Washington (CNN) - Americans are giving Barack Obama a split decision on his first year in office, according to a new national poll.
Forty-eight percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say Obama's presidency has been a failure so far, with 47 percent saying Obama has been a success. The poll's January 12 release comes just 8 days before Obama marks one year in the White House.
The survey indicates that Obama's approval rating as president stands at 51 percent, down 3 points from last month, with 48 percent disapproving, up 4 points from December.
"On the plus side for Obama, he remains personally popular and he gets decent ratings on foreign policy and national security issues. That may explain why his overall approval rating is a little higher than the number who say Obama's first year has been a success," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Unfortunately for Obama, domestic issues - led by the economy - are far more important to the public than foreign policy issues, and a majority disapprove of how he is handling every single economic and domestic issue tested."
According to the survey, the economy by far remains issue No. 1 with Americans, with 47 percent saying it is the most important issue facing the country today - up 7 points from last month. Health care, at 15 percent, is the second most important issue with the public, followed by the deficit at 11 percent. Terrorism is tied with the deficit, and up 7 points from last month, most likely do to widespread coverage of the attempted terrorist bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day.
The dominance of domestic issues in importance is most likely a contributing factor to the slight dip in Obama's overall approval rating.
"Only 44 percent approve of how Obama is handling the economy; just 4 in 10 give him a thumbs-up on health care and his approval rating on the federal deficit has plunged to 36 percent. Those are three of the four most important issues on the public's mind today," says Holland. "The president's ratings also suffer from the growing perception that he is too liberal - 46 percent feel that way today, up 10 points from March.
The poll also indicates that 1 in 10 say that Obama has not been liberal enough. But while the public takes issue with Obama on the issues, two-thirds continue to believe that he has the leadership skills and personal characteristics that a president should have, and that may explain why his overall approval is so much higher than his rating on the issues of greatest concern to the public.
The president can also take heart in the fact that his 51 percent approval rating is nearly twice as high as the approval rating for Congress. As the House of Representatives comes back into session Tuesday, only 27 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Congress.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted Friday through Sunday, with 1,021 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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People vote with their wallets. When the economy rebounds, so will Obama's ratings and he will be re-elected as it should be. If the economy stagnates for another 3 years... then good bye Obama, as it should be.
So the Republicans who hate all things Obama have yet another reason to cheer against America. If the economy sucks, Republicans gain politically. If terrorists succeed in attacking the US, then Republicans gain politically. If Obama fails to get the Olympic games to Chicago, then the Republicans gain politically. No wonder the Republicans "hope he fails." (Their words, not mine.) Politics before country.
Ahhhhhh – My guess would be – the VOTERS followed the WRONG SHEEP !
This American isn't split. I think he's doing a great job. He's the only president who has to contend with a whacko ex-Vice President whose sole purpose in life is to bring him down.
Did you notice the guerilla tactics of his daughter this weekend? Whenever someone speaks, she talks over them, so that person will not have a sound bite. She's the lowest of the low next to her war criminal father.
Yes, President Obama is doing fine and he will be re-elected. Trust me.
Is there any surprise here other than the fact that CNN mentioned this? This guy is a complete disaster. Even the left is starting to realize that his policies and decisions are misguided and flat out bad for our country. Blaming Bush worked for his election but that argument is not working any more and our country is finally starting to see that. The defeat in NJ and Virginia was a signal of how our country is starting to feel about the democratic party. If you think that is a fluke look at the polls for senate in Massachussetts. An unknown republican is actually neck and neck with a democrat in the most democratic state in the country. That should speak volumes right there
Goes to show you the power of the GOPs media machine: Shift the focus away from 8 years of horrible policies, and to a president who has not yet been in office 12 months.
As an indie, and a thinking person, I'll wait at least 3 more years before passing judgement.
I will tell you this much: Had McCain/Palin won the election, we'd be in much worse shape.
Let me see, He's taken over the auto industry, he is trying to regulate the hell out of Wall Street to the point nobody would seriously consider investing in the US anytime soon, he has quadrupled the debt in one year, he wants to mode our healthcare after a socialist system like the UK or Canada that is bankrupting the UK and providing compromised care at a huge cost to the Canadian worker, he wants to destory our industries and put them at a competitive disadvantage to other countries with Cap and Trade (Tax), he wants to provide more strength to unions with Cardcheck which will destroy our competitiveness even more, he wants to give illegals a pass to US citizenship, he wants to negotiate with our enemies and be weak on national defence, and give our enemies the same rights as an American citizen in our court system.
I think if you prefer Imperialism, Socialism or Communism, he is a great president. if you are an freedom loving American, that believes in the American dream, and the American people that love our Constitution, he is well on his way of becoming the worst thing that has ever happenned to this country.
I get it that, in general, most of us aren't thrilled with some of the things going on right now with and through the Obama Adminstration. But what I don't get is that people consider him a failure. The man has only been in office for 1 year. Good grief! Give the man a chance! Or, maybe it's that we don't want to repeat voting in a President for a 2nd term that we consider as not doing so well on the home-front (remember GW Bush?). Like former Presidents, this President came into office with rose-colored glasses. Then he sat down at his desk and surprise...things just aren't so easy to do...especially when you have the Congress and Senate to deal with. I say, get over the President and get to voting the Congress and Senate OUT OF OFFICE and get some new blood in both of them. Then, maybe this President and the next one can get something significant accomplished! And yeah, let's put a cap on their tenures just like we have on the office of the President. This lifetime crap is for the birds.
It is so unfortunate that the last Republican administration was not as open and forthright with what was really happening with our government, at home, with our economy, and of course with the dirty little wars in which they were engaging the United States. Because of this deception, the job of the Obama administration first of all was to break the bad news to the people, and THEN go about cleaning up the mess President Bush and his team of liars left behind. The billions of dollars the deficit rose as they gave away the farm to all their rich contributors, the billions of dollars for their dirty little wars and all of it nicely hidden from the people of the United States. A very difficult row to hoe for President Obama dealing with that and our thirty-minute sitcom mentality. The fact that the people who perpetrated this mess are also the ones blocking every effort to clean it up is just so, just so...Republican!
I would venture a guess that "most people" don't actually know enough about politics to know whether Obama is a success or failure. Most of what people know is what they are told through filtered media programs designed to portray the President and his agenda in either a good or bad light depending on their political sway.
It's also only been one year. The problems facing our country are complex enough that it SHOULD take more than one year to fix them, especially given thay many smart people prior to the current President have already had a crack at solving them. Give it time, be patient, and stop wanting immediate answers to complex/convoluted issues!
Just for the record, this comment is coming from a Republican!!
Yep a Pure failure. The seniors won't be able to afford the basic medicare. The dollar will be worthles and prices will start to go up because of his socilist policies. America will not be the land of the free for any one 10 or younger unless he is stopped at least his admin. and plans.
And that's going to be a fact. Support the second amendment . It is the last freedom we really have.
The US government as a whole is a failure to the American people, unless you're rich.
This type of polling and the responses in the negative indicate the negative collective IQ of both supposedly educated people and the media for conducting it.
How may times must it be asked how one man can erase what it took the whole republican party 15 plus years to accomplish? How could any party or person change all of that in one year? The dis service the republicans and their ignorant backers have done to this country is criminal. From Bush down to the lowest person hired to hand out pamphlets. How is this poll of any imporatance whatsoever when the likes of McCain / Palin/ Steele/ Gingerich/ Limbaugh and other republicans openly show and demonstrate their stupidity. How can the media consider it newsworthy.? These people and those like them are a disgrace and bring shame to the United States and for which it stands!
ok let me see..... tens years of failure. and we have yet to proclaim Bush as such. vs. one year on a clean up job.... WOW....... WELCOME TO AMERICA...kkk!.
And half of Americans have an IQ less than 100. For crying out loud, it's way too early for any reasonable person to make a judgment like this. If every president was judged as a success or failure by the 1st year of their term, that implies that GWB did a pretty good job!
No matter what the polls say, or what the American people say, Obama will consider himself a total success. The reason he believes this is because he believes his agenda for a EuroSocialist type society is what is best for America. He does not believe that the majority of Americans really know what is best for themselves that he and a group of "elitest" are the only ones that know the true path.
So irregardless of what Americans want or what Americans think he will continue on this path with a group of followers intent upon making the governemnt responsible for at least 50% of the people using the other 50%'s hard earned paychecks.
It is a sad time for the U.S. as we enter our period of decline. Paul Kennedy is certainly busy writing the newest edition of "rise and fall of great powers".
funny how most other polls have him under 50% approval. As a matter of fact the new CBS poll has his approval at a new all time low of 46%. Didnt CNN put out a poll yesterday which stated the the majority of Americans trust the Obama administration on handling National Security? C'mon CNN when are you going to cut the nonsense and admit that you have been bought and paid for by the Obama administration. In the very least you should try to hide it better. Isn't it embarrassing? Hell, your ratings are lower than the terrorist symapthizer network MSNBC. Maybe you should consider a new approach. How about honesty? Just a thought.
this community organizer is still confusing me..is he in the unions pockets or are they in his pockets??we all know the trial lawyers are in his pockets.
Why isnt the poll on the home page working??? Don't you want to see
the TRUE opinion. I will guarantee an honest poll will show a majority
of people will say he's a failure. He is no where near qualified for the
post he holds. And has surrounded hisself with inept people that
have never ran a business. And few have ever worked in the private sector. And NO you cant count think tanks, or community organizers
what a joke.
He didn't fail, he simply did next to nothing he promised as well as let many opportunities For Change, slide into the abyss.
He's weak, inexperienced, and he is a Puppet for the Democrats just as George W. was Puppet for the Republicans.
And the Nation is still a mess.
The Health Care issue has unfortunately dominated his presidency while the economy should have been Priority One!!! We have yet to see the Do-nothing Congress pass financial legislation not to mention the President's Agenda. America is on Hold pending politics yet again!!!
Obviously it's the ignorant ones who think it's been a failure. With all he's had to deal with, few if any would have done better, and probably most would have done much worse.
Funny.
I thought that President Obama "inherited" two essentially lost wars, the worst economy since the Great Depression, the reality of tens of millions of uninsured Americans, the systemic corruption of Washington, Wall Street, and Corporate American, and, in general, the eight year-legacy of the most corrupt and incompetent presidency in American history.
And he was understood to clean up all this mess in less than a year?
Come on, America!!! When are we going to grow up? Let's get over our propensity for instant gratification. And when are we going to confront the fact that Corporate America and Wall Street and the Republican Party have been fleecing us for decades?
P.S. Here is a thought, although hardly original… I wonder if the “type” of American who falls for Oral Roberts also “corresponds” with the type who falls for Sarah Palin and the platitudes of the Republican Party. One needn’t wonder for long: the answer will be obvious to any educated and concerned American.
Short span mentality. A failure just in one year over a four-years one term period. Is this poll worth anything but that the tea party folks and the republicans would never be satisfied.
1/2 the nation is Republican/Teabaggers so of course they will say no to EVERYTHING Obama does
After one year most of the American people still do not know the full extent of the Obama agenda with respect to health care and the devastation of the cap and trade hoax. If reporters and real journalists were to actually do their jobs and report, expose and critique these issues alone, you would find Obama's polls plummeting. But, the media chooses to stay mum and in the bag for the Democratic Party. I wonder how many people will be able to afford new computers and the daily newspaper in a couple of years if this economy killing agenda is allowed to survive? Oh, the unintended consequences of destroying America.....Shame on you CNN! We used to be accustomed to so much more from you and your reporters. The American people are at the edge of the cliff and you stand ready to push them over by not providing the info they need to see the light and destruction at the end of this tunnel. I double dog dare you to post this!!!!
Without the near lockstep support of media and the slanting of reports, through near fanclubs like CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Obama's favorable rating would be confined to the hard core left.
I don't blame Obama, I blame CNN and the monoculture of journalism.
Your fanclub seems to drawing fewer viewers these days, care to buy a clue?
Good heavens! The man has had less than one year in office, and already he has turned around one of the worst economic disasters in history, and he's a "failure"?
His bailout of GM alone saved over a million jobs in the auto and auto parts businesses in America.
The works programs are hiring thousands and we are having much overdue infrastructure improvements around the country.
He has provided the leadership for the beginning of healthcare for people in the US.
He has guided the country in reducing taxes to the poor and middle class (your paycheck reflects the change, even if you don't recognize it).
He focused the country on working to get out of the bad economy, instead of spending our energy prosecuting Bush and Cheney and their minions.
He has dramatically improved our image with our allies.
How can all of this be a failure?
How can ONE year of a four year term, turning around the worst economy and world world mood in our lives, be a failure?
Honestly. I think he has done wonderful things and has the potential of being a great President... if he can get these pesky journalists to stop diverting attention from the REAL ISSUES, and into petty popularity contests....anybody listening CNN...???
No doubt about it Obama is a great guy with a nice family and God bless him as our President. But as far as his performance as a President he is terrible. He has focused on healthcare when we need jobs and emboldened our enemies with his foriegn policy. He is seen as weak and inexperienced but most.
Gee! The lede says "failure" and the article says' "split". Is that what's being taught these days.
I curious why they didn't include political affiliation as on of the questions. With todays climate I would think that would weigh heavily on poll results.
He's the best we've had in a long time.
sounds like the Republican half who must have been in a coma the last 8 years before Obama. Obama is at least trying despite the No party fighting him every inch. Oh yea, Obama has not started any wars against some country that did NOTHING to us. Think I will keep him instead of another for the rich Republican.
It hasn't been a year, and he has to fight every issue because we have people that need to be retired opposing everything. Term limits in Congress please!!!! I think it is very irresponsible to ask about failure when he hasn't even been President for half of his term. I think he has done a good job with all of the opposition he has received from both sides of the aisle. People need to stop thinking everything is going to happen next week, because that is not reality. It takes people longer than he has been in office to get out of debt, finish college, or find a job so I am lost on why the question was asked at all.
Obama fan club whine list:
- they didn't call me personally so the poll is wrong
- I have a cell phone (which ARE polled BTW)
- it is racism
- it is Bush's fault somehow
- it is space aliens (why not)
Sooooooooooo Libs, how is all that " Hope and Change " workin out for ya!!?? LMAO! Im happy i didnt vote for this failure and can sit back and smile and say " i told ya all so . "
so half the country doesn't like The Messiah......and the other half are idiots........seems about right
I submit Barack Obama's poll numbers are actually lower than what has been indicated. If it were not for the folks who are die-hard Dems, who would continue to back the President no matter how badly he has screwed-up, his numbers would be lower. As is always the case, there are those 'sheeple' who tow the party line, right, wrong or indifferent. Such people have little or no independent thought processes, and simply rubber-stamp all that Dems do, regardless of how horrendous it might be for the country. These folks are clearly 'drinking the Kool-Aid', even when it's poisoning them, and those all around them. I certainly hope that there are not truly anywhere near 47% who are so blind that they truly feel Obama has done a good job. He is every bit as much a liberal and a novice as everyone said he is, who has not done squat since being in office. I submit he has done tremendous damage, far worse than any Republican, including George Bush (who was an idiot). If nothing else, we are being led down the road to socialism and financial ruin, but that is the plan. And while many of the followers of libs like Obama would deny they want such, they will still back their guy, regardless of the evidence that we are all going to get hosed. Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Hoyer, etc., all need to go, or the country is doomed. This is not just nonsense talk or rhetoric; it's factual. If they continue, the US is done for – period. And by the time the 'sheeple' figure it out, it will be too late.
"Unfortunately for Obama, domestic issues – led by the economy – are far more important to the public than foreign policy issues, and a majority disapprove of how he is handling every single economic and domestic issue tested."
But the mainstream media keeps telling me that people want all of the programs Obama is pushing for? Can we finally start being honest? America voted in Obama as something "different".....they did not vote him in to install far leftist ideology. Obama the candidate and Obama the president are two completely....almost polar opposite individuals. This is the narrative for the Obama presidency. This is the narrative that the mainstream media chooses to ignore. And I voted for Obama.
(also note that only 15% thought healthcare was a top issue in this country. So why are we so focused on it again?)
Do people really expect so much damage to be repaired in a year, especially when there are Congressmen and women who are hellbent on stopping the President's every move? The two options of "success" and "failure" are much too black and white at this point. If we all truly care about our country, we must support our President in the best ways we can, without rushing to categorize him as either. It's not as if he can wave a magic wand and change things as he sees fit.
It's too bad so many Americans are too stupid and lazy to see that while one party in Washington tries to agressively help the US citizen, the other party prides itself on obstructing anything that benefits US citezens. Some Senators (like McCain) even proudly profess in their re-election campaign that he wants to get re-elected so he can "stand in President Obama's way" everyday. And as usual he fails to mention his ideas and policies. So, his campaign amounts to "vote for me, and I'll make sure I do nothing but obstruct progress". What a disgrace.
.... lol.... you had to take a POLL to find that out??? duh...
Face it folks...I think we need to put a Republican in power so that they can cut taxes on the wealthy, cause trickle down economics, fund more wars and cut programs that try to help the average man get back on his feet. I mean that really worked well the previous eight years didn't it?
Americans don't seem to realize that it takes more than a year to fix a decade of error. Keep going Mr. President! I have faith in you!
It's hard to understand how Obama, and the Democrats as a whole, so thoroughly misjudged the character of the American people. Did he, and they, really think that a wholesale repudiation of Bush and the neo-cons really meant that Americans would enthusiastically embrace European-style soft-socialism?
Obama has no one to blame but himself for his continuing slide from hero to bum. His negligible experience in politics seems to led him into the absurd misapprehension that Chicago could stand as a scale-model of the nation, that the people of the vast spaces between American cities would happily accept domestic policies appropriate, at best, only to those cities.
Obama has had a year to learn that Chicago is not synonymous with the US, that not all the world's a city. If he has the courage necessary in a President, he'll acknowledge his mistakes, widen the scope of his understanding to encompass not just urban America but all America, and abandon his attempts to treat us all as if we were all regimented into city blocks.
It's going to take more than a year to clean up all the mess Bush left behind. If we go back to Republican control of Congress you can forget about it ever happening.
Half say Obama's a failure. The other half say he's a joke.
Like so many, I welcomed President Obama's election. I began walking across America to find out what most people thought, along the coastal regions but beyond. I found myself siding with most I spoke with between Malibu, California and Washington, D.C.
I feel President Obama wishes to do well for the nation. I believe him to be a true intellectual. Setting aside both praise and scorn, I would like to consider something more important.
This nation has been blessed with a great many wonderful leaders - and some of questionable ability. Most of them fall between the canyon that lies between.
It is my own belief this President has failed in one most important area. Since he has taken office, he has failed to find a dream: a vision that can be presented to both pull us together and drive us forward - perhaps even, lead the world to a better place.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ronald Reagan each were able to present some dream that caused us to feel we were whole Americans as opposed to Sectional Citizens.
I stand with many who would have him share our dream. This dream is posted online in some detail. We believe it will accomplish all those things currently being tossed about the polictical arena as if we were still in election mode. It is time to move on.
The media has, as much as any other section of those who were charged with leading this nation forward, failed to stand true to their office. It is not enough to provide time or space to each individual who has some statement to make. Not enough to present each and every side. The role of moderator should be a balanced but not be a passive one.
How can he be popular for his foreign policy? Not only has he expanded the war in Afghanistan and continued to fight in Iraq, but he has been hostile towards Iran and North Korea, sending more troops to Pakistan, and now wants to send troops to Yemen. If you don't want terrorists to attack our nation, stop keeping troops in their country! We would never stand for China or Russia to maintain military bases all over our country, so why have we maintained bases in the Middle East for so many decades? I believe we have bases in something like 130 countries. Bring them home, keep them home. It's no coincidence there was a jump in suicide bombers in Iraq and Pakistan since we began sticking our nose in their business. If we haven't found Usama bin Laden yet, we're probably not going to. So your best bet is to bring everyone home and stop making these other countries angry. Right now we're only providing encouragement for future generations to continue attacks against the U.S.
Considering the mess he INHERITED, I think will all things considered he's doing a good job. I do think however, he needs to focus more on the economy and getting people back to work. Once that has been achieved – things will improve all around.
I want whatever the approvers are smoking. Must be great stuff!
Sure glad he is popular.................. Everything else is overrated.
You have got to be joking.
we might want to consider that the man has been in office one year and took over problems and challenges of historic proportions from a man the country was more then happy to give 8 years to screw it all up.
We give Bush 8 years to create his filth around the globe and you give Obama one to clean it up?
And NO ONE on the right has offered ONE SINGLE idea or ONE SINGLE measure or ONE SINGLE hand of support. All THEY offer is this relentless droning of anti Obama garbage and make millions doing nothing more then hating. Oh..and welcome Palin to Fox where she can be yet another pinhead making millions being stupid.
"Half say Obama a failure", I say that's a vast understatement.
The radical left drove him there, it's the radical left's turn. Just wait.
So, in essence, nothing is new. The electorate has been perfectly split since 2004 and remains that way – next story please!!!
Of course he is a "failure." He didn't have his hand on the Bible and people were saying (or hoping) that he would be a "failure."
(Are you reading this oh brother of mine who would enjoy nothing more than to see our President, as well as the USA fail.)
At least I gave the prior President three years before declaring him a "failure." (I kept my mouth shut after his first year in office).
President Obama has a done a wonderful job considering the mess he was handed. People can complain but I know for a fact that many teachers would have lost their jobs if it weren't for the Stimulus. For as CNN polls, I have tried many times to give my vote and the system would not allow me to vote. Others have tired with the same result. He is still above former President Clinton and President Bush during their first year in office. President Bush had a surplus economy when he took office. I support President Barack Obama!!!!
Who gets asked these questions in a Poll? In my entire 70+ yrs I've never been polled. When I see stories like this one about polls it really galls me. Since nobody asks me, let this be my answer to this question: I think Mr. Obama is doing the best he can with the hand he was dealt and is successfu. There, I've answered a poll
In the summer of 2008 I thought it would take 20 years for the damage caused by Bush-Chaney to be repaired. And that was before the financial crisis surfaced in September 2008. Now, a year into this admninistration, we are already in better shape than 6 months ago. Has President Obama been perfect? Far from it. Has he made all the right decisions? Not even close. But the man is doing the best he can which is 100% better than the previous President. Let's wait another 2 years before we decide wether he's been a success or a failure. My money is on the "success".
The president should listen to the polls. People are not happy with his
liberal tax & spend agenda.
He has campaigned on "change we can believe in" and given us change that will ruin us....
It just shows the partisan divide over Obama. Whether he actually is successful or not, conservatives would still say he failed just because they don't like him. All they see is government spending, but they don't realize without it they would probably be in far worse shape today than they would be. Nobody can deny now that it has worked to stabilize the economy. If there was no recession to deal with, that money would not have been spent in the first place. So deal with it. His choices were to do nothing or increase spending. Its a no brainer.
Considering the circumstances that president Obama has inherited I think he is doing a fine job. A republican presidnet would have taken the country to the brink of disaster by now. Those who take these kinds of polls sould also ask the responders how he is doing relative to the previousl president. Stop assessing the president with this kind of meaninigless polls
The problem is that Obama has to work with a Congress that is consumed with lobbyist money, corruption and unbelievable partisanship. For example, Lieberman single handedly destroyed the best parts of the health bill and the GOP is simply refusing to do anything that Obama wants to do, even if the country would benefit. Their attitude is akin to treason – letting the country fail just to gain political advantage. Unless the US is able to reform its political system and enable passage of good legislation countries like China will leave us in the dirt.
I think he has made good progress on a very difficult situation. He deserves the support of the America people. He has a reasoned approach towards leadership and he is pragmatic enough not to get caught up in the ideology of a movement like our former president Bush.
A new start, a new direction and no Dick Cheney what more could you ask for.
If thats the case then the Bush and Caney were a 100% failure
I think we should send a poll out on who cares about these polls being sent out....
I expect obama's poll numbers will be in the single digits this time next year as more and more people are coming off the obama kool-aid.
Or, perhaps the poll is weighted because the people who prepare the poll questions prepare it so it will respond what they want it to respond or they are choosing the people who they send it to because they know how they will answer the questions or perhaps both.
A poll can show what the preparer wants it to show.
Questions: Why are all my comments labeled, "Your comment is awaiting moderation?"
Are they used with that that comment?
Compared to Washington or Lincoln, Obama's not doing too well. Compared to George W. Bush or Richard Nixon, he's wildly successful. Do you think we've forgotten Dubya and Cheney?
Just remember, GOPers, you are mostly old and white. America's future is young and brown.
Well, let's see:
Stimulus..failed
Healthcare....failed
Closing Gitmo....failed
Dealing with terrorists...failed
Iraq withdrawal...failed
Transparency...failed
Iran...failed
N. Korea...failed
Fostering cooperation with Russia & China...failed
Cash for clunkers...failed
Unemployment...failed
Debt...failed
Olympics bid...failed
Climate change...failed
Yeah, I'd say he's been a failure.
It's hard to understand how Obama, and the Democrats as a whole, could so thoroughly misjudge the character of the American people. Did he, and they, really think that a wholesale repudiation of Bush and the neo-cons really meant that Americans would enthusiastically embrace European-style soft-socialism?
Obama has no one to blame but himself for his continuing slide from hero to bum. His negligible experience in politics seems to have led him into the absurd misapprehension that Chicago could stand as a scale-model of the nation, that the people of the vast spaces between American cities would happily accept domestic policies appropriate, at best, only to those cities.
Obama has had a year to learn that Chicago is not synonymous with the US, that not all the world's a city. If he has the courage necessary in a President, he'll acknowledge his mistakes, widen the scope of his understanding to encompass not just urban America but all America, and abandon his attempts to treat us all as if we were all regimented into city blocks.
So when it comes to his approval rating they're claiming that 99% of the people have either a positive or negative opinion of this president. That doesn't seem possible.
you're an idiot and this is ridiculous. I've lost faith in 48% of the people in this poll.
President Obama has done a great job in his first year. Dealing skillfully and thoughtfully with very difficult issues. He has the potential of being one of the great American president's of all time.
People are impatient for an economic fix. Understandable. I suppose he could hold a gun to the head of big corporate business and force the hiring of workers. Can't imagine how, because we need to pay CEO's all the big bucks. They are the most important. Ga'bless Citibank and the Bank of America and Goldman S, and the rest of those cathedrals of greed. They will lead us out of the wilderness and into a neverending desert.
Obama would settle for a box of band-aids as a health care reform bill, and financial aid to medical insurance companies, if that would get a Republican to vote for health care reform. Obama has a blind spot as big as the Republican Party toward real reform. Shame on Obama. We need real reform, not baloney. We need reform now, not in 4 years. Obama lied to those who voted for him. Obama promised "real change has come to Washington." Obama lied big. I hope he feels some shame at some point in his life for this.
I get so tired of people saying that Obama is faling. HELLO! He has only been in office for a year. Do you really think he is going to be able to even make a dent in the mess that was created during the eight years of Bush! It's going to take a lot more than one term to fix the mess this country is in! Wake up people!
No one should expect that Obama would have success in one year. It is ludicrous to think that the problems of the past 8 years combined with an reccession like no other, would have any President calling one measley year a sucess. The important factor is he is heading in the right direction and every indication is that he has the country going forward and not backwards anymore. He is investing in the future and any economist will tell you he has done some of the right things without a doubt.Every successful country has spent in down times and invested in the future.Take the largest corporation in the world to the brink of destruction, and ask if it can be straightened out in one year. Impossible to do, but to make strides like Obama has is a great start.Keep in mind he has done all of this with the opposition doing everything possible at any cost to destroy his sucess.A long time from now economists will be using his strategies in how to come back from the brink of utter destruction.You can't even begin to grade someone with the tasks at hand that Obama has in 365 days. Third year at best when you can expect any measurable results.It would have been over by now if a Republican got back into the Whitehouse so there should be some appreciation for what he has done in such a small amount of time.
Oh please stop with the Poll stuff, we know everytime President Obama goes left you'll go right with the polls, and when he goes right You'll go Left with the issues. If he was rolling out all A's with ethe domestic issues you would say the National issues with his draw back.
Please stop with this stuff, CNN and the polls from the Rpub's haters.
We can do better in judging this President, He is doing a very fine job.
Even after stepping into the mess that you Repub's left for him
wow it only took 1 year. For bush it took 5 years of daily attacks and smears. it must mean we are all racist.
If you say you're going to cut spending, and then just add more to the deficit...well, it's not shocking really.
A failure??? Have you all forgotten his predecessor and the huge mess he left behind? Obama has been stellar, a breath of fresh air, and perhaps those who sees him as a failure are the same who voted for McCain and are just raging to see all he has done so well in such a short time.
Can't wait for the Obamabots' reactions:
"No one polled me!"
"This poll is biased against cell phone users!"
"CNN is a tool of the military/industrial complex!"
"George Bush remains responsible for everything bad!"
The true failure here is the American public who put this empty suit in office–and sadly who can't figure out where they went wrong and so will make the same mistake again the next time they vote for whomever.
47% Believe Obama has been a success. Who are these people. Obama has been a miserable failure at best. That is as kind as I can be.
It doesn't take a particle physicist to realize that the poll's negative numbers are a reflection of the GOP's sophomoric attacks on President Obama.
Likewise, even someone of lesser intellect can draw a direct line between "the party of no" and media reports about those"brilliant" attacks that helped create this negative dynamic.
Let's put this all into perspective and remind Mr. Obama's detractors that he inherited an absolute mess from President Bush, and that fixing those monumental problems can't be accomplished in a year.
And, oh yeah, CNN: You should be proud of yourself for helping torpedo not only Mr. Obama's reputation but help divide the country, too.
MAY THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS BEGIN!
IF THESE BODY SCANNERS GO FORWARD I HEAR BY CHARGE BARAK HUSSAIN OBAMA IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
Paul Steinhauser and Wolf Blitz are going force to say anything bad about Obama. If one follows them every day, Steinhauser make the Poll and Blitzer comes to Situation Room and tries to negate what ever he got from his shallow brain and wolf mouth
Employment numbers are on the cusp of looking much better, and when that happens, his numbers will improve. People forget that the reacession started in October of 2007 and that we narrowly averted an economic disaster in September of 2008, before Obama became president. He is the relief pitcher in this case.
Most Americans don't trust their health insurance companies, or their employers, who provide the health insurance for them, and they were hoping for a single payer (government) option. He didn't push it hard enough, and we'll settle for what we get. I think that is part of the disappointment people feel today. It will be nice to get something signed, though, and try for more in another couple of years.
Wait, 48% of Americans think his presidency is a FAILURE and the headline is "Americans are split on his success"?
Nice spin, CNN, but please, how stupid do you think we are?
means nothing
Just think what all could have been accomplished in this first year if we didn't have the Party of NO stonwalling every thing........I voted for Obama and I will vote for him again......no matter if the economy gets better or not, even if the Health Care Reform doesn't pass, even if a terrorist gets through security.......I would vote for Obama even if his ratings were 20% like Bushes was when he left office.......I will vote for Obama before I ever give my vote to the Party of NO......to the liers, the racists, the radicals, the right wing religious nuts.......and this is coming from a 62 year old WHITE woman.........
This is just more of the same. Americans in general expect immediate gradification and for certain you cannot correct the mistakes made by the Bush administration over 8 years in one year. The US government is a very slow moving entity and in reality we should all be glad it is. The corrections that have been put in place will take some time to work through the entire economy. Our capitalist system will fight the changes as more than the GOP does because it is all based on greed. Not fairness.
obama's not a failure – he's doing everything he and his ilk want to do. Yep, the ol' bait 'n switch. For instance, remember how he bashed McCain (also a socialist) about taxing people with great health coverage as unheard of? Well, the report just came out this week that good ol' obama is going to do the same thing! Straight from the horse's mouth! People....YOU CAN'T DO THAT!
People must have their head in the sand to think Wingnut has a successful foreign policy or that he is defending the homeland. Europeans are snubbing him every day, the Iranians are laughing at him and even ignoring him at times. He's a dismal failure so far in those arenas.
As for doing a good job......don't make me laugh. He's an amatuer in way over his head. He relies on Nancy Penazi and Hairy Reid to do his work while he reads his teleprompter anywhere they'll have him. What a colossal blunder!
To our President's credit, he has been an outstanding communicator, a critical part of being President. He has also accelerated many issues for resolution, when he could have safely let things ride, blaming everyone else (Republicans) for the mess. He has been more transparent and even though I'm a Republican at heart, I give him very high marks. He's is not only an excellent consensus bulider but he balances getting things done in a pragmatic and effective way. I've not seen this quality of leadership since Reagan. Soon more electric cars will become part of the soluton, Major Car companies will start to recover, more health care will be available to more Americans and our economy will rebound, all helped by his leadership.
Barack Obama is a good man but I support Mitt Romney in 2012.
No more Bush, no more Obama – we need change!
People should take this poll with a huge grain of salt.
This poll should have also asked what people think about the Republicans' attitude of obstruction, when it comes to helping President Obama in his efforts to get the economy going again.
The Republicans have stated they want our president and our country to fail; they've also urged Republican governors to either decline the stimulus money or if they accept it, to sit on it.
GOP = Party Before Country
Running the country isn't a popularity contest, it is serious business. If I close my eyes to the pictures and read the words instead of listening to the lulling cadence he speaks with, he gets a "D-" from me. I'm seriously concerned for our country. From so much hope comes so much more dispair. Apparantly "He can't".
You mean conservatives...nooooo! (sarcasm added)
obama's not a failure – he's doing everything he and his ilk want to do. Yep, the ol' bait 'n switch. For instance, remember how he bashed McCain (also a socialist) about taxing people with great health coverage as unheard of? Well, the report just came out this week that good ol' obama is going to do the same thing! Straight from the horse's mouth! People....YOU CAN'T DO THAT!
Also, the whole "racist" remark....had any of us said that, not just republicans, but ANY of us said that, there's be hell to pay. What's going on here?
This is just another ridiculous story. So 48% say this, and 47% say that. So what??? He was elected with a 52% to 48% or so margin in 2008, so aren't we simply saying that all those SAME PEOPLE either want him or don't want him just the same as they did then? Don't insult my intelligence by saying that Republicans now would ever even admit that he is doing a good job. And, of course, most Democrats will (and should) back him up. Get real!
This is what REALLY ails America. The delusion that there is a quick fix, quick answer, easy solution, over-night transformation available for problems that developed over 15 years. This is not fast food restauranting we are talking about, people. WAKE UP!!! Sixteen years of Republican de-regulation, eight years of Republican war-mongering and tax cuts for the rich, years and years of captialist greed -- and the boob-heads of this country think that one year of effort that does not fix sixteen years of disaster is a failure. Americans are profoundly stupid. I guess we deserve all the financial and emotional depression that life can bring. One truth I have learned: Republicans are children - blame everyone else and take responsibility for nothing. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON THEM. Shame on me for thinking that Republican total control of legislative and the executive branches of government would teach them a leasson that their policies don't work. Now I know they are too ignorant to learn.
Were we asking these questions on Bush's first year. This makes no sense it's only been a year give the man a chance to work. Theres alot to be done, he took over when anyone would have problems and not one person on this earth can undo the past 8 years of failure on the economy and wrong war mongering within a year. If he fails I will be the first to not vote for him in re-election but my god lets hope this man succeeds for all of us.
Are these the same pollster who thought Hillary would trounce him here in NC or that he and McCain were at a draw? Polls aren't worth anything. I am not satisfied with how things are going, though the idea that he is completely responsible for economy, and job loss is absurd or the idea that it would be fixed in a year! I am thrilled, though, to have a president who actually speaks to us, and who admits mistakes. It is so refreshing. Why do I never get polled? I must not hold the opinions they are trying for.
This is ridiculous. One year does not a presidency make.
Failure? Success? What facile labels to apply to the most complex job on the planet.
These polls are so silly. Obama's either a success or failure one yr out! That's crazy. If you love Reagan, remember it took 3 yrs to turn it around. How bout Clinton, add 2 yrs before economy improved, and it wasn't as bad as this one. People have opinions, but they either don't know what they're talking about or they just allow their idealogy totally influence their opinion.
Working with a corrupt government doesn't make it easy to get anything done. It's easy to screw the country up but hard to put it right.
Personally, I don't think Jesus could get anything done with the people/companies running our country.
Let's face it, it's all about power and greed.
I'm going to make this statement, "God is in control".
Everyone has a lot to say, but can you do any of the President Job! If not Shut Up and sit back down where you where at! Try support on issue that you care about! Thank You
Please. Polls are full of errors and who did they ask Republicans?
President Obama is a success as a black president only because of his "light-skinned" appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one." Hey, guess thats an acceptable thought pattern now, huh?
Why aren't you including the demographics in this poll?
Hiding a large partisan gap maybe?
His policies are failing the country? Or he's failing at implementing his policies? Appeasement, affirmitive action, government take-overs and wealth re-distribution... hmmmm... I'd say bad policies.
Let's see inflation up, jobs down, taxes up, debt up, wants to tax banks and it will be passed on to us, health care bill is a joke, and his rating contiune to slide.
Just as I thought Obama doesn't know what he is doing along with his staff and party.
Congress has a 27% approval rating because they want to spend 3-4 trillion in one year and then turn around and say they have no choice but to increase taxes in order to pay for it all.
They talk of transparency just before going behind closed doors to debate who gets what payoff for their health care vote.
The American people, who are CONSERVATIVE democrats and republicans, know that this is wrong and they want it stopped.
What on earth did the half that say our President is a failure think? True, he does not walk on water. Yes, he inherited some of the biggest messes that any president in history have ever met. Yes, he is trying his utmost, without the help of the other party, to make things right. Give this guy a chance.
With all the positive spin he gets in the media this is an alarming low number...if he didn't have Bush and Congress to blame he'd be even worse...of course, it is obvious by the numbers that people are tired of his excuses!
Can we really judge whether a presidency is a failure or success less than a year into his term-particularly given the circumstances in which the current president inherited his office–and the partisan obstruction he has faced from day one?
I for one will not jump on either band wagon. But for the time being I would give him a grade of B-minus, maybe a B.
He inherited a complete mess from his predecessor. I will give the president the benefit of the doubt and hope he can deliver half of what he spoke about in his campaign.
since half the people are below 100Q I am not surprised by the poll
Obama inherited a mess and is doing wel,
he should have hit banks harder
and raised taxes etc
A COMPLETE SUCCESS AS OPPOSED TO THE WAR CRIMINALS WE HAD THERE IN THE PAST OR EVEN MCCAIN / PALIN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. GET OVER THIS AMERICA. THE CHINESE ARE LAUGHING AT THIS SCENARIO OF THE TEA PARTY PATRIOTS TRYING TO DIVIDE AND TEAR APART AMERICA.
Failure is obvious because of his TOTAL inability to listen to the voices of the American people regarding so-called Health care Reform. Its not reform.... its a power grab for the liberals, for the democrats, for the lawyers, for the most corrupt Congress in our history.
It's quite obvious that it would happen. Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan were at this same crossroads during their presidency. Just give Obama time, and the 2010 elections before we can truely judge.
Let us be glad that McLame and that Monster aren't occupying the highest office right now.
His ratings are higher abroad vs domestic.Seems to me the cup should be cleaned in the inside first , then worry about the outside.
All hail Barrack Obama, the second coming of Harry Truman!
Just remember, JFK and Clinton got the job done under a more adversarial environment with the Republicans controlling Congress.
At some point his fanclub will be forced to pay their rent and buy food with Obama's promises and excuses – good luck with that gig.
Wsup w/ Rev Al & Rev Jessie praising Reid's racism? Is there a gravy train hidden somewhere the rest of us can't see?
The Weatherman
I'm surprised his ratings are that high considering that the press is about 90% negative in their reporting of his policies and actions. They seem to devote most of their reporting to the very negative comments of various Republicans. The Republicans know this, and it must be very encouraging for them. I don't know if it's just because the press likes to dwell on negative stuff or whether they really dislike him that much. I'm talking about the legitimate press, not Fox News which I don't even consider to be a news channel. I no longer even watch the news on television and get my information from my newspaper which is notorious for being pro-Republican or from the internet. That way I can omit all the sensational stuff. But I think even on the internet they sensationalize small rather trivial news way too much. An example is the Harry Reid comments. For gosh sakes, they happened in 2008!
Why are they suddenly such important news except that a bunch of Republicans are using it to their advantage to get free publicity?
I also dislike that the press does very little fact checking before they publish comments. In fact it sometimes seems like the bigger the lies, the more apt they are to be reported.
In this day and age of instant gratification, T.V. , and radio detailing everything in real time its amazing that any leader gets anything done to anyone's satisfaction. Just becoming president doesn't mean that issues will be resolved instantly. People expect too much too soon and are disappointed when when issues, such as the economy don't change overnight.
When are all the deadenders going to take off those stupid bumberstickers? We get it, you won, we lost. Glad he got rid of business as usual politics. What a great uniter.
There are many challenges that he has to wade through or crawl through, but if he just keeps thinking about the future, HE'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO and that is LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE.
So far, 800 billion should have been thrown at GREEN ENERGY. I mean, imagine, there will be more people and 7 billion people will need to learn how to be effectively and efficiently use Mother Nature. It's the future and it will creaet jobs.
I'm glad Bill Clinton shoved the age of the internet to consumers and didnt hold it back. It created millions more new jobs and wealth to America.
God Bless AMerica!!! May he think of the future and not walk the past.....
duh...i guess those are the republicans, the KKK and Rush Limbaiugh.
Count me as one of the votes for, "HE IS A FAILURE."
Why is it always presented as an either/or. He has had both successes and failures. It will take the completion of his presidency and hindsight for an accurate judgement.
I have to say that with the Roadblock Republicans standing in the way of any progress of this great Nation, I can see why some see why PRESIDENT OBAMA is having a few diffuculties.
Half the country is brain dead, don't believe in evolution and chose to home school their kids. They voted for Bush TWICE. Why is anyone asking them anything?
I think he has done fairly well considering the mess that he has to clean up.
It's funny to think that people don't approve of him on health care because some think he's gone way overboard and some think that he hasn't done enough. So the 6 out of 10 who don't like him based on health care aren't all on one side. So really the numbers are a little skewed.
I am baffled. Unless you are directly involved in the process of reviewing the available information and making the decisions, how can you participate in a poll that measures efectiveness. This type of polling question makes me question the effectivness of the poll much more than the effectiveness of the President.
The fact that the Massachusetts race is so close should tell Democrats everything they need to know about how people really feel with regards to their leadership so far.
You gotta love the spin: he can take comfort that his approval is twice that of CONgress. That's a joke, right?
I think that President Obama has done an outstanding job during his first year as President under difficult circumstances. He has brought calmness and intelligence into play. Contrast this with the hysterical behavior of the Republicans especially the far Right. The news media sensationalizes eveything and spends most of its time gossiping or screaming at one another. Truth is not found in loud voices but instead in thoughtful consideration. Jean McLain
And just how do people come up with these numbers? do they expect every thing to be rosy after 8 years of bush and company destroying america. people it will take way more than a year to get this mess straightened out especally with the republicans wanting the democrats to lose. they are against anything that helps the economy or the american people.
It took Bush 8 years to completely screw up the country, Obama hasn't even been in for 3, come on give him 8 years and i'm sure he's screw it up just as bad.
I wouldnt worry if i was Obama though, will the republican party divided and considered backward, moronic, and pretty much still hated by america in general (or at least any american with an IQ over 75) he'll get his second term,no problem
The president can also take heart in the fact that his 51 percent approval rating is nearly twice as high as the approval rating for Congress.
_________________________________________________
Interesting that he can be distinguished out of the Pelosi-Reid-Obama team. The Far Left wants; Obama asks; Pelosi & Reid make and then Obama signs. That's the drill. They are a team, like the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 0-14 ).
Obama ran on trying to achieve bipartisanship and trying to get things done for the American People. The republican'ts have worked day and night to stop him from accomplishing what we the people elected him to do. In the face of such intractible, mindless opposition, i think he's doing a great job. We don't need fewer Democrats in 2010, we need a lot more! Then we'll see what real leadership is like. The party of NO has got to GO! They don't give a rodent's derriere about this country or its people, only the corporations and CEOs. Wake up, America, and throw the fascists out!
He's a loser, running this country into the poor house...
well there ya go – the tea baggers speak – now if they just had something to say
What a joke...So much possibility...He could have been THE President that brought the moderates from left AND right and been the best ever...but, in the end, a liar worse than many others and a true Socialist. We didn't sign up for this. He is a threat to our country and our Constitution. He's making Bush look like a genius if that is possible...
Where's the poll breakdown? What is the methodology? Are you not showing us because you polled democrats heavy (as usual)? We want answers, or your poll is not trustworthy.
Too bad the people giving President Obama a thumbs down do not consider that most of the work he's been doing is cleaning up after the pervious two administrations. He's got his hands full!.
I love these polls, they do not state where the telephone surveys were taken, but that it was done by "Opinion Research Corporation."
Well what does that mean??? The phone calls could have gone to Red States right up the middle of America for all we know!!!??
President Obama is doing an amazing job. Not only is he an incredible leader, but he is cleaning up a mess of the previous administration. For example, the US was first in in 2000 for number of college graduates-in 2009 we were 10th! Just one ramification of the miserable years under Republican leadership. This doesn't take 1 year to fix and reprioritize–it will take many years. Do we also forget the financial mess a year ago. He provided the leadership and policies that stabilized this economy and our presence in the world. Of course he is doing this while the Republicans to everything in their power to create obstacles-but they have been doing this since FDR!
Failure due to inexperience.
Well to be fair all of the things Americans are upset about is the eight years of damage that was done by the Bush administration. And damage like that can take just as long to undue and repair as it took to the Bush administration to cause. Notice Bush never admitted we were in or headed for a recession (even when things began collapsing around him) because he didn't want it associated with his presidency – but he caused it by wasting trillions (TRILLIONS) on a worthless war that gave us nothing but dead bodies.
And he did nothing to rein in the financial industries even after his administration was warned about the oncoming nightmare.
The failures are from the last eight years. It's very easy to put Obama's Presidency in perspective. The rest of the world actually respects America again. Plain and simple. They haven't for the last eight years. That's more important than most people can ever comprehend – it's bigger than most can even fathom because they don't deal with the rest of the world. But, without them – we're nothing!
Which half say he is a success? Answer....those that lay around and rely on the government to hand them money Obummie has stole from those that work.
Obama is doing a great job. Sorry to hear that half of my fellow Americans are so dim as to think otherwise.
Fix health care, then let's fix education. Apparently we're not making smarter citizens yet!
Probably due more to unrealistic expectations in the face of some serious issues, than the President's ability.
I am pretty sure the numbers on McCain and Palin, had they won, would be even worse.
It still amazes me that people expect Obama to wave his hand and make the mess the RepubliNAZIs created just go away. It doe not suprise me one bit that the economy is slowly coming back. As much damage as those clowns did I don't think you will ever see it return to what it was. The RepubliNAZIs did just what big business wanted. Give them a mass of unempolyed that they can force low wages on to increase their profits. Thanks a bunch Regan! I'm sick that I voted for you and your lies.
A plurality of 48% calls him a failure so far, and CNN can only rouse themselves to say there's a split in opinion?
Perhaps it is due to his absurd campaign promises and flawed policies: closing GITMO, saying he would get us out of Iraq, trials of terrorists in NYC, health care shoved down our throats, appointment of Marxists on his committees, failure to be transparent, increase of the national debt and deficits, etc.
This really doesn't say much considering the folks who truly think President Obama is a failure are the same ones who thought George W. Bush could do no wrong.
'Majority Rule' doesn't work in mental institutions...
Obama is too busy with parties and vacations. Then his signing a nuke agreement with Russia and several weeks later Russia had a nuke sub off our east shore and Obama was busy talking about the white police and the put down to care about the whole nation. Then Chavaz cozy up to, and Russia is puting a army/ air force base down there thanks to Chavz. How many vacations and other trips flying all over the world and the costs??? What about the gasses from the planes, yet we are to give up blue collar jobs???? Only 50% don't like Obama????
While Obama should not be blamed for the onset of the recession, it is his socialist solution of expanding the government and our enormous
deficit by adding to it. Socialized medicine will fail in too many ways to
even imagine, as it adds enormous costs while reducing the level of
care most Americans will be able to get. Furthermore, the fact backroom wheeling and dealing proved that the bill could not pass on its own merit, and is anything by the "change" promised by this president. Regardless of party, it is "business as usual" and worse. Government has proved time and time again that it is inefficient, so why put our health into their hands? Americans need to make it by themselves, and an administration that encourages voters to expect care from the government should be looking after the affairs of a traditional socialist nation, and not tear down the fundamental values too many Americans hold dear – that of hard work and personal responsibility.
i did not vote for obama. i am glad to see people are admitting to their big mistake.
First of all, I am sick of all these polls. I don't recall any president being polled every other week. Secondly, Obama has not dropped this low in the poll. Who are the people that you are polling. My friends and I still favor our president as we know that he is working very hard to secure the economic and security status of this nation. I wish the media would just knock it off. If they continue to divide this nation, they are going to see the true effects of divide and conquor. If it's not Nancy Peloski, it's Harry Reid. Yet no one said anything when Rush Limbaugh called Obama the magic negro, or when Dick Cheney spreads his lies. CNN I see straight through you. Even though you may be the most watched news show now. Eventually, MSNBC is going to catch up and pass you. They are the only news program that have the nerve to report the truth.
Polls should be illegal until the people who participate in these polls come up with better ideas than the President has on how to deal with our nation's problems.
it is so easy to criticize when one is not responsible for anything.
Your article fails to break the poll numbers down according to racial lines. Given the fact that 90% of African-Americans approve of Obama's presidency I suspect that a clear majority of Whites consider Obama a failure. The ultra strong support that Obama still gets from African-American's has consistently skewed his poll numbers. Expect a Democratic massacre come November 2010 midterm elections. I predict that the Democrats will loose more seats then in 1994. Most importantly the long predicted "realignment" toward the Democratic party has not come true.
I wouldn't call his first year a success or a failure.
I don't recall any other President being under so much scrunity in their first year of office. And I wonder how many of those questioned actually voted for him. And furthermore, I love these "polls". No one asked me what I thought. As a matter of fact, I don't know one single person who has ever recieved a call asking them what they thought of the President. And I know a lot of people. Who are you polling anyway? Maybe we should wait until 2012 to come to a conclusion on how the President is doing.
A telephone poll of 1,021 "people" is simply not significant !
CNN – You are a lazy bunch of self serving jerks !
The only failure I see in President Obama is that he failed to follow Bush's failed policies.
this is like the people that were saved from the Titanic complaining out the food on the lifeboats. Obama was the prime figure in saving the ecomonies of the world after almost certain catastrophy. He is a great man well respected everywhere, except in the US.
Wow what a misleading article...once again cnn has these foolish commentaries
Obama had a 47% approval rating in December now come January it is 51%....so it is actually up.
CNN GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT and quit trying to influence in the negative.
Let me guess it's the Republican half right?
How anyone could have expected the economy to just be magically fixed after a year is beyond me. Every expert in the country said the rough times would last until 2010 and beyond, and that was before Obama was even elected President. Sometimes I swear this country has collective ADD. Even if his policies haven't made things better yet, they sure have kept them from getting worse. It could have been MUCH worse. I certainly appreciate the lower taxes from my paycheck.
Obama would have to walk on water to fulfill the expectations of the desperate people victimized by the prior administration. Back off and let the man work! It will take more than a year to fix this mess.
Although I don't think he's a bad guy, like some posters, he just does not have the experience, or the right idea that now is the time to increase entitlement programs and expand government. He has not lived up to too many promises either, like transparency, although even if he wanted to, he does not have the right or the power to control the actions of congress, so we can't blame him for the actions of congress, but we can kinda blame the party, as well as the whole 2 party system since it fosters extremism to both the left and right.
Wow! Obama has been in office for a relatively short time and he hasn't cured all the problems facing America – problems mostly caused the the prior administration? Sounds like we are looking for instant gratification. What will become of us?
the mere fact that he is trying to further seperate our nation from our own culture and history makes him a failure to me. Who does he think he is?
So quick to pass judgment on this man, it has not even been one year. I can say with certain honesty George Bush's presidency was a failure 9-11 was the begining of his long list of SCREW UPS. Obama is just trying to fix the mess that W left behind
Obama is doing what he said he would, and what his record predicted he would do. Americans were not paying attention, were naive, or were trying to exercise a guilt complex when they put him in office. We have no one to blame but themselves for what they have created. Hopefully its not too late.
One has to wonder the demographics and political/ socioeconomic diversity of the people polled. Also how are the questions asked and interpreted....leads me to think these polls are not very accurate.
Polls are fickle and do not really reflect the true long term sentiment of the population.
Obama has done nothing but divide this country.
Why are opinion polls relevant?
Shouldn't the link say "Half say Obama a success." I suppose it the glass is half full thing. CNN chose half empty.
Bill Clinton was above 50% approval in 1994. And he didn't fare too well in the midterm election. Obama's in trouble.
"Only 44 percent approve of how Obama is handling the economy", with the economy being our #1 issue this percentage spells out clearly that THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NOW BELIEVE OBAMA IS A FAILURE. Hows that CHANGE working out for you OBAMA Voters??? The HOPE is over...
Leave Our president alone and let him do his JOB!!!
I'm surprised it's only half.
Obama is all talk and no walk. It's amazing how many stupid Americans were hoodwinked in to voting for this guy. Only 3 more years till Mr. Socialism exits stage left.
You mean there are still people drinking the Obama Kool-Aid served by the Empty Suit Teleprompter President........and you liberals thought Bush was a MORON? We are far worse off now because Obama continues to seek reparations politics here and abroad and has not invested in business to create jobs. A job produced within the Government is not creating new jobs. Impeach him for TREASON!
I think that the people who think he is a failure are the one who have no clue about the past events the Bush was in charge of that have lead us to where we are today. President Obama has done a wonderful job with what has been going on in our country and he should be applauded.
...but they don't call cell phones, and most liberals are too poor to afford phones anyway....blah blah blah.
Spin it how you want, the clock is ticking down on this OBAMination.
Unfortunately Obama has all but asssured it will be along time before there is another black president.
this guy is nothing more than a windbag
never ran anything and can't run this country – except into the ground
gov control over the mortgage industry – pushing subprime is what go us into this fix. More gov take over of our lives and money will not fix it
vote this lying nimrod out along with all the big gov, big spending liberal windbags
And the other half is obviously clueless.
Hmmmm ... now subtract everyone from that 48% who's a Republican and rooting for him to fail from day one, and maybe we will get a more accurate figure.
Half say he is a failure, the other half are failures themselves.
One year into this and you're ready to bolt on this President?... amazing... so I imagine that you all walk on water? This I gotta see...
I'm surprised that there are that many people who truly believe he is having success. He is a miserable failure thus far and doesn't seem to know how to right himself or this country. You can't keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Again, a complete failure. Wake up AMERICA!
George W's approval ratings were much higher than Obama's at the 1st year mark. Obviously that was not a good indicator of the quality of his leadership. Two failed wars later & an economy in ruin... Bush is the failure. Obama is the fall-guy because he was left to clean up the mess.
Obummie is a failure on everything he said he would do.
1. Not raise taxes on the middle class.
2. Be transparent on the bills he is pushing.
3. Protecting this country.
4. Closing Gitmo by 1/10
5.Giving gays equal rights
6.Uniting this country. It is more divided than in my LONG life time
7. Get rid of special interest and lobbist. The Unions and Big Pharma/Insurance own him.
8. The stimulus bill will keep unemployment less than 8%.
9. No more pork in any bills taht he signs.
His LIES are bigger than Nixon, Clinton and Bush combined. Change we can believe in? Only in fantasy land; which is what we have.
ok, half of those polled say obama is a failure... but, 90 % of them would agree that bush/cheney was an far beyond a failure, maybe even to the point of being a tragedy or disaster... that already makes obama a HUGE success..
Whats wrong with mortgaging our childrens future for healthcare??
As a conservative, I believe that President Obama is doing exactly what he promised he would do. IE a stimulus plan that has not done anything but run up our dept, apologize to the world for our wealth, release prisoners of war so they fight again, taking over private companies, in the process of taking over 1/6 of our economy with a so-called health reform bill that will not work and will cost a whole lot more than they are leading us to believe.
He likes the unemployment high because the more Americans are out of work, the more they depend on our corrupt govt.
I would have to say that everything is going just as Obama has planned. He is not a failure!!
Everyone should remember that Abraham Lincoln was considered an unelectable failure right up until a few months before he was reelected.
And after EIGHT years the Shrub was a success?
Maybe if he had kept his campaign promises he'd be more popular. Most people voted for him because he offered change from the same old politics as usual. Unfortuantely, that's what he's given us, more of the same. He didn't pull the troops out of Iraq, he didn't close down Quantanamo, he didn't fight for health care at all, he let the jack boot right and Joe (Judas) Lieberman call the shots. God help this country. Between a lazy, uninformed population, a corrupt government and a corporate owned media, we are SKA-RUDE
This is precisely what can be accomplished by having the media giant, Rupert Murdoch, and his empire, especially Faux News and now the WSJ, campaign against him with a relentless pack of loathsome lies 24/7/365. for upwards of 2 years now.
It's time to revisit his citizenship, and just how someone who's not even a real American can be so powerful.
Why do Repubicans so hate America?
Not standing up to the Department of Defense and the Pentagon and pulling out all the troops out as promised during the campaign is the biggest failure as far as I can see, and also most other people, too. Nation building should've stayed at home.
Unfortunately, the only other export economy that we, the U.S., has anymore is weapons, armament, bullets and high-tech new-age defense and offense artillery.
Pull the plug on that and we pull the plug on the rest of our economy.
A sad state to be in, but he who has the biggest gun at the end of the day will most likely be the winner. Sad but true. I wish it were not so. Sadder still is that we'll end up selling it all to China.
Its unfortunate that most Americans fail to understand the immensity of the mess which Obama inherited. For anyone who presumes to judge the "success or failure" of his presidency after the first year is being quite naive. The complexity of any President's job, coupled with the extraordinary severity of what Obama is facing at this particular time in our history, makes judgement of his presidency now both premature and inappropriate. Personally, I intend to make my evaluation after the first term, not the first year!
This poll must have asked only inner city Democrats for their opinion. I can't believe that no more than one out of two people in this country don't think that this buffoon and his staff are grossly incompetent for the job.
I guess you have to scare everyone into believing that the sky is falling to be popular? Point your finger at an enemy – any enemy and ship tanks and teenagers with guns there under false pretenses all the while destroying individual privacy laws with the Patriot Act – overnight. Kill an inherited surplus economy, maybe? Then, you're a great guy!
But Obama, he's the Anti-Christ right?
Sarah Palin quits her political post to write books, be a TV personality and throws out her venom spewed opinions left and right. She's a Maverick, right? A real forward thinker. Get real, people – this guy never stood a chance with the Tea Parties and backlash he has received. He is trying to help the very people, "P-E-O-P-L-E," not big business (HALLIBURTON), that hate him so much. If he didn't initiate the bailouts everyone would be eating each other in the streets because they would have been robbed by AIG and friends of their life savings and pensions... I loathe the political age that we live in. All politicians should be so scrutinized. He just doesn't "look," the part I guess. Everyday, we see the truth behind our race plagued society. It is our weakness and will be our downfall. Weak minds.
Well, all those who perceive any failure to be the President's alone clearly don't know how this country is supposed to work.
It is WE who have failed, if we haven't pitched in to make things work.
(And it goes without saying that anyone who didn't vote doesn't get to have an opinion.)
Obama continues to ACT THE ROLE OF "FIRST" BLACK PRESIDENT, instead of working in the job that he qualified, applied, and was hired for.
No wonder that the watching American 'AUDIENCE" appear a bit unsettled – even testy, to say the least.
1. Need to (...quick as hell!...) present a NEW/CHANGED FACE to your Global Partners? Hire a Black President within a racialised country!
2. Does that hired-President need to (...constantly!..) reassure these people that they made the right Choice? Keep those Global Partners happy at all costs!
3. Need a Crystal Ball to predict how this TRAGI-COMEDY will end? Stay for the end of the "SHOW," during which you will be certain to see a pouting 'n picketing American Populace petulantly pitching their "first" black president-Character out (...thru' the Servants' Entrance!...) of THEIR CLEAN, WHITE, HOUSE.
Though Pres. Obama certainly has bitten off more than he can (or should) chew, to say that his leadership so far has been a failure is RIDICULOUS. I'm taking it that the main people responding to this questionnaire must be right-wingers.....
How can anyone call Obama's leadership a failure when he had to play "janitor" to the mess of a country that was left for him? Let's be realistic, people...change takes time!
Apparently, 48 percent of Americans are so ignorant of place, time, and context that they are completely blind to the fact that this President saved this country from a complete and utter disaster. Obama's discisive actions averted a complete economic collapse and possible a decade long depression-–and furthermore, quite possibly a collapse of the rule-of-law worldwide. But there are people in this country so caught up in their personal biases that they are unwilling to acknowledge the fact that most people(from every political persuasion) absolutely agreed upon just one year ago--that the economy was in deep trouble and on the verge of disaster. Now that the disaster has been averted those people who are blinded by political idealogy or biggoted thought have engaged in the worst kind of historical revision in order to evade their responsibility to be grateful to this President for saving America from a decade of doom. This has become a very sad and demented country. My 11th great grandfather came to this country in 1638 and my family has been here ever since--I wish only to have the money and resources to flee this god forsaken den of religous nutcases and backward conservative anti-intellectual and find a home somewhere else. You neocons might be happy to get rid of me and so be it-–but then you would have to live with the Sarah Palins of your party crushing this great country into a place where only the most insufferable morons and goons could possibly want to live.
Explain this to me. How does 47% of the country saying he's a failure make more than his 51% approval ratings?
Your polls are a joke, get your numbers right and stop labelling things falsely. It makes you look just as bad as the hateful unpatriotic teapartiers. Fair and balanced. Pfft.
Obama has been a failure on every issue, including national defense. If the underwear bomber had been successful, Obama realizes he would be impeached, or, at the very least, been viewed as the worst president ever–eclipsing Jimmy Carter.
The economy will be his downfall, however. I see no way to improve the unemployment numbers, hovering around 18%, and remaining so. Rush Libmbaugh believes he is doing this purposefully in order to make more people reliant on big government. He may be right.
God help us if he is.
From a financial and foreign policy stand point Jimmy Cater will look like a genius compared to him.
Anyone would be better than that lizard brain Bush. I can't imagine why someone could vote for a republican after they put us in this abyss. I believe Obama is really trying to clean up the mess that was dumped on his presidency.
He gets high marks on foreign policy and national security. Just who is CNN asking? Obama is a complete dolt when it comes to these two issues. If it wasn't for Cheney publicly chastising him and forcing him to reverse course on several decisions, we'd be having parades in the streets of Washintong to honor the poor beligerents held at Gitmo.
Give me a break, really!
When a Poll is cited, they should also cite the exact questions asked. Did they ask it this exact way – "Do you think the Obama Presidency has been a failure or a success?"
Also, did they poll the exact amount of Independents, republicans and democrats?
I am a Republican, but I have a wild idea..... Let's give President Obama a WHOLE TERM before we decide whether or not he is a failure. I'm sorry.... Then the newspapers wouldn't have anything to do. Silly idea!
This man is not a failure he has accomplished everything he has set out to do and that is to DESTROY AMERICA FROM WITH-IN. I hope this is the change we voted for if not we have been fooled and infiltrated.
Success..............that's a joke! This man has been a disaster, he is the worst president ever, even worse than Jimmy Carter. I don't think this country can afford another 3 years of the bankrupting of America.
You want higher rating Barack? PROTECT US! If you ignore our enemies they won't go away, and a speech won't make them love us. Get your act together and quit trying to tax the hell out of the few people who have jobs still.
Ok, well President Obama's presidency has not been a failure, many would look at the issues and incidents that have occurred thus far into his term, but that was not his responsibility, it was the F.B.I., Homeland Security, Etc. who were responsible and did not act accordingly, Obama's job has been and will be to reunite the nation, bring ideas and beliefs together, and help pass laws that will hopefully make our country a more beneficial one for our youth, when they are at age to understand. So far he has pushed for a health care plan that is actually rolling now, and shows slight signs of slowing, but he continues to work on that frontier and im sure there are other acts that will need tending to.
Wow,
I didn't realize that it would only take 1 year in office to solve all of America's problems! Uh, Nooooooooooooooo. If it took 8 years to put us in this fiasco, then why would it take 1 year to fix it? We as a society want a microwave solution to an oven baked problem. But we are also hypocrites in the same breath.
Democrats ragged on Bush his first year in office, and republicans said, "give him a chance." Now, Dems are doing the same thing and Republicans are lashing at Obama. Ridiculous. I voted for Obama, I support Obama, and I have the common sense enough to know not to listen to opinionated programs like Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, Schultz, Press, and Maddow to get my opinion. It's called research for yourself. Please America, stop being so weak-minded and think for yourself and stop letting crooked politicians and media puppets think for you.
In spite of the still horrific state of our economy, the first year of Obama has been paradise...compared to the eight years of Bush.
When Obama was elected I wrote that he will face what every black successful person faces in a prolific position (seen more in corporations) , i.e., he must do twice as much to get half the credit! What do people REALLY expect Obama or ANY person to do in ONE YEAR when they inherited a country on the brink of depression? Of course, much of the country must be looking at what HASN'T happened yet versus what we've been spared as a country!
Holy smokes – this guy is tanking!!!! All those who wish they'd have gone will Hillary please stand up! At least we knew what we would have gotten with her, Bill and all!
I guess the 'I inherited this mess' excuse is wearing a bit thin.
From the poll results looks like the president easily could go from 50 to 60% approval by simply keeping his promises to the liberals who elected him - promoting gay rights, supporting workers right to organize, regrouping on the public option (maybe after 2012). There's no hope of placating the right, and even if you did you'd only p-o the left even more than you already have, so it wouldn't change the approval numbers. GOPers already think the president is a far-leftie, so he's got nothing to lose by actually acting like one for a change.
I am ashamed to say that I voted for Obama. I did NOT vote for watered down healthcare, government funding for elective abortions, trillion dollar deficits, and kowtowing towards dictatorships around the world. If this is hope, we are doomed. I will vote for the GOP in 2010 and 2012.
Anyone who would view Obama's presidency as a success has a very poor understanding of the definition of "success". Record unemployment, record weak dollar, record number of broken campaign proimises and record number of lobbyist serving on the public dole. Absolutely the opposite of success.
America is purely stupid thinking there was going to be a quick fix. I think President Obama is doing quite well considering everything against him. No president in the history of this nation has been under constant attack as President Obama has. Conservative talk shows deliver a constant barrage of hate toward President Obama. A constant stream of email lies and misinformation is directed at him. Republican Joe Wilson calls President Obama liar during a joint session of congress. Town hall meetings, Tea Parties… they are doing a better job of destroying our nation than the communists ever did.
I have yet to hear what, if anything, the Republicans would do differently. No bailouts? That would've spelled (an even worse) disaster for the financial and automotive markets. A fullblown surge in Afghanistan? Our military is already stretched to the breaking point and the ultimate goal murky, since Al Queda is by now so widely dispersed.
Obama has been dealt one of the worst hands possible. If this were poker, a good player would've "known when to fold 'em". Of course that's not an option and he'll just have to make the best moves that he can until things turn around.
How can you be a success it at every turn there's a roadblock put in your way, the rug is being pulled out from under you, an agenda is established set to stop ANYTHING that you try to enforce/put into place! I am so disappointed with those politicians AND their constituents that, just because 'their side' didn't win, you're not going to try and work along with the ones that did! Yes, I voted for him and will do so again. I didn't vote for him because he was African American - which I am. I listened to what every candidate had to say during the election. What moved me the most was the way he stayed focused, very knowledgeable about domestic and foreign policy, concerned about what was and is happening in American, put together a plan to help the American people and the nation, listened to what everyone had to say, stood flat footed, and kept to his agenda. There was no name calling or encouraging/creating hateful fringe groups. Just awful!!! I'll admit that I was torn between President Obama and Secretary Clinton, but after South Carolina I began to focus more on President Obama. We've lived through MANY years of politicians that were self-serving, party-only serving, and one-community-only serving. How about if we go ahead and let this man - who has REALLY TRIED to serve the PEOPLE of the United States - do the job he was elected to do. President Obama is not a failure in my book - y'all haven't given him a chance to do his job!
Considering the GOP being nothing but the party of NO, I believe the President has done an excellent job, although I would have wanted a public option in th health care bill. Going up against the constant lies from the GOP on every subject President has made great progress. Progress the American people voted for. It seems that the GOP doesn't understand yet that they are the minority and therefore things aren't going to go their way very often. I believe that the GOP will be even a smaller minority after the mid term elections.
What an objective journalistic commentary from CNN!!!
Your polls are nothing but phony propaganda .Why emphasizing on the negative aspect of things always???. It is like you need to constantly put oil on the fire.CNN is a biased media source i m sorry to say.Europeans are laughing at what you call journalism here.It is true that in the light of others tv news network you look ok but i am so done with you.You had better to teach Americans who are so uneducated on the sense of the word socialist;What the real truth is:
If china which is the worst COMMUNIST country in the world tells America to bow down tomorrow you have no choice but to do it. Quit whining about Barack; he may not be the best yet but he is certainly representative of an intelligent America..not like his predecessor.
Our nation is sadly polarized by the constant vile campaign against President Obama by the far-right. This is nothing new.
Still, a majority of Americans are supporting President Obama. Plus, there are many supporters of President Obama who are never polled because, we live in red states, we are registered Independent & we have no "landline".
Presiden Obama inherited the largest deficit in U.S. history, the deepest Recession since the Great Depression (although in 1983, we had ...10% unemployment also) and two wars. Our nation has been in a recession since 2007, we are now just beginning to see some signs of recovery. We, Americans, need to be patient, the economy is not fast food!
The SNL sketch from last Fall pretty much summed it up.
"O"bama; "O" = zero
I’m very disappointed in Obama’s first year! I proudly voted for Obama believing he would make the changes this country needed to move forward in the 21st century. A year later I’m scratching my head wondering what he has done besides keeping hid popularity above the 50% mark. He wasted a valuable year where he had the most power having the majority in the house and senate. It seems to me that he is more concerned about his approval rating that he has forgotten why he was elected. Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the same political climate as Obama and embarked on things that where not so popular, but did it for the greater of the country. I just wish Obama acted on his promises while he had the chance and not worry so much about his next term. Unfortunately I don’t see any change coming with this president and being a Democrat I give him two thumbs down.
How can a poll like this ever be a true poll if 25% would say it's a total disaster when they hate Obama because he's black (policies aside) or (the rich and their lemmings) say his policies stink because Obama wants the rich to FINALLY pay their fare share? The TRUE answer will be shown on election day.
Are you kidding me?! The man has only been in office 1 year and we are already deciding how successful he will be?!
Give the man a fair chance, just like we GAVE Bush 8 yrs of a fair chance.
I do know that Obama has accomplished more in his 1 year of service compared to Bush's 8 LONG TREACHEROUS years.
I had hoped he'd be a stronger leader but I'd still take him over McCain/Palin.
One year into his term to clean to eight plus years of horrible leadership and a do nothing congress and he is getting beat up by who ? What the hell do you people want ? He did not start a unwarrented war, he did not take this country down the greedy path of the privious administration and sure as hell did not pander to the religous right for votes. Get a grip and give this guy the time to do the job. If you want to be angry be angry and the idiots that you put in congress and give them a boot !
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, here's mine: it's too early to judge the implementation of his policies even though some are bearing fruit. More importantly he's shown admirable restraint and class, dogged determination, and an indefatigable spirit and work-ethic as a public servant hellbent on restoring the lustre of this great nation and caring for ALL it's citizens.
Obama 2012!!
The president is coming up on his second year this year is the year of redemption the learning year is over theres no room for mistakes now either he has the right stuff or he dosnt Mr. President schools out forever.
Those 47% who say success – where, what, how, when? Really where is the success.
Guess he should get an Oscar for playing the role of a president while not actually being one.
this idiot (Obama), is going to go down as the most ineffective president in american history. His idiocy would be comical if it wasnt dangerous, and going to cost our children and grand children so much.
"On the plus side for Obama, he remains personally popular and he gets decent ratings on foreign policy and national security issues." Man, what are you guys smoking?
This is the trend that the Rasmussen poll identified weeks ago. Mr. Obama is seeing the ratings in most areas of policy plummet. Washington is a political mess.
As an independent, I am tired of both parties pointing fingers at each other. Let's just try to get the economy moving in a healthy direction, without government interference. Let's try to deal rationally, and realistically, with the threat from foreign and domestic terrorists. And, rather than blaming previous administrations for the problems, just move forward and get things solved. Now, that would truly be change we could believe in.
Obama needs to resign. Our nation cannot afford him.
48% of the American people give Obama an F for failure for his first year. He gives himself a B+, A- when they pass healthcare. Is he out of touch or what? Trillions and trillions in corrupt wasted spending and debt. The Louisiana Purchase and the Cornhusker Kickback! And lately the Underwear bomber who has been read his rights and given a lawyer even though is suddenly seems to have dawned on Obama that we are at war. Sabatuers sent, out of uniform, to murder innocent civilians are subject to interrogation and summary execution. Yet Obama is preparing to spend tens of millions more for another Circus trial. Oh Yes....10% UNEMLOYMENT! How could 47% of the American people think that is a success?
We can thank the party of NO (GOP) For some of the Domestic Issues. Everything the President has tried to do to help us get the Economy going they are against. The GOP is for sending more of our troops to war, As I said before the GOP is for sending our troops to fight anybody, anytime anywhere, The Gop stands for (Good Ole Pickpockets). They pick our pockets and LIE to us.
I do not think that American tax payers are split on the results. It has obviously been a painful failure, that we will be paying for over decades.
The next president – if it is a WOMAN – is going to get the SAME SCRUTINY people are giving President Obama!!!!!
Anything that is DIFFERENT from the so-called NORMAL eyes of America – which seems to be ONE color and ONE gender – will be SCRUTINIZED unnecessary and BASHED constantly. Those SAME so-called NORMAL eyes of America would NEVER see any good in President Obama even though GOOD is obvious and staring them in the face!!!
I can count the number of POLLS on President Obama for the past year and I guarantee you it's close to or more than a thousand!!! Jeez!
Traditionally economic woes are blamed on the sitting president even if he has had little to do with it. If, as expected, unemployment declines by even a few points by the next presidential cycle, he should have no problem being reelected.
Did anyone expect Obama do to any better?. The man have hardly any experience in his four years as a Senator. It imight take him another four years just to know not to make another"Beer Summit" in the Rose Garden. And his wife Michelle to grow vegetables in the White House backyard. Lets wait until 2011, another campaign, another revival and maybe the second coming of our savior will be more promising.
President Obama is doing a great job! The party of NO has been working overtime to make him look bad, but he will survive!!!!!
A big problem is the so-called "moderates" who are like blades of grass. They bend with the wind. They flinch at the tiniest surprise. They are the kind of people who, when on a 100 mile journey, will turn around after 49 miles, saying they are tired. They don't think things through. They are applause meters. If everyone likes Obama, they are for Obama. If people criticize Obama, they are against Obama. If a Liberal program isn't 100% successful on day 1, they figure that the best thing to do is throw the Liberals out and vote for Conservatives. When the Conservative do-nothing government fails to do anything except invade the wrong country and run up the national debt, then they vote for Liberals again.
Wishy-washy, namby pamby.
The only thing that Ann Coulter ever said that I agree with is: "You either have to be a Liberal or a Conservative. If you call yourself a 'moderate' that means that you have the IQ of a toaster."
That's paraphrased. You can look it up.
Definetely a miserable failure. The Indies and DAMEs really feel sorry for him now since the "HOPE" and "CHANGES" he promised are slipping away very quickly.
By any objective standard President Obama is doing a great job. Look at any graph of any data you want and he is doing a stellar job of undoing the disaster of conservatism. However, there are two things going against him. It is difficult to get out the message of how big of a bullet we dodged. It is hard enough for the average citizen to grasp even the most rudimentary economic or political issues, let alone the magnitude of the disasters left behind by the blithely incompetent bush administration and his sycophants in the congress.
And the other constant problem is republicons lying in unison. The only thing they actually do well. It creates a flase impression that what theysay has some validity bcause you hear it from so many different sources, although the truth is that it all comes from one source and the rpublicon/conservative trolls just repeat whatever they are told to think on any given day.
Hmmm, those polled for the positive must be Government employee's that have yet seen any layoffs or cutbacks. Isn't it funny how the private sector growth and development industry is DOA yet all those bureaucrats are still getting an over inflated weekly paycheck for sitting behind a desk to review absolutely nothing?
"The poll also indicates that 1 in 10 say that Obama has not been liberal enough."
That tidbit there should shut the mouths of all those Garafalo-style "progressives" who claim that Obama's disapproval rating stems from his (limited) efforts to work with the majority of the American public that opposes socialism
I gotta give Mr Obama credit for taking on tough issues; such as health care reform, making the difficult call on afghanistan, reform of the out of control banking sector, and an economy left in shambles by the recalictrant, do nothing republican party.
The only reason 48 percent say he is a failure is because they are mindless, willfully ignorant and spend all of thier time listening to the ehco chamber of hate and fear on Fox news and the AM talk radio buffoons.
No one is angry, but the devil !
Failure...Rush Limbaugh must be riding the articles at CNN. No where in the results does it say people think the first year is a failure.
Pretty bad news for Obama, considering this is a CNN poll.
Wonder what the unbiased polls look like.
In part because I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa (Group Liberia One) I was pleased to see Obama elected president. Also, his election was definitely a plus for the American image abroad, but as an American nationalist & patriot I'm distressed by Obama's clearly evident lack of both of those characteristics.
Although I understand because Obama spent his formative years studying Islam & the Koran in an Indonesian madrass he therefore naturally retains a deep affection for Islam I'd prefer in the presidency one who is not lacking in traditional American nationalism & patriotism. Consequently, I won't vote for Obama for a second term in office.
It may be tough to say Obama is successful (yet), but given the horrific nature of the past 8 years, and the completely poisonous political environment the Republicans have created in Congress, I'll stick with Obama and the Democrats for the time being.
The economy is better than it was a year ago. How can we complain? How is the greed and the corruption within Wall Street Obama's fault? How can we expect him to clean it up after 8 years of failed policies from the bush administration? Let's be smart people! Don't expect everything to change over night. These things take time and if you have a job you can't complain. If you were laid off from your job, blame the corporations, the banks and wall street for failing to adapt to a weak economy. Blame them for not acting fast enough. Blame Bush for leaving us the mess to deal with. 2 wars, National security, climate change, the economy... it's not that easy and I don't know anyone else who could have done a better job.
It is really too early to give a 'approval' of the job of our current President..
Citiznes are still waiting to see the outcome of Cap and Trade (I'm against) that was long ago 'set up' but not conductive to todays needs of Amerrica; The Health Care Bill is too shaky (needs better definition, definate modifications, and cost cutting); Various appointments have yet to be made (certainly better veting is needed); Green energy is more words than action at this point (how is it helping Main Street America?); and so on....I think I'll reserve my view of what he has accomplished so far and will wait and see the real outcome of his decision making. Though in the positive, I will give him an A on his decision of troop surge for Afghanistan, though we will have to see just what the real impact is on empowering the tribes for their own success.
Intractable opposition from the right is a given for Obama. However he and his corrupt Democratic congress have gone out of their way to alienate the very people who supported his election. With this snub to the Democratic base I don't know which is worse the arrogance from Democratic leadership or the obliviousness of it. By selling out and not meeting his base even halfway on campaign promises Mr. Obama can count on losing his grassroots support which was what made Democrats so strong in 2008. They have shown us where their loyalties really are in 2009. Health "reform" that is merely a giant insurance subsidy paid for by the middle class and no one else. This so called health "reform" that only props up a broken unfair insurance system. Bailouts for so bankers can give themselves bonuses. Meanwhile job losses continue and the housing market sinks lower under unabated foreclosures. Everything Obama has done is pretty near opposite of what he promised. Obama should go on Punked. He's really good at it. He could make an excellent one term show punking his base. We have not seen any change that we can believe in. I hope Democrats lose big in 2010.
Yes Obama has had some huge issues...but his judgement is suspect. A pressident is only as good as his advisors. He has surrounded himself with bad choices especially the Czars. I think he will end is first and only term worse than Carter did. To save himself and the country he needs to move back to the center.
I am a lifelong Democrat and I feel Obama has failed miserably at solving, or even beginning to solve many of America's serious problems. Contrary to his pre-election rhetoric, Obama has not only failed to get us out of two unwinnable wars, he has wimped out to Republican war mongers and extended our involvement. Global warming has been put off and ignored. The current health care legislation is a watered down gift to the insurance companies. Unless Obama finally shows some guts and radically changes course, he will lose his base (like me) and we will again be led by the
right wing wackos who got us into this mess.
The jury is still out....We are so obsessed in this country with up to the minute polls – it's crazy....let him BE PRESIDENT and then we can come back years from now and figure all this out!
Why doesn't CNN.COM include the CBS poll results (at least as NEWS) that show the Obama approval rating as LESS than this? Wouldn't that be fairness in reporting news and give you less an appearance of a bias?
Given the absolute partisan atmophere found in Washington today, I must give Obama two thumbs up. It is amazing that he has accomplished anything, with the Republican plank of total opposition to anything that is is proposed or even supported by anyone out side the Republican Party.
A lot of those people who are saying "failure" are actually liberals who either think he's too moderate or are upset about liberal policies not getting passed quick enough.
These people are NEVER going to vote Republican.
it's only been a year come on! i'm a supporter of the president but even i can't judge whether he's been a "success" or "failure" after only a year in office, silly stuff cnn i expect this kind of thing from fox or msnbc but you could probably do better
"a majority disapprove of how he is handling every single economic and domestic issue tested."
That says it all...
Check out the Bush opinion polls at the end of his first year in office. pretty staggering even with 9/11. Obama is spending his way out of a second term, and worse, putting the country in unprecedented debt. Worse debt than the Bush administration and they were pretty bad.
It seems the American people have now graded Obama and are giving him "a solid F plus". You should have limited the poll to black university professors and elected Demok-rats that have graded "president" Oblivious so nicely on your shows.
It's unfortunate that more people don't see the federal budget deficit as an important issue facing America today. Congress needs to find a way to fund the programs they propose without borrowing, raising taxes, or printing money. With the economy in its current condition, if a new program can't be paid for, it shouldn't be proposed. The current out of control spending needs to stop so this country can start paying of its debts.
If this is even a question this early into Obama's presidency then he has already been an obvious failure. Absolutely not a surprise though!
While the right answer is probably incomplete, I think there has to be a good bit of credit given to the president considering where we were as a country when he took office. Our foreign policy has been corrected without all the dire consequences that were projected. He has not given away the store to North Korea or Iran or Cuba, etc. The importance of talking or trying to engage with these rouges is to gain respect from your allies and unaligned nations. Nobody expects that they will be persuaded. But now we get more support around the world.
Plus pulling us back from the edge economically. I know 15-20% of people are not working or working in the jobs they want, but clearly the fear of a devastating collapse is gone and it's slowly improving. And clearly the stimulus has helped. We've had CHIPS extended and all the other bugaboos of the Bush years gone. We'll soon have healthcare- one of the big three programs- enacted. Energy and education remain, but good groundwork is laid. Financial reform should get done and should get popular support. Even TARP money is being repaid. So on the whole, a good start.
His poll numbers suggest he is the weakest president in recent history. Well, only 3 more years til we can send him out of the Oval Office.
I like him but he leaves me feeling blah....I am troubled by the continued excess of wall street execs, rising gas prices, banks that do not heed the calls of the people who continue to suffer and struggle. I expected things to get better and I do not feel they have, nor do I think they will. Sad.
Yes, Obama has been much more polarizing than I thought he'd be.
I think that his unwillingness to work with republicans (because of the super majority in the Congress) has isolated a large group of Americans that had much higher hopes for his presidency.
His focus on redistributive ideology rather than personal responsibility has also isolated voters.
He has also miscalculated and further hurt our economy. Luckly for Obama, his democratic allies are just happy to have a liberal in office–even if it does tear the nation apart.
Where are the jobs he promised? And the troops returning from Iraq in droves? And healthcare for All? And the bi-partisan leadership? Really now?
I think people need to wait until after the midterm elections to determine if Obama's presidency is a failure. Of course people who didn't vote for him or delegitmize his presidency are going say he is failure. As long as unemployment stays at 10% people will say that. This poll indicates that Obama has lost a strong majority of independents. Americans are fickled and people laugh at our democracy because Americans want to throw the president out of office if things aren't better after 1 year. Obama is a victim of his campaign message and people are angry. If he gets healthcare reform and unemployment comes down by 2012, he will get re-elected. Ronald Reagan was in the same situation in 1981-1982.
He took office during a time simliar to F.D. Roosevelt, and I think he is doing a hellva job. I am so proud of what you are doing to save our country.
ENOUGH with this "black-white" issue...I do hope the President does NOT enter the discussion with regards to the Reid comment. Pres Obama is aman with such wonderful qualities. He is a statesman not just a politician. The black community needs to stop expecting him
to jump on their band wagon every time they feel an insult has been aimed at them. On the one hand they claim they want to be accepted unconditionally ,as part of the world conmmunity ,which is pretty much the way things are...."if you have the ability, you will be successful ", on the other hand they constantly raise the race card.By not jumping on every race issue President Obama is showing the world & all these petty minded individuals what a truly good man he is; one who is comfortable in his own skin.To all others "GET A LIFE"
President Obama is doing a great job and is focused on what should have been done by "both parties" a long time ago. They were to busy trying to undermine each other and along comes an opportunity for a majority and which party dominates doesn't matter. What matters is that the opportunity presented itself and Obama is taking advantage of it for as long as it lasts. I hope that he is able to pass as much helpful legislation as possibe.
A Conservative Republican...
If our Healthcare Bill is less than we wanted. If our economy is doing worse than we wanted. Then let's give the President the tools he needs!
Everyone complains – but no one gets off their duffs. Get rid of what's left of the useless Republicans! I blame them for forcing the compromises and give aways that have had to be made to get Healthcare done. I blame them for a less than perfect bill.
I blame the GREEDY Republicans and their handlers at FOX News for screwing up our recovery by opposing every attempt to fix the economy.
So if your angry – like I am – take that anger out on the Repugnicans who have no concern for our country – but only for being in power.
Not really surprising that more Americans now see Obama as a failure. He ran a dishonest campaign, under false pretenses. He made like he was a moderate, rather than the true radical leftist that he is. And the mainstream media let him slide on it. Now after his retreat in the face of terrorism (ie closing Gitmo, Mirandizing terrorists, Hasan, etc), his attempts to seize the nation's health care system, his sell out to the UAW in the bailout of the auto industry, Obama has been exposed. Cap and tax, stimulus, cash for clunkers, 10% unemployment.... how can you call this record anything but failure. Americans are belatedly seeing what it is they elected, and they don't like it. Wait until Obama grants amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens (this years project.) Americans don't like radical socialists and that's what they're realizing we put in the White House. And to the LIberals whining about his falling numbers: its only going to get worse! So buckle up for the downhill!!! Hope and Change 2010= GOP resurgence.