Obama's Approval Highest Since 2009

[mikesimon]

Poll: Obama's Approval Highest Since 2009

Thursday, 21 Feb 2013 10:39 AM
By Sandy Fitzgerald



President Barack Obama now has his highest approval ratings since September 2009, according to a new Bloomberg poll, and those responding say they prefer his economic message over that of Republicans.

The poll found that 55 percent of respondents approve of the president's job performance, the highest numbers since his first year in office, Politico reports. Another 40 percent disapprove.

Meanwhile, 55 percent say they have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, while 35 percent approve, according to the poll of 1,003 adults conducted Feb. 15-18 and released Wednesday.

But while Americans approve of Obama's overall job performance, only 35 percent actually approve of his handling of the economy, and 55 percent disapprove of his handling of the federal deficit.

A majority of survey participants also say they approve of Obama's handling of foreign policy and his efforts to combat terrorism.

And on the immigration issue, 47 percent approve of how Obama is handling immigration reform efforts, while 38 percent disapprove.

Obama's ratings were hindered slightly by the ongoing controversy over automatic spending cuts due to take effect on March 1. Only 42 percent approve of how the president is negotiating with Republicans on the issue of sequestration, while 44 percent disapprove.

However, 44 percent of those surveyed say they blame Republicans more than Democrats for problems in Washington, while 34 percent blame Democrats.

Despite the approaching deadline for spending cuts to kick in, 74 percent say they expect the economy to improve or stay the same this year, while 73 percent say they are optimistic about job growth. Meanwhile, 81 percent say they are optimistic as well about the housing market.

But that optimism vanishes when healthcare comes up; 55 percent say they think healthcare costs will get worse.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/obama-highest-approval-rating/2013/02/21/id/491354?s=al&promo_code=1286E-1

[specialmom]

Yep, except for the part about Europe having issues.  So many countries there are way way down for exports and imports which is a key factor for economies.  They do indeed provide many items for their citizens but they also are faltering in other areas that eventually will mean they can't anymore.  

[rivll]

Anecdotal at best, sm

[specialmom]

ha ha,  well. Intesting.  My husband has a list of about 3 guys he needs fired in Germany for not doing their job.  Can't get it done.  They have laws that pay workers for one to two years after being fired so it rarely happens.  That's just some 'real life' for you from  a person that works with German employees.  Europe has a lot of problems.  

[rivll]

"German workers in SMEs also all have quality, affordable health care. In the U.S., many workers in SMEs tend to have inferior health care if they have it at all. American apparel workers employed by SMEs are likelier to work in sweatshop-like conditions, with Sweatshop Watch reporting that "67% of Los Angeles garment factories don't pay their workers minimum wage or overtime." Workers in Germany's SMEs are not subjected to such deprived conditions."

"All of these components have allowed the German manufacturing and export sectors to enjoy a sterling reputation around the world, and contributed greatly to Germany being the world's fourth-largest economy with a sizable trade surplus. And Germans have harnessed that wealth to foster an equitable and broadly shared prosperity that has given Germans an enviable living standard."

Unions are not needed when companies and Governments do their job.

[Vance2335]

Only around a fifth of employees in Germany are union members, and union density has fallen sharply since the early 1990s,

[mikesimon]

Yes, I have been polled but not often - maybe 2 or 3 times.