So the New York Times and CBS just did a poll and found some surprising stuff. For example, more and more Americans are crediting Obama and the stimulus program with helping ease or end the recession. No kidding! What’s not surprising is that many Americans are retarded.
First, we know we throw around the words “stupid” and “retarded” interchangeably. Second, we know most people are too stupid or retarded to know the difference.
Overall, President Obama has a decent-ish image in the eyes of the American people — those who don’t think he’s a dirty Kenyan usurping Negro, that is (in other words, Glenn Beck hates him).
[M]r. Obama is going into the fall having retained considerable political strength. At 56 percent, his approval rating is down from earlier in the year but still reasonably strong at this point compared with recent presidents.
Gallup has Obama’s job approval rating at 51% (Sept. 25, 2009). Who’s to say?
Interesting:
Majorities of respondents said that they were confused about the health care argument and that Mr. Obama had not done a good job in explaining what he was trying to accomplish.
“The Obama administration seems to have a plan, but I’m not understanding the exact details,” Paul Corkery, 59, a Democrat from Somerset, N.J., said in a follow-up interview.
But the poll suggests that Mr. Obama is in a decidedly more commanding position than Republicans on this issue as Congressional negotiations move into final stages. Most Americans trust Mr. Obama more than Republicans to make the right decisions on the issue; 76 percent said Republicans had not even laid out a clear health care plan.
And by a lopsided margin, respondents said that Mr. Obama and not Republicans had made an effort to cross party lines and strike a deal that has the support of both parties. Two-thirds of respondents said they wanted Congress to come up with a bill supported by both sides.
So the people want more clarity on health care reform. Fair enough. Even more fascinating: Americans trust Obama more than Republicans! Maybe Americans are not all so retarded! We learn something new every day here SCFOM.
Also a surprise, Obama vs. Reagan (which at this point in Obama’s presidency isn’t much of a benchmark, but still):
At 56 percent, Mr. Obama’s job approval rating is similar to what President Ronald Reagan’s was at this point in his first term (53 percent); President Bill Clinton’s was at 43 percent. Still, Mr. Obama’s approval is down from 68 percent in the spring.
Whoa! Obama’s approval higher than Reagan’s during the same period? And Reagan had already been shot! What’s a guy gotta do to get some love in September?
Even though we do a lot of name calling (it’s all deserved, so BACK OFF), there’s clearly hope for America. To wit:
There is evidence of public distaste with Washington that washes across both parties. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they believed that Republicans in Congress were opposing Mr. Obama’s bill only for political gain; just over half said Democrats in Congress backed the bill for political reasons.
Just 30 percent said they had a favorable view of Republicans in Congress. By contrast, 47 percent said they had a favorable view of Congressional Democrats.
“What I hear from the Republicans is that they’re just against anything the president has to say,” said Matt Lee, 48, a Republican from Kona, Hawaii. “There is just too much division along party lines right now. I don’t think the president wants to hear anything the Republicans want to say, but I trust him more because we need change.”
Look at Matt Lee! A Republican talking some sense! Well done, sir. Of course, with hope for America comes the bitter ennui of dashed hopes.
And there is abundant evidence that critics of the bill made progress over the summer while the White House stayed largely silent: about one in four respondents said they believed that health care legislation would create organizations to decide when to stop providing medical care to the elderly — so-called death panels — despite an all-out effort by Mr. Obama to debunk the claim, which is false. Three in 10 say the bill would use taxpayer money to provide health care benefits to illegal immigrants.
In fact, Mr. Obama has specifically rejected any effort to have the bill cover health insurance for illegal immigrants.
Too bad it’s not in a pollster’s job description to say, “Hey, you fucking idiot. There’s no such thing as a fucking death panel. There’s no money going to dirty illegals. The money’s going to your insurance company! Anyway, quit fucking your sister and read a book.” At least the Times went to the trouble of pointing out the falseness (retardation/stupidity) of those arguments.
Still, 29 percent of the people in the poll identified themselves as evangelicals or born again Christians, proving that 29 percent of Americans suffer from mental illness (or are stupid/retarded). How long will it be until they start making tomato parade floats comparing Obama to Hitler? How many more people will pervert the phrase teabagging to be a political term? How many people think this dumb bitch speaks for them?
We don’t know the answers to those questions. Sadly, probably a lot of people will walk the roads of the retards, all too happy to be fat and lazy and full of self-righteous love of self and the status quo. But have faith (a mixed message, we know!). We live in a country where this is possible. Good shall triumph over evil! Huzzah!
