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The End Of Obama-mania?

Posted In: Bailout, Economy, Obama Administration, Politicians, President Bush, Recession, Stimulus Package, Surveys

“You are the instruments that God is going to use to bring about universal change, and that is why Barack has captured the youth. And he has involved young people in a political process that they didn’t care anything about. That’s a sign. When the Messiah speaks, the youth will hear, and the Messiah is absolutely speaking.”

-Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, February 24, 2008

“Barack Obama was a community organizer like Jesus. Pontius Pilate was a governor.”

-Rep. Steve Cohen, (D-TN), in a one-minute House speech on October 8, 2008

“In a way Obama is standing above the country, above the world. He’s sort
of GOD. He’s going to bring all different sides together.”

-Newsweek editor Evan Thomas on MSNBC, June 5, 2009

Just havin’ a little fun with that Barrack Obama is the Messiah thing. However, it seems all the hype over the former Senator from Illinois is starting to die down. I, for one, have noticed there are a lot less Obama stickers plastered on cars around town— and I live in Chicago, his “hometown.” And the following could explain why. From the Agence France-Presse today:

A year on from a historic election, the spirit of popular goodwill that yielded America’s first black president has retreated to tepid support for Barack Obama as he presses his change agenda…

Indeed, Obama’s honeymoon with the American people lasted less than six months.

In the aftermath of his inauguration in January, Obama’s approval rating soared to 70 percent.

Early on, he tested Americans’ faith by diving headlong into controversial programs to rescue the economy, including bailing out sinking US auto manufacturers and unleashing a 787-billion-dollar stimulus plan.

In late April, at the end of the first 100 days in office, Obama still enjoyed more positive reviews than his predecessors in the previous 20 years.

But the fall was soon to come as questions started simmering about the president’s ability to pull the US economy out of a nosedive.

In July, his popularity dipped even below that of predecessor George W. Bush in the same period of his presidency.

Since mid-October, it has hovered just above 50 percent, a “significant drop” from his earlier numbers, according to Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup Poll.

“In general, this puts Obama’s current ratings slightly below average for all US presidents since World War II,” Newport told AFP, noting that the ongoing economic problems are contributing to the curb in enthusiasm.

On Sunday, even as data released by the Commerce Department last week showed the United States had emerged from the worst recession in decades, a monthly approval index by Rasmussen Reports showed 29 percent of those polled strongly approve of Obama’s performance, compared to 39 percent who strongly disapprove.

That left him with an approval index of -10, two points worse than in September, Rasmussen reported.

“Overall, Americans are not highly satisfied with the way things are going in the US,” said Newport.