Obama: New Polls, Bad News

President Obama has blasted through the first six months of his presidency. But, for a man who achieved the presidency after a mere 150 days or so in the United States senate, time is irrelevant. Or maybe it is extremely relevant.

Perhaps the president is simply used to a “roadrunner” pace, but America isn’t.

A six month anniversary isn’t necessarily a tremendous benchmark, but for a president who has quickly and drastically introduced and pressured dramatic new legislative measures, much can be said after six months of work. Beyond that, it is also interesting to see how Americans are responding to a president who they were only introduced to over the last two years or so; a president whose background was void of legislative accomplishments to brag about or who had any significant voting record.

Therefore, as Americas have become acquainted with President Obama, it is worthwhile to see how they feel about what he has accomplished (or tried to) in his first six months in the Oval Office.

Overall, Americans like Obama. While he has begun to see his approval ratings dip, his approval rating has averaged 62%. That is not too shabby at all. But, when you ask Americans about the issues, a very different picture begins to take form.
Americans are facing extremely harsh economic times. When the economy began to tank back in September, many voters looked to Obama to save them from imminent financial doom.

We were promised that the stimulus package would “immediately” rescue the slumping economy and that it would help create jobs while keeping the unemployment rate at 8%. Those promises have evaporated as the economy seems to be worsening with unemployment at 9.5% nationally and over 10% in 14 states. Over 2.5 million jobs have been lost since Obama took office. Where is the stimulus plan’s immediate relief? Where are the new jobs? Empty promises.

Americans want their politician to keep their promises. Obama hasn’t and Americans are not happy. When it comes to the economy, President Obama’s approval rating has dived from 59% in February to 47% today, according to a recent Gallup Poll. 59% of Americans feel that he is spending too much money and 55% of Americans disapprove of the federal budget’s deficit.

The president has made healthcare reform his primary focus; perhaps in attempt to redirect the national dialogue away from the stimulus package’s failure. There seems to be countless press conferences and prime time addresses stressing, once again, the urgency to pass legislation to “immediately” save our healthcare system.

But, Americans aren’t buying it this time around. Maybe the failure of the stimulus package has caused us to be skeptical. Or, maybe Americans don’t want to become a nation with socialized medicine. Either, Americans are frowning.

In a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, 51% of Americans disapprove of Obamacare.
And, this isn’t an isolated poll.

According to a recent Gallup Poll, 50% of Americans disapprove of the way the president is handling the healthcare issue. More interestingly, 55% of independent voters, the individuals who really secured the presidency for Obama, disapprove of the president’s healthcare proposals. Do I hear opportunity knocking on the door of the GOP (please answer!)?

The same Gallup Poll revealed that the majority of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling Afghanistan and Iraq; two areas, interestingly enough, where the Obama administration has kept most of the Bush administration’s policies.
As we reflect on the last six months, it is abundantly clear that most Americans are concerned about the way the president is handling the critical issues facing our country. They might have believed in him a few months back, but now they are beginning to lose their faith.

While we have a long way to go, Obama should be nervous. Americans are patient and they have definitely given this president the benefit of the doubt, offering him some lead way. But, that patience will only last so long before it wears out. The gravel coming down the mountain can turn into a landslide very quickly. Only time will tell.