A new set of polls this week suggests the continuing problems of the Affordable Care Act’s rollout have hit President Barack Obama’s presidency hard. A new Gallup poll has Mr. Obama at 40% approval. A CBS News poll has him at 37%. The administration’s troubles with the law’s implementation and […] Read more »
President Obama and the Dreaded ‘K’ Word: Katrina
These have been difficult weeks for the president, but it needs to be understood how potentially consequential these weeks could be on the arc of his presidency. Our latest slide deck looks at key data for President Bush before and after Hurricane Katrina and comparable data for President Obama before […] Read more »
Partisans’ Historical Assessments of Obama, Bush Differ Most
In assessing the legacies of the last 11 U.S. presidents, Republicans and Democrats diverge most in how history will judge Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Republicans believe Obama will be judged worst among recent presidents, while Democrats predict Bush will. At the same time, Republicans expect Bush to […] Read more »
Parallels to Bush in Toxic Political Mix Threatening Obama
Barack Obama won the presidency by exploiting a political environment that devoured George W. Bush in a second term plagued by sinking credibility, failed legislative battles, fractured world relations and revolts inside his own party. Mr. Obama is now threatened by a similar toxic mix. The disastrous rollout of his […] Read more »
Obama’s Second-Term Slide Continues
Barack Obama has had a difficult year since his reelection victory. His overall job rating stands at 41%, down 14 points since last December. A majority (53%) now disapproves of the way he is handling his job as president. The latest national poll by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. […] Read more »
Syria Vote vs. Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia
Washington may be split by partisanship, but politics stop at the water’s edge, or so goes the old saw. That is, when it comes to using military force, lawmakers moves past simple Red/Blue distinctions and come together. But in recent weeks, many lawmakers have voiced concern that the “water’s edge” tradition […] Read more »