Overall, 56% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance so far while 43% disapprove. During March, the President’s overall approval on a daily basis has ranged from 56% to 60%. During February, the range was from 57% to 62%. In January, the range was from 60% to 65%.
This is a startlingly quick drop for someone so well covered for and supported by the media. The problem is that no matter how you spin it, the media can't help you hide 9,000 earmarks, signing statements, $410 billion in spending, and $787 in "stimulus."
Then you add to it Fed Chairman Bernarke noting that the economy may recover before the stimulus even kicks in and the stink is starting to become intolerable. To top it off, you have yourself and surrogates create an enemies list to blame for the stink. Turns out that enemies lists aren't considered post-partisan or very hopeful.
President Obama is below the level of approval that former-President Bush had and consider the contrasts. Bush approval was subjected to a long and drawn out process in Florida that was decided by the Supreme Court and which gave him the office by means of the electoral college while losing the popular vote. All this goes on and he still ends up with MORE approval than President Obama at the same stage in their terms.
Meanwhile, according to the media narrative, President Obama is a once in a generation post-partisan, post-racial change agent who raised more money and is more competent than any modern president. Additionally he wasn't the man with the plan(because other people could have good plans), but rather a unique individual gifted with reasoning ability, judgment and a life experience that could not be gotten from any other source. Parts of this are true with regard to upbringing but coming from an Ivy and having a family background rich enough to ensure he didn't suffer many financial ill effects from the choices of his mother doesn't make him much different from many others who aspired to the office. Regardless, different does not mean competent and that is the real problem so far with his administration. The words, beautiful though they may be when read off the teleprompter, do not match the actions and there is a shift occurring as more people tune into this reality.
