Polls: Obama’s disapproval rating, GOP’s generic ballot lead at new highs
posted at 6:30 pm on August 18, 2009 by Allahpundit
Ed flagged the Gallup numbers on The One in an update earlier but it deserves a bit more prominence given the two trend lines. The closer they get, the less leverage he has over Blue Dogs wavering on the public option. Especially after they see this:
Republican candidates have now matched their biggest lead over Democrats of the past several years on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 38% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.
The level of support for Democratic candidates is unchanged this week, but backing for GOP candidates rose one point from a week ago. This is now the eighth straight week Republicans have led on the Generic Ballot…
For the second time in three weeks, women favor Republicans slightly more than Democrats, 41% to 39%. Men prefer the GOP by a 45% to 36% margin this week.
Among voters not affiliated with either party continue to strongly favor the GOP, 45% to 18%.
Follow the link and note the shifts over the past six months. The parties trade leads every few weeks or so until late June — around the time ObamaCare started heating up — at which point the GOP takes control. Proof that DeMint was right about health care being his Waterloo? Or is the summer trend towards Republicans better explained as a reaction to the economy, with the public finally resigning itself to the fact that the stimulus has brought neither Hope nor Change? Exit question via Matthew Continetti: How can it be that the GOP’s fortunes are improving while the Democrats are struggling in the midst of the great march to universal health care? The left told us last year was a “realignment” ushering in the new golden age of liberalism. And yet not a day passes when our newly deep-blue country doesn’t endure some story about Blue Dog Democrats cowering at town halls or wringing their hands about a public option for fear of what’ll happen to them in the midterms. When does the realignment begin, exactly?
Blowback
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Obama Unites…..Conservatives.
Hope & Change. Yes we can.
portlandon on August 18, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Trolls -
how about a little cheese with that whine?
CWforFreedom on August 18, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Women favor
RepublicansAlpha males slightly more thanDemocratsBeta males, 41% to 39%.jharada on August 18, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Yes we can.
Just say it – yes we can – just let it roll off the lips.
Mmmmmm, it feels so good.
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 6:33 PM
2010, but not quite like they were expecting.
Hey GOP – Don’t f*ck it up this time! (fat chance)
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Come on Barry don’t back off now……
Try and shove it all down our thoat, because when the libs go down, I want them to go down in a ball of flames!
jrab01 on August 18, 2009 at 6:35 PM
OT: Where is our VP? I want to hear from Biden?
d1carter on August 18, 2009 at 6:36 PM
I smell forty seats and a TURNOVER ( not apple )
the BotoX Queen will lose her throne……
In the Senate, 7 – 8 seats gained, with Reid as Toast
eat that, trolls…..
Janos Hunyadi on August 18, 2009 at 6:36 PM
You know what the best part is?
The GOP will squander every opportunity
:D
blatantblue on August 18, 2009 at 6:38 PM
The way you hear the Leftw@s though, they are really going full retard on the public option thing.
Apologetic California on August 18, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Did this poll include likely ACORN ballot box stuffers?
joeindc44 on August 18, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Guess the MSM, DNC and the vichy republicans were wrong about those town halls and about conservative concepts.
jukin on August 18, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Retreat from Obamacare == Napolean’s retreat out of Russia
My collie says:
Election 2010 will tell the tale.
CyberCipher on August 18, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Let me be clear, Waterloo.
elduende on August 18, 2009 at 6:40 PM
And cap/trade,illegal immigrant reform,and his”volunteer army”(or w/e) should really stir things up.
theTarCzar on August 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
jawkneemusic on August 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
I do love these numbers, but wouldn’t it be so much sweeter if the elections were this year? sigh…
TWG78 on August 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
He is at a secret location until this assualt upon the White House and the liberal government passes.
(They don’t want him aiding or betting the conservative enemy by speaking….anything…anywhere)
BobMbx on August 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Pack it in guys.
Republicans are going to take over Congress by a landslide!
Huckabee in 2012!!!!!!!
LOL
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
He got a bit too close to the Death Panels , barely made it ..
the_nile on August 18, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Well…who would have ever imagined…Barry is the best friend to conservatives 2010.
Keep it up, not ready for prime time Barry.
purgatory on August 18, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Maybe Obama needs to get out more………
…….. you know, have a town meeting or two, get his face on a few more magazines, and on TV?
Where are his handlers…….?
…….. Don’t they know that the American people never tire of being lied to straight in the face during a never ending disinformation and propaganda campaign?
Seven Percent Solution on August 18, 2009 at 6:44 PM
People really want to believe that they are participating in something bigger than themselves. The GOP called the 1994 elections a sea change and lefty news casters called it a temper tantrum. This time around the lefties saw realignment when it probably was nothing more than a temper tantrum.
myrenovations on August 18, 2009 at 6:44 PM
This movement and turnaround was driven by the people, with some help from the liberty-hating Left. The GOP had nothing to do with it. They’d all be very happy to make wampum with Obama, to be seen as “bipartisan”, to “work together to reform our ailing healthcare industry.”
People, you are the leaders.
rrpjr on August 18, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Why do republicans follow the poll like its the best thing since slice bread? The election was finalized in Nov 08 remember.
King Hussein as you all like to call him won. Rather than getting your panties in a twist over some stupid poll, why dont you spend that time developing better ideas (aside from tax cuts) to improve our country.
Afrolib on August 18, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Must be the secret Cheney bunker that everyone now knows about.
ICBM on August 18, 2009 at 6:45 PM
What’s wrong with tax cuts?
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 6:46 PM
It can’t be more than one thing? This guy has squeezed an awful lot of bad faith and ineptitude into 7 months.
Jim Treacher on August 18, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Ha! But atheling was just telling us how socialist women are!
Esthier on August 18, 2009 at 6:46 PM
Tell these women that are mothers, or grandmothers that children, especially babies are rated much less on the Quality Adjusted Life Years according to the writers, contributors and advisors of this health care bill.
Therefore, they will receive inadequate and rationed health care just like Grandma.
According to the chart, an illegal alien is more worthy of OUR healthcare than a baby, toddler or young child. Ridiculous. Look up QALY to find out what I mean.
The one thing you don’t do is mess with a woman’s child or grandchild.
TriciaNC on August 18, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Unfortunately, the Republican Party is the best ally the Dems have got. As we speak, they’re probably seeking out another utterly clueless RINO who reads the NY Times to get “the pulse of the people.” Watch for Jeb Bush to run for president in 2012. The Bush family’s not done annihilating the Republican Party.
Django on August 18, 2009 at 6:47 PM
You should put that on Twitter – it’s a very good line.
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 6:47 PM
I am fully confident that the GOP will do everything in their power to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A scandal here, some bad press there, and voila’—tie ballgame
ted c on August 18, 2009 at 6:47 PM
I think the best is yet to come…the agenda of Pres. Obortion will eventually get around to bringing the Forbidden Zone of …. Social Security reform.
Notice how no one in the Administration will speak the name that cannot be spoken? You think Health Care is an issue? Wait till Pelosi submits a bill to ensure adequate funding for the future unfunded liabilities of the SSA…meaning an incredible tax increase.
Healthcare is but an appetizer.
He has to do it before the election because he knows he’s going to lose the House. I’d place odds on SSA coming up for reform in Jan 2010.
And if he does, he may even lose a host of seats in the Senate.
BobMbx on August 18, 2009 at 6:48 PM
So what? Even if the voters remain connected until next years election, and vote in Republican majorities in both houses of congress, what will really change?
They did nothing in their terms in office except get us further and further in debt, and they have failed to take a public stand against Obama during all this nonsense he’s trying to shove down our throats.
I am a Republican, and even I don’t see what difference it will make. We need conservatives in congress, whether they be Democrat (although being a conservative in the Democratic Party today is like being a Christian at a Sam Harris fanclub) or Republican, or Libertarian. We must get conservatives elected.
Joe Pyne on August 18, 2009 at 6:50 PM
next year looks GOOD. ;-)
homesickamerican on August 18, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Got it. What seat would you like on your re-location flight to France? I’ll pay for the ticket. An instant improvement.
BobMbx on August 18, 2009 at 6:50 PM
The way you hear the Leftw@s though, they are really going full retard on the public option thing.
Apologetic California on August 18, 2009 at 6:38 PM
And as anyone knows, you never go full retard! (H/T: Tropic Thunder).
I hear you Apologetic California, because I, too, and an apologetic Californian.
I trust my instincts and I trusted them back in November that this “historic” election would not longer be historic, but catastrophic.
You can’t fix stupid. The GOP in CA needs to grow some onions and stop Pelosi Galore, ad nauseum, next year.
CattyConservative on August 18, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Tax cuts, in general, are great. But they become aswesome when coupled with drastic spending cuts.
myrenovations on August 18, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Well obviously. I was trying to get afro to expand on what his side of the aisle has been doing to improve the economy, apart from destroying it of course.
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I am so proud of Obama. He did what we never could in only six months!
TXMomof3 on August 18, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Obama sold himself as a centrist, and now people are discovering he lied, of course.
RightOFLeft on August 18, 2009 at 6:56 PM
The part I always enjoy is the Man-Gap for pansy liberals. Consider that the blue-collar guys in thugunions are required to vote Pansy in order to keep their jobs, and yet men still favor Republicans by 9 points.
Democrats: the party of Women and Girly Men.
Jaibones on August 18, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker, David Frum and Meghan McCain sure picked a hellava time to jump on their tiny little rickety leaking boat.
Marcus on August 18, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Oh, the liberal feminists are not going to like this.
Republogirls, get ready to fend off the upcoming onslaught of “misogyny” accusations!
misslizzi on August 18, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Just wait until unemployment tops 10% and hyper inflation kicks in…
TN Mom on August 18, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Don’t worry, 2009 is a carbon copy of 1993. I remember thinking in 1993 after the HillaryCare debacle that I wished the midterms would be that same year. It didn’t matter.
Norwegian on August 18, 2009 at 6:57 PM
LOL, he’s not overexposed or anything.
Women favoring Republicans is a big change, means soccer moms are not buying the hope and change.
msmveritas on August 18, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I agree. This feels much more like people have woken up and realized that Obama is a lying piece of shit and (Egad!) the conservatives were exactly right.
That’s going to leave a nasty bruise.
Jaibones on August 18, 2009 at 6:58 PM
It doesn’t. And likely never will. MOST Americans are centrists. Neither of the extreme left or right. Those in the center, while they don’t completely ‘dis-trust’ government, know to keep a weather eye on it. Obama and his cronies took the last election results as a MANDATE to do as they want. 52-53% isn’t a MANDATE. Obama was able to pull his snake-oil sales pitch to a young, unsophisticated (no matter what they say) babes-in-the-woods electorate and some aging hippies. These were abetted by the normal “I always vote Democrat” crowd. Also abetting them, whether by design or accident, were the many discouraged conservatives who JUST DECIDED TO STAY HOME. (Yeah, you folks did the country a GREAT service!). The left does not and never did have the LANDSLIDE support they claim. But then, that’s never stopped them before. After all, they like to claim that ‘EVERYONE knows we’re right’.
GarandFan on August 18, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Keep those memories long, folks!
misslizzi on August 18, 2009 at 6:59 PM
These nationwide surveys are almost meaningless. For a poll to have any accuracy they need to show how they impact individual senators and representatives for local views and popularity.
Nancy Pelosi has nothing to fear from, nor any impetus from a poll unless she can see that it would impact her employement as a lifelong politician.
Rode Werk on August 18, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Will the MSM even mention in passing John Boehner’s tough letter to Big-Pharma Billy?
“Appeasement rarely works as a conflict resolution strategy.”
Drained Brain on August 18, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Obama’s disapproval won’t go any higher. We have the votes.
LibTired on August 18, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Come on, Allahpundit! You can’t tell me that this doesn’t make you feel a little less pessimistic about life.
Blake on August 18, 2009 at 7:00 PM
You wouldn’t know a good idea if it poked its way through your ‘panties’, AfroRetard.
Janos Hunyadi on August 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Unemployment numbers have leveled out and are going down, silly.
Hyper-inflation? Sounds… scary….
We’ll all be waiting. =]
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Every GOP legislator should be running against betty McBotox and Harry, regardless of who the actual donkey is they put up.
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Barak Obama
katy the mean old lady on August 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Why don’t you follow your own blabber.
Wade on August 18, 2009 at 7:05 PM
um….you might want to check that…silly…
” THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — JULY 2009
Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in July (-247,000),
and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.4 percent, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The average monthly job
loss for May through July (-331,000) was about half the average
decline for November through April (-645,000). In July, job losses
continued in many of the major industry sectors.”
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:05 PM
The pressure’s are all still deflationary, so you have a couple years before the inflation really build some steam.
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 7:06 PM
first idea….get the federal government out of medical care.
your turn.
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Most of the diary posters at dkos weren’t even trying to spin the unemployment numbers. Get with the program.
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 7:08 PM
I SAID IT IN NOV. I WILL SAY IT NOW
OBAMA WILL DESTROY THE DEMOCRAT (MARXISTS) PARTY
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH
rone5847 on August 18, 2009 at 7:09 PM
lol. The Veterans are bringing guns to the speeches LEGALLY! LOL. oh man this is gettin good.
johnnyU on August 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I just wanted to throw you a bone since Afrolib was never going to answer you. He is a hit and run troll.
myrenovations on August 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM
we hope. But most of that debt the administration has printed hasn’t translated into free dollars in the economy yet (consumer side). We are also just begining to see the rumblings of unhappiness with rates at bond auctions. The economy is a LOT bigger now than at times past and might be able to absorb this, but then again it might not.
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Now see, there’s a cyber-wedgie that straight bleach can’t get out.
RushBaby on August 18, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Payroll Employment:
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/graphics/CES0000000001_102686_1250637119140.gif
2009
JAN: -741
FEB: -681
MAR: -652
APR: -519
MAY: -303
JUN: -443(P)
JUL: -247(P)
Unemployment rate:
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/graphics/LNS14000000_102791_1250637364049.gif
2009
JAN: 7.6
FEB: 8.1
MAR: 8.5
APR: 8.9
MAY: 9.4
JUN: 9.5
JUL: 9.4
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Obama’s tax cut in the stimulus was the largest in history, dollar wise, you ignorant d-bag.
Chuck Schick on August 18, 2009 at 7:16 PM
I like.
Mommypundit on August 18, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Hypothetical: If Obama’s approval ratings get so low (obviously his approval ratings are not there yet) do you think the Dems will run someone else in 2012?
terryannonline on August 18, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Realignment Favoring LIBERALS?
Never
Realignment favoring DEMOCRATS?
Woulda happened years ago but thanks to Roe they keep aborting their young
battleoflepanto1571 on August 18, 2009 at 7:18 PM
terryannonline on August 18, 2009 at 7:17 PM
They couldn’t do that. That would be Raaaaciiiist.
kingsjester on August 18, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Facepalm. The only thing you’ve done is graphically presented how horrific unemployment numbers have been since Obama has been president. GEEZ!
Apologetic California on August 18, 2009 at 7:19 PM
(OT-anyone notice the explosion of mommies on H/A lately? Snarky moms rule.)
Mommypundit on August 18, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Wish I had that level of optimism. There is no more money here in Kalifornia, and as long as the public employee unions can twist sacramento to protect their jobs at the expense of the rest of the state, we’re screwed.
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Unemployment numbers only went down because they reclassified long term unemployed as non-participants in the work force.
So that doesn’t count.
Chuck Schick on August 18, 2009 at 7:20 PM
I think yes, because their defense of Teh Won, racism, will have become such a cheap joke by then. The winds of change, and I’m not talking about the “branded” kind of change, are in the air.
RushBaby on August 18, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Snarky grandparents, too.
RushBaby on August 18, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Check out 2008 (you know, that time way back when when Obama wasn’t King of Kenya).
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Dismissal of evidence that doesn’t fit your narrative.
Thanks. Got it.
welcome_ghosts on August 18, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Scattered about America are 7-10 million people thinking, “Why in hell did I vote for that fool?”
That number is growing daily. Those voters will engage in the equivalent of a referee’s make-up call next year. Obama will be hamstrung, and his pouting will be something to revel in for 2 years. Then comes the big one.
By the way liberals, trolls and mobys, what do you think of Obama’s Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan war policies? You haven’t noticed? Let me enlighten you…
Iraq: Bush policy continues exactly as before Obama took
office. There are currently 130,000 troops in Iraq. Remember “out in 6 months?”
Afghanistan: Obama has surged 21,000 new troops into action,
and is building huge permanent bases.
Pakistan: Bush’s drone attacks are continuing at an even faster tempo since Obama took office. Civilian casulties are up as well as
terrorist(whoops, I mean freedom fighter) deaths.Let’s see, that makes Iraq the same, Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated. Obama is more of a warmonger than Bush.
Meremortal on August 18, 2009 at 7:23 PM
In other words….more people are still getting fired than are getting hired, and the rolls of long term unemployment are through the roof.
When everyone is dead…the mortality rate is zero too. Thank you for refuting your attempted spin.
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Don’t remind us… :(
Upstater85 on August 18, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Check out when betty mcbotox and stinky reid took over control of the purse strings.
NEXT!
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Facepalm to myself BWAHAHAH
Fighton03 on August 18, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Also if Obama’s approval ratings get in the 40s…expect the media to push a Ross Perot type character to split the Republican Party and so Obama can win a second term.
terryannonline on August 18, 2009 at 7:26 PM
yeah, they’re snarky till those surgeons get a hold of their tonsils…or their feet.
It’s a bitch being snarky after you’ve lost your voice and have a wooden leg.
ted c on August 18, 2009 at 7:26 PM
I voted for that guy. big mistake in retrospect.
ted c on August 18, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Bloomberg?
Upstater85 on August 18, 2009 at 7:27 PM
You just showed evidence that 247,000 lost their job last month AND a half million completely gave up looking for work.
You totally win.
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 7:27 PM
C’mon, guys! Obama inherited these falling numbers from Boosh.
John the Libertarian on August 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM
The big complaint about the both the Stimulus and C4C is that Team Obama can’t get the money flowing fast enough. Stimulus funds have trickled down to less than half what they were a month ago.
So if we are reaching the crest of unemployment, certainly you can’t credit the stimulus.
The Fed has pumped about a trillion in cash into the economy with bond purchases, plus at least a few trillion in monetary growth from 0% interest rates.
How much of the stimulus have they gotten out so far, $10 billion a month, 90% of it used by states to pay off debt? That’s turning around a $14 trillion economy.
Please.
Chuck Schick on August 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM
hey you forgot to plot out the data points that indicated how bad the economy *would have been* had we not passed the stimulus. That’s the real money info there bro…
ted c on August 18, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Good point. Most of the dissatisfaction with Bush came as a result of deficit spending and foreign policy. President Obama isn’t changing squat in regards to those (except quadrupling the deficit).
BadgerHawk on August 18, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I’m guessing a libertarian. Someone is a fiscal conservative but probably not a foreign policy hawk. Someone with a populist streak like Perot.
terryannonline on August 18, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Reclassifying unemployed people as not unemployed and claim it’s a gain in employment is your narrative?
Chuck Schick on August 18, 2009 at 7:31 PM
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