Annette John-Hall: Tired of all the bickering over Obama's policies

I see there's another of those polls out, and, surprise, surprise, President Obama's numbers are down again. Hovering at 47 percent approval, lower than they've ever been before.

But nobody's asked me anything. If they'd bother to call, I'd tell them. I support the president.

There, just saying it makes me feel better.

I know it doesn't make the economy better. I don't blame folks for being frustrated. Fed up. Frightened.

I worry, too. And I've got a job.

Still, what makes me most tired these days is having to listen to the constant bickering and anger - from Congress, pundits, and everyday people who'd rather rage than resolve.

Death to Obamacare! they shout.

Tell that to the parents who can keep their kids on their health-insurance policies until they're 27 - a relief for me and my twentysomething daughter, who's working but doesn't have insurance. Or the millions of people who've stood in line for hours to get medical care at traveling clinics throughout the country, most of whom work but can't afford insurance.

He's antibusiness! the white collars whine.

Tell that to GM and Chrysler and their workers, rescued by government intervention.

He's anti-middle class. Can't identify with regular folk.

Tell that to the credit-card companies and overdraft sharks whose game of gouging people like you and me has been quashed. Or tell it to the already cash-strapped parents and their college-student children who see a president who pushed through school-loan reform.

And for his effort?

He's "the worst president in history," says Republican congressional candidate Ben Quayle, spawn of former stellar VP Dan Quayle. You know, most remembered for adding the letter e to the end of potato.

The sad fact is that for all the good Obama's done, he's been lambasted for everything and not given credit for anything.

An endless cycle of negativity on the hamster wheel.

Can we just talk hope again?

If you listen to the chatter, you'd think everybody's bailed on our president.

But walk into the West Ave Grille in cozy downtown Jenkintown, Montgomery County, and you get another picture.

Literally.

Hanging on a wall in the restaurant's waiting area is a photo montage of Obama's visit two years ago, when he was a candidate.

And, no, customers haven't tossed their chicken pot pies at it.

"Ninety percent of the people look at it and say, 'That's cool, the president was here,' " says owner Robert Katz. "I get a few Republicans who say, 'If I would have seen that, I wouldn't have eaten here,' but they're very few."

For Katz, an undecided Democrat at the time of Obama's visit, observing the president in person sealed the deal. On that cold March day, he saw a smart, personable, prepared candidate who cared about the country.

And he still thinks of him that way. Admittedly, Katz has reservations about requiring small businesses to provide health insurance for all employees. Right now, he says, he can afford coverage only for managers.

But he's hopeful that the president's proposed tax breaks for small businesses will help mitigate some of the costs.

"I'm not switching for that reason," he says. "If it works out that it's doable, that will be great. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out."

Katz, 51, isn't waiting for Obama to solve every problem on his own. That's probably the mindset that enabled him to open a second restaurant in Dresher recently, despite the recession.

"We listened to our customers and adjusted our menu to suit the economy," says Katz, who now serves breakfast all day. "The changes we made helped our small business, not what the government has done. You can't sit still. Everyone has got to help themselves as much as they can."

Still, Katz has seen three nearby restaurants close over the last two years.

"Scary," he says.

"It's not all Obama's fault," Katz says. "He has to play the hand he was dealt. . . . It's going to take time."

Which is advice everyone needs to hear.

But is anybody listening?