by Teebama Contributor on November 20, 2009
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has taken a tumble and has now fallen to 49% in today’s Gallup poll. This marks the first time his approval has dropped below 50% and more importantly, it marks a significant decline from the 69% approval rating Gallup recorded when Obama entered office.
There is little doubt that the ongoing back and forth, contentious debate over the national healthcare reform, which at times seem to be tearing at this nation’s fabric, has severely damaged his public support. Moreover, the protracted economic situation is also a contributing factor. His trip to Asia and replete with praises for China and the bowing incident in Japan may have also ticked off a few notches from his approval rating.
The country is very concerned at this moment on the President’s reliance on government spending (translated to taxpayer debt) to solve what ails the nation. The federal budget deficit continues to grow and there appears to be no abatement. Whenever a problem pops up, it seems that the administration’s first response is, let’s spend our way out of it.
As a matter of comparison, since World War II, President Obama now has the dubious distinction of being the fourth fastest to drop below the majority approval level. This comes at an eye-opening speed, merely ten months following his inauguration.
The Gallup poll comes on the heels of the Quinnipiac poll released earlier this week. That poll indicated that Obama’s approval rating had slipped to 48%. Other talking heads, Fox News in particular, have argued that the Quinnipiac numbers is actually a bit too high, and they propose that the actual numbers are much lower, putting it at around 46%.
The Quinnipiac poll surveyed only registered voters, whereas the Gallup figure is based on a wider sample of Americans, making it the more representative figure. Regardless, in both situations, President Obama’s job performance is now officially disliked by more Americans than those who approve of it.
by Teebama Contributor on November 19, 2009
On his last day in China, President Obama took a moment for himself an toured the Great Wall’s Badaling section, which meanders over jagged, rocky mountains. Oddly, for those who have visited the site before, it was unusually quiet and tranquil, as the place was cleared of daily life, practically, to enable the President to visit in peace.
Accompanying the President on this trip are American ambassador Jon Huntsman and Chinese ambassador Zhou Wenzhong. Mr. Obama was reflective during the visit, stating that the “day to day things…don’t amount to much in the scope of history.” Looks like our President is just mesmerized by the only man-made structure visible from the moon.
The President spoke with deference as he commented on his trip to The Wall. Eschewing meaningless adjectives like awesome or spectacular, the President instead noted that the place is “a reminder of the ancient history of the Chinese people.”
President Obama concluded his visit to the Great Wall by explaining to journalists that he brings “a great admiration for Chinese civilization” and also that he brings “greetings from the American people.”
President Obama also took the opportunity to meet briefly with his estranged half-brother, Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo, who has been living in southern China. The two Obamas met on Monday in Beijing.
by Teebama Contributor on November 19, 2009
On his last stop in Asia, President Obama delivered a clear message to Iran and North Korea that they are staring at additional sanctions and further isolation if they don’t curb their nuclear activities.
From the South Korean capital, the President conducted a joint press conference with the host country’s president, Lee Myung-Bak. During the conference, President Obama took aim at Iran, whose leaders have evidently rejected an offer by the West to rid it of its stockpile of enriched uranium in exchange for fuel rods. It was hoped that such an agreement would afford all parties the time needed to conduct meaningful negotiations.
President Obama noted that “perhaps because they are stuck in some of their own rhetoric, they are unable to get to yes,” and in this case, “yes” being the removal of those enriched uranium stock which may be turned into an atomic weapon.
It appears President Obama is looking to move on the matter, and has indicated that his administration will be working with allies to develop what he calls a package of “potential steps” that can be taken to indicate to Iran that the United States means business.
President Obama also asserted that as far as North Korea is concerned, he won’t be satisfied with just getting back to the table for more talks. “I want to emphasize that President Lee and I both agree on the need to break the pattern that existed in the past,” explained President Obama, signaling that he was tired of the brinkmanship games that the North plays in order to extract concessions from the rest of the world.
by Teebama Staff on November 16, 2009
President Obama can claim that he is “America’s first Pacific President” all he wants, but once the fancy talk has subsided, he is going to find that Asia is not a walk in the park and that there are profound issues that will challenge his leadership.
This trip to Asia is going to be all business, nothing like the fantasy-like welcoming tour he and wife Michelle had when they arrived in Europe. And there are no overarching themes around which the populace can assemble and express their admiration for Mr. Obama, unlike when he was in Egypt, speaking against the Palestinian suffering.
So what truly awaits our President, as he prepares for his Asian visits? Unlike in years past, when leaders of the West can swoop into a region, speak somewhat to the plight of its people and promise some sort of aid, then fly out like a messenger sent from above with thanks and praises trailing him as he ascended into the skies, today’s world has become so much more complex that issues in other regions are no longer isolated; in fact, if President Obama’s anticipated difficulties in Asia says anything, it is that the United States can no longer ignore issues abroad, for they are intricately linked to what is happening at home.
Take China, for instance. China’s blatant pegging of its Yuan against the dollar means that no matter what the free markets do to the US currency, the trade advantages enjoyed by the Chinese due to the relative strength of the dollar will stay constant. Translation: the US will keep buying Chinese goods and services because they are “cheaper” and the Chinese won’t buy US goods and services because they are more expensive. Of course, these are all in relative terms, but China’s artificial constant in terms of its currency against that of the US, means that the trade imbalance is also artificial and cannot be rectified unless China floats its currency. Good luck trying to convince them to do that.
Security will also be a paramount concern for the US, as it eyes North Korea, and yes, China as well. Along with the economic growth of the communist Chinese comes their desire to project their influence and power beyond their borders. North Korea, well that old song still holds nukes, and until some semblance of a rational government emerges, communist or otherwise, there is always the threat of proliferation.
President Obama will also have to address trade concerns with long time allies Singapore, South Korea and even China, for those guys cannot be left out of any conversation (nor will they let you), that involves Asia. A delicate balance needs to be defined, one that does not compromise the President’s ability to protect the national interests of the country he serves: the United States.
