Talk about a snap judgment: In SurveyUSA polling Tuesday and Wednesday for Wichita’s KWCH, Channel 12, and Kansas City’s KCTV, 62 percent of Kansans said they approved of the job President Barack Obama was doing. Not bad for a guy who won just 41.6 percent of Kansans’ votes on Election Day. In December, by the way, President George W. Bush’s approval rating in Kansas was 38 percent. And in a poll earlier this month, 37 percent of Kansans variously gave his overall job performance either a D or an F.
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64 Comments
I think its a little early to declare the new President a success. After all, he has only been in office about five days.
At this point, I don’t like the current push to borrow more Chinese capital to continue massive overspending programs by both government (federal, state, and local) and big corporate business. A new innovative economic model is needed.
To mimic FDR’s solution of massive federal government spending during the Great Depression IS NOT THE ROUTE that should be taken this 21st century.
Its not the fault of the President. It’s the fault of his economic advisors for giving bad advice.
Isn’t there anyone smart enough in this country who can come up with an alternate “Plan B” for genuinely solve the rising economic problems of the U.S. and indeed, the world?
Obama has been in office a week.
Conclusion: Respondents are Obama fans anyway.
“borrow more Chinese capital to continue massive overspending programs by both government (federal, state, and local) and big corporate business.”
Obama will spend our way to prosperity. That is, until foreign investors wise up and realize America is broke and so far in debt already that we truly are a bad credit risk.
USA credit score: -200
Wow. In office the better part of a week and still with those kind of ratings. Amazing. Go Obama.
Too bad the poll showing Obama’s approval rating is not the exact same people who voted in the election two months ago.
If it had been, then it might be meaningful.
I thought every one of us had previously decided polls mean nothing — at least until it’s a poll we personally agree with. ;-)
Our new president is at minimum: someone who isn’t bush, he is a man who appears to be pragmatic, intelligent, who speaks in complete sentences in a respectful way, which is inspiring.
There is a need of ‘hope,’ and inspiration after the demoralizing years of bush.
He came to office by being elected with votes (you know, the old-fashioned way!). He gets my approval and my support until he hasn’t earned it.
He calls on all Americans to do our part, and it makes more sense than being told to, “go shop.” We are smarter than bush gave us credit for, and it is good to be treated as adults!
From President Obama’s Inaugural Address:
“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility,” Obama said, “a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
“This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
62% is a lot better than I’d expect from Kansas. Wow! Do you suppose hope is contagious?
Hope won’t buy dope!
XXX,
What an excellent way to say it! Yes, hope is contagious. A smile might turn around someone’s day, a kind word or an attaboy might lift a spirit. And people who realize our great country with our exceptional rights comes with responsibilities are willing to do their part.
#
beber
Posted January 25, 2009 at 8:53 am | Permalink
Hope won’t buy dope!
___________________________________________________
Neither will hate or sarcasm.
Just like in business or any other aspect of life, the right attitude is important.
OOOOOHhWEEEEEOHHHHHHHHHHHHH-
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH…
Not yet a week in office, this guy IS God!
“He calls on all Americans to do our part(skin), and it makes more sense…a new era of responsibility”
Sorry Linda, but Obama contradicted those statements by directing that the latest Stimulus Package include more handouts (cold hard cash) for those not contributing any tax money to our nations well being.
In one stroke, he has become a double talker.
“And people who realize our great country with our exceptional rights comes with responsibilities are willing to do their part”.
Where do I get my armband?
All of us can make a difference if we take the energy expended being angry and pessimistic and using it instead to make a positve difference.
All you naysayers should try it..it could do amazing things for your own self esteem.
American_Way,
I don’t mind helping everyone.
I suspect our political philosophies are alike in some areas and so different in others that we might not be able to even see where the other is coming from.
For several years in my younger life I was a single mother of four. I didn’t pay many taxes on my earnings. But today I do! Some of those people who aren’t paying today might well pay tomorrow. And I acknowledge there are people for whatever reason who won’t.
I think everyone (ok, not everyone but most) contributes in different ways and sometimes a burden is born for all by those who can. My hubby is stronger than I am and yesterday when I wanted a heavy piece of furniture moved he bore the burden. And then last night when he was hungry the person who cooks better (me!) bore the burden.
Well said, Linda…
Complementary relationships are the only ones that can work in a civilized society. For example, like our parents helped us many times when Dave and I were young and raising our kids..now we do the same for our kids. And our kids will do the same for theirs. And those of us who can work and pay taxes need to care for those who are disabled and can’t.
We all have a responsibility for the common good of mankind.
“I don’t mind helping everyone.”
And me a fiscal conservative KNOW there is no apple tree out back to pluck money from. We are making history here. First the republican president spend billions on a Stimulus check which did nothing (150 billion) and then 800 billion to banks. Now a democrat is going to spend 850-trillion of money we don’t have. Think about the short time fram and the amount of money our treasury is spending!
When Obama said “everyone” he must mean “only some” will have some skin in the solution. We cannot handout money we don’t have.
Your children and grandchildren will be facing a federal general fund which will require huge tax increases – of their earnings.
How is that helping?
It might be different Mary and Linda of there was a surplus of cash sitting in some vault to handout. Picture Fort Knox, and handing out gold bars. What happens when the last one is gone (figuratively, I know we are not on the gold standard).
People do NOT need a cash handout. They need to be contributing members of society. They need jobs. They need education. They do not need cash.
You are giving them a fish and not teaching them how to fish or providing them the fishing pole!
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 9:46 am | Permalink
Now a democrat is going to spend 850-trillion of money we don’t have.
__________________________________________________
850 TRILLION?
I agree, Amway..but we can’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. It’s morally wrong to cut aide for the disabled and then allow the CEOs to keep their private jets after they’ve received government bailout money. I don’t think high schools need more swimming pools and tennis courts, but we do need basic health care for children.
Maybe I’m getting off the subject..but it’s not as simple as “teaching people how to fish”. A person who is quadrapledgic or a child who doesn’t reach adulthood because he wasn’t immunized against measles can’t throw a fishing line in the water.
I think he meant “BILLION”.
XXX
O.k., O.k, I left out what I thought was implied.
850 billion – a trillion.
850,000,000,000.00
1,000,000,000,000.00
All children from families under $80,000.00 would be covered.
That becomes a new entitlement. Entitlements never go away, and are very hard to reduce in the future. Normally, they only go sky higher.
What’s the purpose of a stimulus package? Is it to enact huge entitlement programs? Temporary assistance maybe?
Heck, at that income level, Obama will have solidified the democrats votes forever. So many Americans make under that amount, it will be wonderful for them to quit their private plans and start eating from the federal trough.
Your kids, grandkids, and future generations will try to pay for it all. SOMEone’s gotta pay.
The bail out is already up to $8.5 trillion. Or are you too smart to read the news Mary?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/26/MNVN14C8QR.DTL
I thought that was common knowledge Mary.
I guess you’re waaay over my head, huh?
Or maybe, Mary, in your professional opinion, that news story was just one of my many paranoid delusions?
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 8:00 am | Permalink
Too bad the poll showing Obama’s approval rating is not the exact same people who voted in the election two months ago.
If it had been, then it might be meaningful.
—
What?!?
The guy won what, 42% of the Kansas vote, now he enjoys a 62% approval rating.
For those of you keeping track, that IS meaningful.
It’s meaning is similar to the meaning carried in a first impression. Some people think first impressions are crucial to success.
Some Kansans are just vested in Obama’s failure, I guess. >shrug<
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 9:02 am | Permalink
Obama contradicted those statements by directing that the latest Stimulus Package include more handouts (cold hard cash) for those not contributing any tax money to our nations well being.
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Ridiculous because it’s too simple.
What about SS taxes? Sales taxes?
Count those into your “not contributing any tax money?”
I thought not.
AmWay is right. The RepubliCON haters just hung up on the pollsters.
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 9:49 am | Permalink
It might be different Mary and Linda of there was a surplus of cash sitting in some vault to handout. Picture Fort Knox, and handing out gold bars. What happens when the last one is gone (figuratively, I know we are not on the gold standard).
People do NOT need a cash handout. They need to be contributing members of society. They need jobs. They need education. They do not need cash.
—
Since you’re of the opinion that what Americans need is to be contributing members of society, jobs, and/or education — and specifically not cash — then you’re against tax cuts.
Right?
“What about SS taxes? Sales taxes?”
Social Security is a contribution for each individuals retirement program. It’s money to pay for those poor seniors and someday themselves.
Sales Taxes. We all pay, but the poor get them back in the form of a REFUND on state taxes.
The principle is you should never get MORE back from the system than you pay in.
Otherwise Obama is a liar.
“Everyone” should have some skin in the solution.
“Era of Responsibility” does not mean just for some.
And yes, when our nation is trillions in debt, I am against tax cuts. When our leaders are spending money WE DO NOT HAVE, and borrowing from Japan, China, and rich middle east, I do not support handouts of borrowed money. However, if the country is going to continue to spend more than I give – then I’d rather not give more.
And undoubtedly, the federal government NEEDS more in the general fund. That means income taxes, road taxes, gas taxes, etc….
Our nation should NOT be handing out money they do not have. Period.
American_Way
Posted January 25, 2009 at 10:56 am | Permalink
“What about SS taxes? Sales taxes?”
Social Security is a contribution for each individuals retirement program. It’s money to pay for those poor seniors and someday themselves.
Sales Taxes. We all pay, but the poor get them back in the form of a REFUND on state taxes.
—
FICA goes into the general fund. It is a pay as you go program. Taxes are taxes.
And the poor can only get back their sales taxes if they itemize their Fed income taxes. Most poor people do NOT itemize, and thus do NOT get back their sales tax expenses.
JWink
Posted January 25, 2009 at 6:42 am | Permalink
At this point, I don’t like the current push to borrow more Chinese capital to continue massive overspending programs by both government (federal, state, and local) and big corporate business. A new innovative economic model is needed.
—
I would agree with you, 100%, under one condition. That condition is that our current infrastructure matches well our current infrastructure needs.
That is not the case at this time, however. In my opinion, a “new innovative economic model” depends on our mathematics and sciences educational infrastructure. That infrastructure is woeful.
For me, that’s the long term spending on infrastructure: mathematics and science education; primary research facilities; capable American students.
In the short term we also have some infrastructure needs. Bridges and highways for one. I’d also support spending, including borrowing, on renewable energy spending (because it lessens the burden on our military, which in turn lessens the need for military spending, which of course leads to less spending overall).
According to the poll of 600 people in the largest category, a footnote was displayed.
** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.
Imagine that, another meaningless poll.
Regular
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:27 am | Permalink
According to the poll of 600 people in the largest category, a footnote was displayed.
** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.
Imagine that, another meaningless poll.
—
The asterisks apply to “Race-Other” only. It does not invalidate the other data.
I encourage you to enroll in an elementary statistics course if you’re interested in contributing in a meaningful way to discussions here.
The poll is meaningful.
Imagine that, another meaningless poll.
Exactly. Tomorrow is his 7th day. Obama rests.
Pedant you are right about the FICA tax going into the general fund. It shouldn’t be. The dems did this many years ago. Algore has the key to the empty lockbox.
The FICA and Medicare tax should be isolated for the purpose it is intended just as any corporation is required by law to do.
#
Pedant
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:33 am | Permalink
Regular
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:27 am | Permalink
According to the poll of 600 people in the largest category, a footnote was displayed.
** Too few respondents of this type were interviewed for this data to be meaningful.
Imagine that, another meaningless poll.
—
The asterisks apply to “Race-Other” only. It does not invalidate the other data.
I encourage you to enroll in an elementary statistics course if you’re interested in contributing in a meaningful way to discussions here.
The poll is meaningful.
==========================
So where are the counts of each category at?
How many Republicans were asked and how many Democrats were asked?
Without those numbers, the poll is meaningless.
okobserver
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:36 am | Permalink
The FICA and Medicare tax should be isolated for the purpose it is intended just as any corporation is required by law to do.
—
If FICA tax paid by baby boomers — the amount in excess of that necessary for outbound FICA transfers — had been saved for a time when FICA revenue became less than FICA disbursements, then given COLA adjustments and today’s stocks and bonds markets I’m not sure it would have done much good.
Still, it would have probably made some Americans happier about FICA overall.
Regular
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:43 am | Permalink
Without those numbers, the poll is meaningless.
—
I didn’t say you had to like it. If you don’t like the results, then I’m sure you are more than willing to find it meaningless.
Still, I’d encourage you to enroll in an elementary stats course. You might enjoy it.
“All children from families under $80,000.00 would be covered.”
I’d rather see ALL children covered by National Health Care than to waste the same amount of money or more trying to control the governemnts of other countries. Let’s get our priorities straight.
#
Pedant
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:52 am | Permalink
Regular
Posted January 25, 2009 at 11:43 am | Permalink
Without those numbers, the poll is meaningless.
—
I didn’t say you had to like it. If you don’t like the results, then I’m sure you are more than willing to find it meaningless.
Still, I’d encourage you to enroll in an elementary stats course. You might enjoy it.
=====================================
I misread the chart, I admit to it. However, the basics of statistics I already know. I’ve had plenty of courses, including epidemiological statistics.
I find the results meaningless because there are no break downs of what the constituent parts are.
I also find the survey poll meaningless because how can one make an assessment of someone who really hasn’t done anything on the job?
It’s just stupid.
“Or maybe, Mary, in your professional opinion, that news story was just one of my many paranoid delusions?”
I never really supported the bail out..but the consequences of NOT having the bailout would be to let the entire economy collapse. How would that have been a better choice?
Regular
Posted January 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm | Permalink
I misread the chart, I admit to it. …
I find the results meaningless because there are no break downs of what the constituent parts are.
I also find the survey poll meaningless because how can one make an assessment of someone who really hasn’t done anything on the job?
It’s just stupid.
—
Point taken.
And credit where credit is due: you admitted a mistake (which, although it is not to my credit, I must nevertheless admit resulted in some spray on my monitor).
You have earned a promotion. From here on out, you are no longer a dip$hit. You have been promoted to human.
Congratulations! ; > )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTt8YimiLE
Wikipedia Excerpt, Criticisms on Fractional Reserve Banking, “Mark Anielski as well as some political thinkers such as Rowbotham and some economists (such as Hyman Minsky) argue that this system of money supply has characteristics similar to a pyramid scheme, where the newly indebted are compelled to induce others into debt to pay off their own debts.[41] It is therefore argued by a number of monetary reformers that fractional reserve banking and the associated exponential growth of money in the economy “forces” the economy towards indebted consumerism.[19]”
That’s what our problem is. That will always be our problem until we return to a Silver Standard, which will never happen. A Gold Standard would never work because the Gold supply is small compared to silver. Our current economic system is nothing more than a pyramid scheme, controlled by the Federal Reserve and other International Banks.
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2008/122408Lendman.shtml
So basically our government is manipulated by international bankers. It doesn’t really matter who our President is, until our government can have control over themselves again, and not be bought and bribed.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936
Here’s a history lesson.
Who’s ready to abolish the Federal Reserve?
So essentially, this country is no longer owned by us and our government. It is owned by wealthy families that run International Banks.
Sick? Yes. Hard to chew on and swallow? Yes. True? Yes.
If you watch that video, you’ll learn that’s the real reason why we fought for our independence. We gained our freedom as a country from international bankers, only to hand it back over to them, when we passed the Federal Reserve Act.
Whaaaa, only a week in and cons are converting! You’re either with us or you’re agin us!
See my views on him at http://www.MiamiCountyOpinion.com Herbert West 3rd, {D}, Exploratory Campaign Candidate for Governor 2010.
“I never really supported the bail out..but the consequences of NOT having the bailout would be to let the entire economy collapse. How would that have been a better choice?”
And I’m the crazy one? That’s completely naive…but cute.
The banker’s are used car salesmen in bad suits, telling you that “this is a great car”. And you bit on every word and bought it.
We were threatened with collapse…their word against …nothing. The only thing that didn’t collapse and won’t anyway is/was the banker’s wallet.
the whole government involved in banking as been going on since the beginning of the country http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=notJuFGXQ9w
And Jefferson who hated Hamilton and his banking system used it when he was president to do things like the Louisiana Purchase.
Then why don’t you go and explain it to all those naive politicans who OK’d the bailout, Pleef? Since you are so much more knowledgable than they are about the whole economy and banking system. Both your boy Bush and Obama agreed it had to be done. But what the hey..YOU’RE the expert!
We do need the economic bailout. But it’s just a quick fix, it might spur us into economic growth, for maybe ten years, who knows how long, but we’ll always come crashing back down. Because our economy is based on debt, our money is created out of debt. Clinton knew this, he was schooled by an economist, this is why he focused on the economy so much more, and Obama is following some similar Clintonesqe policies, so we should be Ok here in a year or two or three. I’m just saying, we’re going to go through the same cycles of peace time, war time, and recessions, because that is how the system is set up. Until Congress is in control of our Currency then we’ll keep on the same path.
Those politicians were induced to pass the bill on threat of MARTIAL LAW. Don’t believe me?
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=lawmaker’s%20threatened%20with%20martial%20law%20with%20bail%20out&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GFRD_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#
I’m not an “expert” but I can call a spade a spade. You resist reality.
And NO Barnie, we did not need the bail out. We needed Congress to butt out. Let the cards fall and bad businesses collapse. End the Fed? YES!! End the IRS? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coin our own money like the Constitution states? YES!!!!!!!!!!!
But the bail out? How can you say all of that and still think the bail out is good?
Makes me think that you’re just some shill.
And BTW Mare,
Bush ain’t my boy. Nice try, goof. More Ad Hominem attacks by the brilliant folks here on the WEBlog.
I am contacting our representatives in Washington tomorrow, requesting they support the Obama plan.
Welfare needs to be reformed but it shouldn’t be canceled. I dont understand how people can say the only people that should reap the benefits of the government are those that put into the government in the form of taxes. Really? How very Christian of you, of Muslim of Jewish for that matter. The fact remains that we have a duty to be both financially smart and morally righteous. It is a slipperey slope that leads from abandoning the poor to other worse traged like the religious executions and the holocaust when you pronounce another group of people as being “unworthy.” I am a fiscal conservative which is why i left the Republican party (independent now) because if you ran a business the way the Rep. party runs the country you would be bankrupt, cut your money in and keep the money going out the same, Reagan didn’t cut spending he just spent more on the military as a % of the GDP. It takes a multi-pronged solution to have a healthy economy, a solution full of both tax breaks when wise and government spending where beneficial. There are those that think the government should never sit on money but always spend it meaningfully on the people of the U.S. to make life better. I am not one of these by any means, but neither do I look at those living in poverty and want to take away their lifeline. If paying taxes is what is good for our country, I’ll pay them gladly. It seems the popular version of patriotism is to bear any burden the country needs except paying taxes. Taxes should never be permanently raised but with the defecits Bush ran, we need to pay these off. When our economy turns again taxes should be raised, and I’ll bear the burden gladly. It is what is best for our country and a Patriot does what is best for our country.
Pleefer govt. shouldn’t just get out of the way part of the problem with this downturn is a lack of oversight. What I disagree with is giving the money to the banks without helping the people with the mortgages. This isn’t to be kind to the people with bad mortgages, this is to free up the credit crunch. Giving the money to the banks without helping people repair their credit leaves the bank holding onto all of the money because they learned their lesson giving money to people with bad credit. There is a reason John McCain wanted to buy up 300 billion dollars of bad mortgages, because without the banks on a local scale and the Fed (yes the Fed, it is a global economy now) on a national scale being able to confidently sell loans there will be a lot of people who pay their bills that get lumped in with those who made bad financial decisions. Spending money is fine and all but if the money you spend doesn’t satisfy any of the countries debt then it is good only once, upon the first exchange. If it pays a debt then it will circulate, which is the goal of TARP and the Obama economic package, circulating capital that is. And how can you say you’re a supply side economist when you say let the bad business’ fail? A bad/troubled business employs people too. Businesses need to figure out how they can pay their debts and their employees, sometimes this takes consolidating debt and getting a loan while restructuring the business. Where this can happen it should happen. If all troubled companies failed unemployment would be 20%, just about the same as the Great Depression.
I come from an Austrian School perspective. Aurthur Laffer and the supply-side…hmmm????
Aurthur Laffer is a fool and had his butt handed to him back in August 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfascZSTU4o
Arthur.