When he was sworn in for a second term in January, Barack Obama’s political standing was the best it had been in years. His job approval had climbed into the mid-50s—not extraordinary but solid—and he seemed to have the wind at his back as he called for a new era of liberal governance. Six months later, and it looks as though the winds have shifted against the president. His domestic agenda is stalled in Congress, with no foreseeable action on his proposals for gun control, big government stimulus, cap and trade, or even immigration reform. His job approval is languishing in the mid-40s, and most polls show a plurality of Americans disapprove of the job he is doing.
Why does the president find himself in this position? The polls provide some evidence, and at least the outlines of what to expect as the president continues battling with Congress over the next few months. [cont.]
Jay Cost, The Weekly Standard