The first and most lethal threat the President faces at the moment is that he is increasingly being seen as well meaning, but inconsequential. What do I mean by that? In recent weeks the President has taken a much stronger demeanor in attacking Republicans for failing to pass his jobs bill. He is looking at polls showing 16% approval ratings for Congress, that most people blame Republicans for our legislative intransigence, that 63% Support his jobs bill, that 75% agree with taxing the rich. Being backed by those kind of numbers, you would think positive movement toward his arguments would be a given, but they're not. His message, albeit a good one, is not resonating because people realize this is not going to change the current atmosphere in Washington. The "Occupy" movements across this country are a direct result of this. They realize that despite whatever plan, or good intentions the President may offer for jobs, there will be no action. Wall Street got back on their feet and are growing fat, while Main Street continues to suffer. They have come to realize the system is deadlocked, and believe President Obama is either a victim of the Republican House, or not a powerful enough leader to break the impasse. In either case the result is the same, a dramatic loss in confidence that the President can achieve anything with regard to jobs and the economy.
Democrats in general are beginning to look impotent, in spite of the fact they continue to put forward the Presidents jobs bill as a whole, or in parts. Are they winning points with the American people because they try and fail? ...or do they look weak for continuously offering legislation that's going nowhere? Another thing that plays into this is the fact that Republicans are consistently united in their efforts to block everything, while getting Democrats unified is like herding cats. Which again makes the President look weak. The people are not listening to the arguments any more. They don't care who is right or wrong they want ACTION, which is why the President's message is falling short. You can point at a million bridges, roads, schools, teachers, or first responders, but if all you can do is point, the question is moot.
The other increasingly alarming statistics coming out are the fact that Independents in state after state have abandon Obama. In the early primary states Independents have left the President by a consistent margin of 2 to 1. As I've said before without this group, the Presidents hopes for re-election are dim. The amazing thing about all this is that Republicans shoot fast and loose with the facts, stand proud as the party of "NO", and continue to sit back while Rome burns, and the people don't care. Why? Again because they're tired of the arguments, the rhetoric, the politics, the positions, the policies, they want jobs. They want to keep their homes, to feed and educate their children, somehow hold on to that increasingly elusive American Dream that they have been promised, but is slowly eroding away. Unless President Obama can find a way to re-connect with American people, and hand them something tangible, his current message will continue to fall on deaf ears.
Democrats in general are beginning to look impotent, in spite of the fact they continue to put forward the Presidents jobs bill as a whole, or in parts. Are they winning points with the American people because they try and fail? ...or do they look weak for continuously offering legislation that's going nowhere? Another thing that plays into this is the fact that Republicans are consistently united in their efforts to block everything, while getting Democrats unified is like herding cats. Which again makes the President look weak. The people are not listening to the arguments any more. They don't care who is right or wrong they want ACTION, which is why the President's message is falling short. You can point at a million bridges, roads, schools, teachers, or first responders, but if all you can do is point, the question is moot.
The other increasingly alarming statistics coming out are the fact that Independents in state after state have abandon Obama. In the early primary states Independents have left the President by a consistent margin of 2 to 1. As I've said before without this group, the Presidents hopes for re-election are dim. The amazing thing about all this is that Republicans shoot fast and loose with the facts, stand proud as the party of "NO", and continue to sit back while Rome burns, and the people don't care. Why? Again because they're tired of the arguments, the rhetoric, the politics, the positions, the policies, they want jobs. They want to keep their homes, to feed and educate their children, somehow hold on to that increasingly elusive American Dream that they have been promised, but is slowly eroding away. Unless President Obama can find a way to re-connect with American people, and hand them something tangible, his current message will continue to fall on deaf ears.
