Maybe Obama is simply has poor leadership skills and recognizing that We the People will elect someone who has our best interests at heart. Obama is certainly not that person!

The thing the GOP/TP hates about Oboma (other than him being black) is that he is a champion for the working citizens of America. EVERYthing The President has tried to do has been met the most bullheaded opposition and blatant hatred from the right that he is lucky he has been able to do anything. The HCR had the potential to help America in a real way, but the republicans and their buddies in the insurance industry just could not stand having a fair and level oplaying field.

Since when has helping those in need become special interest and the term intitlement become a swear word. Programs like SS, medicare, medicaid, and unemployment are in place to PROTECT Americans. You cannot receive from these programs without first paying into them. So YES, you are entitled to them.

Who's Oboma???

Batman, oh please, instead of pointing out that people disagree with the President on his political philosophy and policies; you have to bring in the RACE CARD again! Typical liberal BS! Got news for you pal; it's NOT HIS COLOR THAT'S THE PROBLEM!!

Batman85

The thing the GOP/TP hates about Oboma (other than him being black) is that he is a champion for the working citizens of America.

You, sir, are a racist by definition. You're making stereotypical assumptions about an entire group because you think they're white. The white voters ARE working citizens of America. Take your hate speech elsewhere.

Apologies typo. With all of the Racist retoric coming from the right the Race card is ALWAYS on the table. The only reason your side ever refutes it is because you are ashamed that that is your primary reason for hating the guy.

I can also see that you only attack the thing you are most ashamed of. As for me being a racist I am making a measured and , yes I will concede it is a blanket statement, that racism is a major factor in the disdain by which this president is treated.

If he wins it will mean the peril of the American way of life and the "entitlement" society will win. Its out of control now. Four more years of Obama will nail the coffin shut. God help us and the U.S.A. How does Obama still generate so much support? Just because he is a great speaker? Incredible. Look at what he is doing to our deficit as just one example! He has spent more in his first two years than Bush did in eight. Obama care is going to cost three times more than initially projected.

Get behind the Republican candidate and make a donation of some type to his or her campaign.

Oh, and pray Trump doesn't run. If he runs on an independent ticket, then Obama will definitely win because Trump will split the Republican vote. Just like Clinton won when Perot ran.

I would like to see the basis of the numbers you quoted.. Bunk.

Nobody, except the dissonant 30% of America, are buying the Republican scheme anymore. Not after Walker in Wisconsin showed Americans who the Republicans stand for: Corporate state.

TO Sawdusty1- GET A BRAIN!

Oh please Alan! The American way of life is at where it is due to the top 1 - 2% owning the majority of the wealth in this country! The middle class is very quickly eroding and it's because of them.

The most prosperous times our country had was when very wealthiest were taxed appropriately. As it is now, too many are getting a free ride on OUR dime! It's no wonder there's not enough money to pay for the things we all need - like safe infrastructure, good schools, and the like. The very wealthiest are NOT paying their fair share. THAT is why America is fast becoming a 3rd world country.

The worst thing about President Obama has been his excessive concessions to Republicans, in his zeal to prove that bipartisan government is not dead (of course, they respond by refusing all cooperation and portraying him as a knee-jerk commie). He's still a thoughtful, principled man, and a good, if not great, president, and he's done nothing to lose my vote.

He never had my vote, however once he won the election I supported him as my President. The Health Care Bill soured many Americans because we needed to focus on the economy and jobs. Creating job (see IRS) to enforce compliance of health insurance is pure B.S. My health insurance was fine before the bill was made law and I've always paid for it.

Considering this UNSCIENTIFIC poll basically divides support 50/50 (the I don't knows are added to the no's), I would not exactly call this a significant endorsement of Obama.

I know Obama is one term. See you on 1-20-13 when I can say TOLD YOU SO!

TO: Karen in Los Angeles who wrote:

“Considering this UNSCIENTIFIC poll basically divides support 50/50 (the I don't knows are added to the no's), I would not exactly call this a significant endorsement of Obama.

I know Obama is one term. See you on 1-20-13 when I can say TOLD YOU SO!”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It’s hard to believe you’re from LA, you’re probably just California Dreamin’ because, if you really were from LA, you’d know that California is decidedly DEMORAT in every Presidential election, and you’d know that is this past mid-term election we Californians elected more Democrats than any other State in this country.

01/20/13 The end of an error.

American Girl,

That was rude and totally uncalled for.

This discussion isn't about past mid-term elections or specifically about CA, but since you brought it up...

When you say we elected more dems in the 2010 mid-terms than any other state do you mean the NUMBER of democrats elected or the PERCENTAGE vs Republicans? If you are referring to the total number vs the other states (and assuming your statement is correct) that's not at all surprising when you consider our huge population. We have over 37 million people in 58 counties. That's more than 10% of the population of the entire country! We elect more democrats than other states because we elect more people in general.

If you are referring to the PERCENT of Dems we elected vs Repubs, well...that's not exactly shocking either. Just as it won't be shocking when it goes back the other way in some future election.

If you had done a little research before posting you would know that as a state we have always swung from right to left and back again when it comes to elections. And, while there isn't much consistency in our voting history, we do tend to vote Republican more often when it comes to major elections.

In fact, in the entire history of CA WE have elected 22 Republican Governors and only 16 Democrats. In the last 10 presidential elections (since 1972) WE have gone Republican 5 times and Democrat 5 times. In other words we've only gone Democrat HALF the time in recent history. Since becoming a state CA has gone Republican in 23 out of 40 presidential elections, and Democrat only 16 times.

Your statement that California votes "decidedly democrat in EVERY presidential election" is utterly and completely WRONG. And to be quite honest AG, even if you had taken the time to check your facts and had posted a correct statement, the way you addressed Karen was unnecessary, childish, and obnoxious IMO.

disgusted: If you have ever seen the way Karen in LA posts about others on the Vine you would definitely use the the same words...unnecessary, childish and obnoxious. Unless of course you are a fan.

Maggie,

Her past posts have nothing to do with this. Just because you may disagree with something someone said in the past doesn't mean they deserve to be treated rudely now. Whether or not I am "a fan" makes no difference. I support Karen's right to express her opinion every bit as much as I support American Girl's right to express hers. I also support civility and respect for others. Personally I have never seen a post of Karen's that I considered to be rude or disrespectful in tone, or that personally attacked someone else. If I ever do, and if I have something to add to the discussion, I'll have no problem pointing it out. If you don't like something someone says, discuss it with them AT THE TIME. Criticizing them after the fact on an unrelated thread is not the right thing to do. Dare I say it? Could it be..unnecessary, childish, and obnoxious?

Don't you agree that it's about time we American's stop bickering and being at each other's throats all the time? We ALL want what is best for the country, but every single one of us has very different ideas of how to go about fixing our problems. Maybe if we all just shut up for a few minutes, stopped screaming at each other, stopped insulting each other, stopped all the schoolyard name calling (democraps, Repugs, teabaggers, etc), and instead tried LISTENING to each other with an open mind, taking the time to consider what others have said before dismissing them as idiots, checking our facts before we speak, and admitting when we are wrong we might actually find a way to compromise and get something done. If we listen, we might actually learn something from one another. I've seen some great posts on this forum that have made me stop and think even though they've come from someone whose politics I passionately disagree with most of the time. No matter which political party you associate yourself with, the other side is not automatically wrong about everything, and they are NOT THE ENEMY! They're other Americans and as such they deserve respect....even when they can be proven wrong about everything they've said. And when someone does address someone in an unacceptable manner, maybe if they're called on it they'll think twice before doing so again.

As far as I'm concerned the Republicans are right about some things, the Democrats are right about some things, the Tea Party is right about some things, the Libertarians are right about some things, etc. No one is going to be happy about every political decision or election all of the time, and we ALL get angry about what's happening (or not happening) in Washington and in our own State capitols, but in order go forward we NEED to stop talking AT each other and get together. And we need to demand that politicians do the same! Even if you have the right answers for every issue under the sun, if you start with name calling and insults your points are lost to deaf ears. You cannot insult someone into agreeing with you.

You said,

Criticizing them after the fact on an unrelated thread is not the right thing to do.

I disagree. When one comments about how taking personal jabs at folks is not good communication and then proceeds to do exactly that all over the vine...I believe that should be pointed out when ever possible.

Maggie,

You're funny.

lol and you are disgusted... :)

Roger Evans-2791305
He extended tax cuts for the wealthy, so I cannot support him this time.

So who will you vote for? Republicans who basically blackmailed him into extending the tax cuts?

Libertarian?
Independent?
Or throw away you vote to someone else?

You want things to start working again? Vote Obama and give him a super majority in the house and senate. THEN you'll start seeing things getting done.

And before the FoxNews worshipers start responding, NO DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER HAD A SUPERMAJORITY!

Evans - so if you're against him for that - it appears you won't be voting at all - because the alternative is the "republicans" and if you think they will do anything for the middle class - think again....

Uh, ozzeald, those tax cuts for the upper 2% got extended temporarily, for two years, because the Republicans threatened to hold their breath until they turned bluer, and do their best to prevent ANYTHING from passing in the lame duck session.

Weren't you paying attention? This was only a few months ago.

Lit-debbie! You truly are 'delusional' as your name implies! What in the world gives you the idea that "Republicans want to turn this country in a version of Nazi Germany and euthanize through starvation all the elderly, sick and poor" These kinda of comments from people like you just show your ignorance and allow people to 'discount' any of your comments. You don't like the policies of Republicans-Conseratives, OK! But to make these type of inflammatory statements is just insane.

Especially since NAZI is the abbreviation (in German, of course) for the National Socialist Party.

Well NJ John, some of the things they've been doing sure look a lot like what the Nazis were doing.

Hey, if it walks like a duck...

Drink a little more kool-aid Debbie!

not if the GOP come up with a latino candidate.......

Baby Turtle, that's pretty unlikely, since they don't actually have any viable Latino candidates. Or any viable candidates at all, for that matter.

Really? That tactic didn't do Republicans any good last time when they picked a woman as the running mate. Indeed, it backfired. Women saw that it was all just a gimmick.

Any viable Republican Latino candidate will have to views that are acceptable to Latinos to get their vote, not just be Latino, and that will mean Republicans will not accept him/her.

You got that one right. They will never give him any credit no matter what.

Nutty Con jobs they are.

Not in 1984 either.

Maybe not John, but the Repubs have a serious problem with the Tea Party, I'm neither Dem nor Repub (been registered 'no party affiliation' for 30 years) but the Tea Party effect on the primaries creates an unelectable candidate for the general election. You'd think all those super smart repub strategists would figure this out...

How far back would you go? Don't say 'never' unless you want to be just another left wing nut job. Before you snark back at me, remember I'm no righty either...

Well biker - they'd have to convince the TP'ers that they know what's best and to "trust" them to produce the right candidate. TP'ers simply aren't going to allow strategists to chose their candidate for them. That is going to be a BIG problem for the GOP.

They deserve it too.

I agree BJ, but super smart repub strategists win elections by convincing the public their vote was of their own choosing. Remember 2004?

You have got to be kidding.!This President has done NOTHING remotely impeachable - you must have him confused with the last guy. Also, the Republicans in congress were in favor of (and actively promoted) the universal mandate before they were against it. As with virtually everything else (including action in Libya), these Republican obstructionists eagerly and vocally promote an idea until the President agrees with them, at which point they become vehemently opposed to it. What a bunch of transparent hypocrits!

David, you ARE aware that the biggest bail-out...the TARP program...was a creation of George W. Bush, right? Why do Conservatives find recent history to be so confusing and hard to grasp?

"He made the recession a depression by bailing out unprofitable businesses"

DJIA 11/05/08 9069

DJ Today is about 12400

Job losses on Nov 2008 -533,000

Jobs gained in March 2011 216,000

"helped pass a healthcare bill with an unconstitutional mandate"

The Supremes (who decide whether laws are constitutional or not) have refused to even hear an appeal to the health care law.

"got us into a war without the approval of congress"

Umm, the senate voted unanimously to enforce the no-fly zone on March 6th.

"In fact, he should be impeached..."

Don't let a silly thing like facts get in your way of trying to remove an elected president.

Impeach Obama? Is there a stained blue dress I am unaware of?

Mr Jones - Congress voting for no fly zone is not the same as bombing!

They've got nothing else. They've discovered that the word "socialist" isn't the boogeyman term it was 50 years ago anymore.

Not unless your a heard of cattle then it's not...

What's it like to be perfect Snappa? Just curious. Never met one of you before.

The Civil War never ended to you libs.

No we are not. If that were the case, we would not have basketball or football.

if you still had slaves, you wouldnt have basketball or football?

i assume you mean that your teams would be too busy working the fields in iron shackles? implying that only blacks are good athletes?

im impressed. it's usually not that easy to offend everybody in the freakin world in less than 20 words.

The Republican base is the Confederacy who wishes they had won the civil war and still had slaves. That's a hard sell to everyone else.

Really? Come up with a new argument....that one is getting excruciatingly old.

@forrestoak

To follow a 'logical' approach to our problems would mean following an ideology. Due to the nature of American government ideological approaches aren't really a good thing. The Republican ideology is stupid. Without a moderate tempering of the Democrat ideology it would be stupid too. The majority of the country would never support either one. That means a president, and the legislative branch too, must GOVERN. In other words; pragmatically deal with the nature of diverse ideologies and come up with things that actually work--not some pie in the sky, divisive, ideology that wouldn't work anyway. That is what Obama does--he governs.

Dude Hystorian-

WOW!- I can't remember seeing such a well stated position on American politics.

I for one am tired of hearing from all the celeb (and other) lefties who are angry and disappointed that all of their political dreams were not realized when Obama was elected. As if he was just going to march into DC and sweep out all opposition and pass everything they dreamed of. That is not national leadership.

I have been impressed with Obama's pragmatism (hard core lefties and righties can look that word up), less enthused about some of his harder left leaning policies but on balance I definitely prefer a smart president to a dumb one. Had that for 8 years, definitely over it.

I don't believe I've seen or read about another U.S. president ever having so much viperous dissension and downright hatred from the opposing political party as Obama is seeing from the Republicans/Teabaggers at this point in his presidency. He has bent over backwards to compromise on how to get this economy back on track, even going so far as to cave in to the Conservatives on the extension of the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy and tax breaks to business owners. And still, it's not enough, as far as the Cons believe! It's their stubbornness to concede on issues they believe in that keeps me from voting Republican in the near future, even though I had always voted that way in the past. And, ironically, it's Obama's willingness to cave in to the right and his lack of backbone when it comes to standing up for the working (and non-working) Middle Class that has me debating whether or not to support him in 2012.

However, when faced with only two real choices on voting day (Obama or Bachmann/Gingrich/Trump/Pawlenty/Romney/etc.), I'm afraid I'll find myself voting for the lesser of the two evils. And since unchecked corporate greed is far more evil than anything big government can come up with, my choice will be clear. I may not be happy with it, but I don't see anyone in the potential candidate field that understands that you can't just blindly slash government spending without raising revenue through uniform taxation, just as you can't spend with money you don't have.

You mean the wealthy like George Soros, the billionaire Obama apologist and supporter who is making money hand over fist off of Obama's deals?

What did he clean up????? LOL! That is the funniest thing I have ever heard! Stop blaming Bush!!!!! How is it that we are in a depression? Higher gas prices??? Another war without approval?? Higher unemployment??? Higher deficit?? What has he cleaned up!??

Do you think this "depression" (as you call it) just happened over the last 2 years? It began during "Dubya's" watch. Look at some statistics...the economy and jobs are doing better...not great, but better. Job losses have stopped and started going the other way consistently since President Obama has been in office. Unemployment is DOWN, not up.

stop blaming bush?

it was george bush that spent 1 1/2 trillion dollars on unfunded wars. the defecit wasnt nearly as bad until obama had to put the cost of those wars on the balance sheet.

and it was bush that bailed out wall street. a month before obama took office.

there's really no doubt that republican fiscal irresponsibility, their 'borrow and spend' approach and their philosophy of socialized capitalism, put this country where it is today.

most americans see obama as slowly but surely stopping the bleeding caused by bush's self inflicted wounds, and that he's done it about as well as possible.

obama landslide in '12. bank it.

spin it however you want forest.

but george bush started with clinton's budget surplus... and finished with the biggest deficit ever in the history of the world, 10%+ unemployment, two unfinished and unfunded wars, and then gave 700 billion dollars of taxpayer money to wallstreet to cover their gambling losses on his way out the door.

the spending under bush was disgusting.

If spending under Bush was 'disgusting', then I don't want to know what Obama's spending looks (or smells) like.

Obama's spending much more than Bush did in a shorter amount of time, so Obama isn't any better.

George Bush deficit in 8 years was 2.1 trillon. Obama matched it in 1.5 years and the pedal is accelerated. February 2011 with only 28 days was the highest month ever! We can't afford Obama anymore!

The President " HAD " to " SPEND" to get us out of the " MESS" that " BUSH" " LEFT THIS COUNTRY IN"! Sometimes when I get so angry with the treating of this President, I wish this country would have went into an depression ,so you could really see how" BUSH" and the Republicans with the six years they controlled congress and the white house, F------d this country UP! and then you expect the President and democracts to fix it in two years ! give me a break ! President Obama in "Spite" of what you might want to say, is not "JESUS" so stop trying to " NAIL HIM TO THE CROSS" and you think we can afford the permenant "BUSH" tax cuts people " AGAIN" ! spare me please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The highest gas prices ever

You might want to check your facts (eia.doe.gov)

The fact the right just makes crap up as they go and blames everything on someone else, is the reason the right will lose the next election.

A website run by DC that answers to whoever is in power at the moment is hardly an impartial source.

Neil, you are joking right? Google prices for July in 08 vs. average price today - though I'm sure you will accuse Google of being a partisan hack as well. Sigh...

YES!!

Because gas prices wouldn't be so high if there were more MPG regulations and more alternative energy funding and research--which the Democrats support and the Republicans oppose.

Unemployment is high because of lack of government oversight in the corporate world and because of corporations sending jobs overseas. More regulation and trust busting of giant corporations would allow more freedom and competition in small to mid-range business that would employ more local workers

Those wars in the Afghanistan we must win. That in Iraq was stupid and we should have never gone there. Since we did we had to accomplish the mission. We did. Now we are basically out.

In Libya, unlike the war in Iraq, there are humanitarian reasons for going. From the start this was a multilateral, limited scope war on the part of the United States. And it is hardly a war. Its merely a few missiles, a few bombing runs and a no fly-zone. We had a no-fly zone for years in Iraq under Bush, Clinton, and Bush, nobody complained. We have initiated air strikes on rogue nations as punishment and as a prewar strategy. Why not for humanitarian reasons. Its a far better reason to go to war, while at the same time stabilizing the region.

I say go Obama. Even if he is a little to ready to give in to the radical right, he is still the most intelligent and most organized, most pragmatic, least idealistic, he's cool under pressure, he's not a micro-manager, he doesn't cave to special interest, he accomplishes his goals as well as can be expected under heavy opposition. He has accomplished more than any president in recent times. Only thing the really irritates me is that he caved on letting the Republicans re-extended the tax breaks at a time when the deficit is rising.

Neil,,,, You sound bitter

Neil, Sweetie...facts aren't a socialist conspiracy. Do you remember gas at $4.24 per gallon in the months following Hurricane Katrina? If you believe that Hurricane Katrina was also a liberal conspiracy, perhaps you could try looking up the information yourself to check your falsehoods. Or are search engines liberal conspiracies, too?

I seem to recall that some of the residents of the 9th Ward were claiming that the hurricane hit them the hardest because of racism.

If a windstorm can be racist I guess anything is possible.

BTW, did anyone notice that Bush was constantly getting blamed for gas prices the last time they hit $4 but there's not a peep about anyone in the government being even slightly at fault for it this time around?

BREAKING: US Debt Hits Record High, $14.21786 TRILLION.

food cost is higher, everything is higher! I have my facts straight! I am an american citizen I'm living it! I dont need a government website or the media to tell me any different!!!

Hystorian- I like much of what you say, but I think there is another reason for high unemployment.

Union demands for higher pay. I'm not anti-union, believe me, but this point is a sad one for American jobs. The UAW is the worst example but there are others. When anyone forces higher pay at a rate other than the natural job market allows, and only within a subgroup of the market (the US in this instance) all other competitors outside that subgroup (the rest of the world) have an automatic advantage.

The solution- If you want more pay change to another position or industry. The days of getting a job with the same company for your entire career are long gone. Paying grocery store checkers or assembly line workers a wage to support a family is ridiculous. I mean no disrespect to any of these workers, but this is not skilled labor. If a high school kid can do the job you need to find another one. Myself and millions of others have had as many different 'careers' as necessary.

Carrie

A lot of the higher food cost is because of a bad winter that froze many of the vegetables in Mexico. Its called weather. I suppose Obama should have fixed that. A part of the higher food cost, especially in meats, is because of the high price of corn and soybeans. They are high because of the Republican emphasis on ethanol (made from corn) which has driven corn prices through the roof, therefore driving meat prices up, because cows and pigs eat corn.

Oil prices are a problem, but we need to use less and then prices would go down or at least your gas bill would. We had cars in the 1980s that got up to 42 miles per gallon. Why is about every car on the road today getting somewhere in the 20s? What is Obama to do? Mandate that all Americans change their gas guzzler for a economy vehicle? Bet you'd love that! The price of oil is not very expensive in parity with other things.

A quick google search: Gas is 7x higher than 1973; new car 7x higher than 1973, loaf of bread 20x higher, wages 6x higher, new house 27x higher.

It's not really that bad. Stop using so much gas if you don't like it.

On debt; I've said before, we don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem. We need to raise taxes. Abandon Bush's tax cuts!

@biker for life

I too agree with you, somewhat. I think that we absolutely need unions. Without them, history has shown that capital will abuse labor.

That being said i think that Unions have gone too far. They often set wages to high and protect worthless employee's. I don't know the answer to this. I guess i can envision some government regulation of Unions too...lol

I'm not sure. We need them, but they need to have some responsibility too.

I've heard some people say that if you don't like the wages, then become a business owner, or move to a different job. We can't all be business owners though, we can't all be bankers. And the role that a factory worker plays is a valuable role. Capital is capital but it is nothing without being able to take advantage of labor. The two need to work together equitably. Too me that is the only solution.

I am aware that times are changing, however. I'm not sure what the internet and outsourcing, etc., will do to the job market of the future.

Sounds like we are not too far apart Hystorian. For worker safety and issues other than pay, unions have made life safer and better for nearly every worker in America. Business' lack of foresight to see the long term safety of the worker (remember the Triangle Shirt Waist factory fire?) as a fundamental requirement is what opened the door to unions and put them in the situation that they are today, so I have little sympathy for business on this issue either.

Both business and employee need to share the common interest of the company's success in order for our labor system to work. Management and Unions have driven a wedge between each other so deep that a union worker never wants to move to management, but still demands higher wages.

One of the biggest hurdles hurdle I think for American labor is to get over the idea of 'union for life' and maintaining an increasing standard of living without increased responsibility or skill set.

But the bigger issue even then that is not thinking about 'the next big thing'. What new technology are we as a country or as a business going to master? We mastered car production a hundred years ago. We mastered the war machine and aviation in the 40's. Aviation broadened to Aerospace and we mastered that in the 50's. In the 60's we had the space race and mastered that. The 70's-80's, computers, the 90's-2000's the internet.

These are all industries we have mastered to the point they have become commoditized. Move on and let somebody else make these.

What is 'the next big thing'? What is the industry America will develop, master and dominate like we have so many others before?

I don't know for sure, but I'd bet alternative energy will play a roll.

Pelosi screamed and blamed Bush when the gas prices were at $4/gallon. The cost a barrel of oil was $150. Obama's disasterous energy plan is to redistribute our wealth to the rest of the world. We spent 2 billion (we don't have) to a Brazilian oil company to deep water drill so we can buy the oil back. Gas is at $4/gallon but the price of a barrel is $110! We are in deep trouble! Where is Pelosi blaming Obama now???? Wake up libs.

As far as union go they did have a place early in our industrialization but there time is gone. As a proud WI supporter of Governor Walker and his not allowing teachers unions to bargain benefits, I have seen the thuggery of the unions first hand. They have damaged my capital to the tune of $7 million dollars, left trash everywhere, death threats to Scott Walker, republican senators and representives, blackmailing businesses for union support (check web site ScottWalkerWatch), etc. Unions should be really proud of themselves. They have shown their true ugly win-at-all costs philosophy. Thank the lord that Prosser won for WI Supreme Court.

First of all the "Lord" does not have anything to do with the Prosser situation or any thing else that deals with the crazy republicans ! the gas prices don't have anything to do with the President ! and you will see in 2012 who has the Lord on their "SIDE"