed, and even more have been wounded in a horrific outburst of violence.

My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the families of the fallen, and with those who live and serve at Fort Hood. These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk and at times give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.

I've spoken to Secretary Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and I will continue to receive a constant stream of updates as new information comes in. We are working with the Pentagon, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, all to ensure that Fort Hood is secure, and we will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government.

In the meantime, I would ask all Americans to keep the men and women of Fort Hood in your thoughts and prayers. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident. And I want all of you to know that as Commander-in-Chief, there's no greater honor but also no greater responsibility for me than to make sure that the extraordinary men and women in uniform are properly cared for and that their safety and security when they are at home is provided for.

So we are going to stay on this. But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.

http://online.wsj.com/video/obama-comments-on-fort-hood-s...

these remarks from the President...obviously he was at a speaking engagement to another group, and took time before speaking to them to discuss this incident:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/11/06/rema...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9cvbDgj4NY

I must be an idiot...I'm hard pressed to find what is offensive in his response to this situation.

That is his response but it omits the minutes after he took the stage where he did the shout etc. IMO he really should have paid respect to the soldiers first.

" OBAMA: Please, everybody, have a seat. Let me first of all just thank Ken and the entire Department of the Interior staff for organizing just an extraordinary conference.

I want to thank my Cabinet members and senior administration officials who participated today. I hear that Dr. Joe Medicine Crow (ph) was around, and so I want to give a shout out to that Congressional Medal of Honor winner. It's good to see you.

(APPLAUSE)

My understanding is is that you had an extremely productive conference. I want to thank all of you for coming and for your efforts, and I want to give you my solemn guarantee that this is not the end of a process, but the beginning of a process and that we are going to follow up.

(APPLAUSE)

We are going to follow up. Every single member of my team understands that this is a top priority for us. I want you to know that, as I said this morning, this -- this is not something that we just give lip service to. And we are going to keep on working with you to make sure that the first Americans (ph) get the best possible chances in life in a way that's consistent with your extraordinary traditions and culture and values.

Now, I have to say, though, that beyond that, I had planned to make some broader remarks about the challenges that lay ahead for Native Americans as well as collaboration with our administration.

But as some of you might have heard, there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don't yet know all the details at this moment. We will share them as we get them."

put yourself in his position...he may have been briefed as he was walking out onto the stage to give his address...imagine having to make a quick change in plans, still address this audience of native americans, and still honor the wounded and dead in this incident. I guess for some people, EVERYTHING he does is wrong. Well, how does this measure up to My Pet Goat I wonder?

Obama looked very presidential, and sounded competent and compassionate... all without a teleprompter. The service people they interviewed on the radio at the hospital seemed genuinely taken with the president, especially the one who said it was his proudest day in uniform.

Those he was speaking to may not have known about the situation...he may have been introduced by someone who didn't know this and had to muddle through that introduction first before he could speak. People really are so quick to judge.

As far as I know and anything I can find on the subject the Tribal conference was held at the WH. The Fort Hood statement should not have been part or included in BO's response to the tribal leaders. It showed a lack of caring.
That people may not have known about the tragedy is a WH mistake that never should have happened. The WH should have known better than combine two news conferences especially in the light of one being a tragedy to many.

You have a pet goat???

OBAMA BRIEFED, DELIVERS REMARKS ON SHOOTING

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama was being kept updated throughout the afternoon as details about the shooting emerged. Gibbs said he told Obama about TV news reports that seven people were dead at the Texas military location and others were injured. Gibbs said he informed Obama based on broadcast reports, and that the president was being kept up-to-date through the White House Situation Room.

Sounds like he knew well in advance of walking out on that platform

Wow! It's late....good night all

I don't understand your comments, Kats.If the conference occurred at the Whitehouse...why would the native american attendants know about what was happening in Texas. Are you saying they should have interrupted the conference to tell them all this...or did the Whitehouse also just get the information as he was about to speak. I'd say there are a lot of variables about which you seem to be making assumptions...My Pet Goat was the book GW was reading when the first plan crashed into the WTC...and there he sat...for a whole lot longer than 2 minutes. The point...I dont' think any president handles these things perfectly...People just look for things to be offended at in this country, honestly.

This remark by a soldier says it all:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/11/president...

"Wow!!! Once again the american public chose to re-direct their anger to the person who is suppose to be in charge. I am a United States Marine, and what i see since besides maybe one individual here whom have serve our nation, is tragic and maybe, just maybe a "Horrific outburst of violence". Why do we seem to blame the act of the Major's ethnicity on terrorism; what if the hhuman in him was truly fed-up? Did the other act of Violence in that city, Neighborhood, street, or base had a ethnic basis. Open your eyes people your president wasn't the one doing the shooting and as bad as this may sound, when he heard about the incident, it was already by then an incident. We should not be comparing Presidents based on the bad decisions they make but for the awesome ones, George Bushes Re-action to the 9/11 incident was barely a re-action at all, he had no clue what he was suppose to do with the news given. Pres. Obama probably did the same thing, because just maybe as a human being they both needed a moment to think of the situation, I guess they should be sorry that as President of the United States, they will always have other things to do, and sometimes tragedy happens during those things.

"My Prayer goes out to the families of fallen Soldiers and the injured.
Put your faith in no man but God and he will give you strength."

PFC Clarke
USMC, Cherry Point NC"

Just 33% believe the stimulus package has helped, and most opposed other economic initiatives including the takeover of General Motors and the cash-for-clunkers program.

Hmmm. The takeover of GM? What sort of language is this.

Does the unnamed author believe that there should be no bankruptsy laws and a judicial process to deal with this? Should there be simply a wild and violent free for all among the creditors and bond holders?

What sort of bizzare thought process would lead to this twisted language?