Public lowers expectations for Obama second term
Public approval of President Obama's job performance is up, but plenty of pessism about the future remains, according to latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.
Public lowers expectations for Obama second term
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
President Obama begins his second term with low expectations, according to the latest public opinion survey from the NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll.
That’s probably a good thing, since second terms often go awry; historians speak of the “second term curse.”
Consider Bill Clinton, impeached and then acquitted, for lying under oath about his sexual affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the investigation of which consumed his second term. Ronald Reagan was ensnared in the Iran-Contra scandal, involving the illegal sale of arms to Iran in an effort to return U.S. hostages, and the diversion of the profits to support troops seeking to overthrow the communist government of Nicaragua – a violation of a law prohibiting funding for the conflict. George W. Bush’s second term was hobbled by two increasingly unpopular wars and the early days of the financial crash that triggered the Great Recession.
The NBC/WSJ poll found 52 percent of American adults approve of Obama’s overall job performance, with a slightly smaller 49 percent giving a thumbs-up to his handling of the economy. And there is solid support for two of the top items on Obama’s early agenda: stricter gun control measures and reform of the immigration system to provide a path to citizenship to some long-time illegal immigrants to the U.S.
Still, there is uneasiness. Pollsters found a split in opinion on how Obama will fare in his second four years – 51 percent said they were “optimistic” or “satisfied.”
By comparison, a combined 48 percent say they are “uncertain” or “pessimistic.” Asked another way, 43 percent are optimistic about the next four years, while 35 percent are pessimistic; 22 percent have a mixed opinion. The uneasiness stands in contrast to four years ago, when Obama’s first inauguration inspired sky-high expectations, and outright joy among his supporters, at the inauguration fo the natino’s first black President.
“If 2009 was all about hope, 2013 is about the ability to cope,” said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with GOP pollster Bill McInturff.
This year, more than seven in 10 are dissatisfied with the current state of the economy, and just more than a third are either “very” or “fairly” confident in Obama’s ability to promote a strong and growing economy. And 60 percent believe the coming year will be a time to hold back and save money because they anticipate harder times ahead.
The poll reveals a lack of buoyancy in looking ahead,” Hart, the Democratic pollster, told NBC. Added GOP pollster Bill McInturff: “This feels like a long four years, and it feels like a long four years ahead.”
"Lower expectations"!!!! What are you smoking Tommy Boy?? This country can't go much lower under this incompetent con man disguised as a "leader". We have become the laughing stock of other countries, and as long as this "leader" continues to abuse his power, the future looks hopeless.— dogman5- I lowered my expectations for the presidency after Carter was elected in 1976. Didn't think it could possibly get any worse until 4 years ago. Now I have no expectations nor respect for the office.
This current office holder wants to take away my 2nd amendment rights so that future generations will be unable to protect themselves from a corrupt and abusive government.
Oddly enough, my Constitution gives me the right to own and bear firearms. It says nothing about free food, free housing and free money for anyone. End entitlement programs and leave my guns alone.— Sportyrider71 - Expectations are low because we our broke, there is no money for all the programs people are clamouring for, and the guy just re-elected does not have a real clue how to grow the economy or how to cut spending on our biggest cost "entitlements". Lets start with extending the time that, people immigrating into this country have to wait before being eligible for any government entitlements. Extend the time for eligibility from five years to ten years for any alien immigrating to this country. That would probably cut entitlements by 10% and it would ot affect any Americans born in this country.Notwithstanding the guy we elected would not consider it because his next move is amnesty for otherwise illegal aliens, that will only make matters worse. We can't continue to take care of the rest of the world's poor while our own poor are suffering.— Speak-truth-2-power
- The election is over. Time to end the BS and get to work. The Obama job's bill is how to jump start the economy. Cutting spending in Pennsylvania and NJ have resulted in an increase in unemployment, a huge drop in state income tax revenue and an increase in foreclosures. The biggest issue with "entitlements" is the out of control growth in the cost of health care. Nothing could be more important than addressing that. If you want to see cuts in Medicare and Medicaide, address the real issue. Cutting benefits fixes nothing. It throws the problem over the fence. If the cost of health care doesn't go down and we cut benefits, the shortfall comes out of my pocket. If you thinks that's different than a tax increase, you're an idiot. — MikeP
- You have to wonder about people who believe that putting less money into the economy, or taking money out, will make things better, especially a consumer driven econony like we have now.
Auterity has been a disaster in Europe, making a bad situation worse.— carl and sons - Now that's what I call leadership. Rather than demand the man rise to the occasion we just lower the expectations so that we aren't disappointed? That makes this empty chair a success? Yeah, we know he isn't a leader so if we expect him to lead he will disappoint us so just don't expect much and everything will b fine. Sooo glad he got re-elected. How rudderless can this ship get?— tpizza
Hey fellas...John Wayne was a myth and Sarah Palin quit.
HINT: FDR was actually the "leader" as John Wayne acted in the movies.
Speaking of Roosevelts, Teddy had a good second term.— Cuddles- Since Obama took office, the government has released the unemployment rate 46 times. Of those 46 releases, the rate has been worse than it was four years before exactly 46 times. In other words, at least as far as employment, the Obama presidency has given us exactly zero months that were better than four years ago. Zero.
For those who are not mathematicians out there, that is a one hundred percent failure rate. New Slogan?
Barack Obama. One hundred percent failure.— Hobo Floto Voto - Had low expectations for the first term, and he succeeded in managing to sink even lower than imagined. Didn't vote for him the first time, can't imagine why or how people looked past abysmal first term, and asked for four more years of nothing.— Commonsense54
Hopefully Obama can get the US out of the hole George W Bush and the GOP put us in! Go Obama!- Funny jerzeedivr— jimday
- I remember Clinton's 2nd term as dominated by a bogus, Republican, Ken Start led, $200 million, 7 year "investigation" that resulted in no criminals charges related to the original justification for the investigation.
As far as expectation go for Obama's 2nd term, I don't agree that they are lower. After the pounding Republicans took last November, they seem more willing to compromise and actually do some work. Nothing is more important than Wall Street reform to prevent another Great Recession. The banks that were too big to fail are bigger. It's time to fix the system that is rigged against the middle class. Break up the big banks by once again segregating banking, investment and insurance industries. End unfair trade agreements and enforce existing ones. End tax credits that offset the cost of moving american jobs offshore. Put some Wall Street executives in jail. And absoluetly no cuts in Social Security, Medicare or Medicaide. Congress bailed out criminals on Wall Street. Time to do something for Main Street. Massive cuts in military spending. The american middle class can't pay to police the world. We can only afford defense for our country. And get serious about addressing out of control cost of health care. Unsustainable. If any member of Congress wants to talk about deficits and debt, let's talk about health care first or get lost. You aren't serious if you don't talk about health care. Campaign finance reform. Reform taxes. And it's time to get serious about global warming. There's just too many serious issues that urgently need to be addressed after 4 years of Republican obstruction.— MikeP - So far, Obama's agenda has focused on class warfare in the second term. He succeeded in raising taxes. Now what? Government spending at its current rate is unsustainable, yet Obama refuses to act like an adult and address spending. Even if Obama confiscated all of the wealth of the top 1%, it wouldn't come close to solving the continued deficits.— jfar86
- My low expectations are due solely to the pubbies who, failing to live up to their He-Man Black Guy Haters Club pledge of making Obama a one termer are still going to try to keep him from accomplishing anything.
His ignaugural address was encouraging though. It seems he may actually fight for some of his programs.— carl and sons - Obama's choice of Mary Jo White to head the SEC pretty much sums it up. If anyone thinks that we have any real say in government you are all dreaming. Wall Street runs this country and govenment officials are their puppets. Money talks, we have no say. It's the illusion of choice people, wake up!— gregb
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
