# Can I be the only person stunned at just how badly President Joe Biden is doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851 "2021-08-31T19:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/254 "2021-09-05T18:26:44Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Are you trying to blame Biden for not somehow making Obama get out of Afghanistan, or trying to blame him for not somehow making Obama get the USA to be even more active in Afghanistan? I’m confused. I think his point is that Biden should be blamed for being Biden, much the same way Obama was blamed for being Obama. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/255 "2021-09-05T23:23:23Z")
[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi0q6bg\_OjyAhVKHc0KHWa4DqAQFnoECCoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgraphics.reuters.com%2FUSA-BIDEN%2FPOLL%2Fnmopagnqapa%2F&usg=AOvVaw1en4mRu-xv-OJgsUMFrh72](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi0q6bg_OjyAhVKHc0KHWa4DqAQFnoECCoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgraphics.reuters.com%2FUSA-BIDEN%2FPOLL%2Fnmopagnqapa%2F&usg=AOvVaw1en4mRu-xv-OJgsUMFrh72) Other people are too. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/256 "2021-09-05T23:25:08Z")
Other people are what? Other people “Are”? Like a Zen thing? Heavy. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/257 "2021-09-06T00:20:43Z")
I think **eenerms** link was messed up. Here’s a clean version. The highlight is that 48% of people disapprove of the president, which is an interesting way of saying that 52% approve. > **[What does the country think of Biden?](https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-BIDEN/POLL/nmopagnqapa/)** > > Keeping tabs on U.S. President Biden’s approval ratings and American’s top issues ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/258 "2021-09-06T00:42:26Z")
I believe that Trump never once, not for a moment or a single small snippet of time ever hit 50% approval, even in passing. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/259 "2021-09-06T00:58:47Z")
From Reuters link: > [@](#): > > The national opinion poll, conducted Sept. 1-2, found that 46% of U.S. adults approved of Biden’s performance in office, while 48% disapproved and the rest were not sure. Imagine if Afghanistan and Delta variant weren’t in the picture - that rating would be significantly higher. Gigantically so. Heh, meanwhile - > [@](#): > > At the same point in Donald Trump’s presidency, about 38% of Americans approved of his performance in office, while 57% disapproved. Imagine what that rating would have been if this Afghanistan situation was also on Don’s plate. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/260 "2021-09-06T01:00:12Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > The highlight is that 48% of people disapprove of the president, which is an interesting way of saying that 52% approve. To be fair, they’re not saying that 52% approve; apparently 6% said they didn’t know, were neutral, and/or refused to answer the question. From your link: > The national opinion poll, conducted Sept. 1-2, found that 46% of U.S. adults approved of Biden’s performance in office, while 48% disapproved and the rest were not sure. The practical question of course isn’t what his approval rate is right now; it’s what his approval rate will be in November 2024, and also because it affects other races what it’ll be in November 2022. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/261 "2021-09-06T05:06:08Z")
That’s fair. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/262 "2021-09-06T05:11:18Z")
Very few people cast her their on foreign affairs though. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/263 "2021-09-06T06:29:46Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I believe that Trump never once, not for a moment or a single small snippet of time ever hit 50% approval, even in passing. You are correct. He came **SO CLOSE** a couple of times, peaking at 49% a couple of times, but he never hit 50%. [![](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/fzsweqhshkchvixkmkoeyg.png) ](https://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/fzsweqhshkchvixkmkoeyg.png) > **[Presidential Approval Ratings — Donald Trump](https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx)** > > Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/264 "2021-09-06T09:49:59Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Let us know when “those media” post here on the SDMB. The point is: I was supposedly being disingenuous by only linking Biden’s response to the question, not the question also. Yet several prominent MSM sources also interpreted the question and answer the same way as me. So, no, I was not being disingenuous. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > No. No it is not. Wow you got me there with that stunning rebuke. Great that you quoted my actual argument and were able to respond. Bravo. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I LOVE _Last Week Tonight_ ! But I’m only rarely able to luck into recent episodes on Youtube. Could you post a link to the one in question, pretty please? It’s the latest episode, which is not on youTube yet (that I could find). [Here’s](https://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-rips-biden-for-being-blithe-about-the-fate-of-the-afghans-video/) an article about it. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think his point is that Biden should be blamed for being Biden, much the same way Obama was blamed for being Obama. As I’ve said repeatedly, I am very much a Biden supporter. I think he’s done, and did, a great job. I am not the one reflexively jumping to a position. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/265 "2021-09-06T14:21:52Z")
Thanks!👍 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/266 "2021-09-06T15:38:48Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Wow you got me there with that stunning rebuke. > Great that you quoted my actual argument and were able to respond. Bravo. You don’t have an argument. You have an opinion. And I gave it the exact time and attention that it deserved. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/267 "2021-09-06T17:22:59Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > > > Let us know when “those media” post here on the SDMB. > > The point is: I was supposedly being disingenuous by only linking Biden’s response to the question, not the question also. Yet several prominent MSM sources also interpreted the question and answer the same way as me. So, no, I was not being disingenuous. That strikes me as a pretty weak defense of your credibility. You were inviting your readers to misinterpret the sound byte in the same way that “_several prominent MSM sources_” misinterpreted it (and since that particular misinterpretation seems to be possible only when driven by a hostile-to-Biden agenda, it might be instructive to examine exactly which “prominent MSM sources” those were). If you were _aware_ that it was a misinterpretation, then you were being disingenuous. If you were _unaware_ that it was a misinterpretation, and you were bamboozled by the misinterpretation(s) from the sources you alluded to, and it marks you as a bit clueless. A disappointing quality to find in a Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/268 "2021-09-06T20:42:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You don’t have an argument. You have an opinion. > > And I gave it the exact time and attention that it deserved. I have an opinion supported by my argument. And I’ll add the opinion that saying essentially “It’s not worth my time to explain why I am right and you’re wrong” is utterly pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/269 "2021-09-06T20:50:14Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > A disappointing quality to find in a Doper. Look, let’s be clear on this, OK? I have been a member of this site since 2006, and I think have established myself as very fair and balanced on many topics. This is the first thread I think where I have been the subject of a pile-on. When I linked that video, I linked it specifically at the point where Biden said he took no responsibility just for convenience, as that was the point in contention. I was not trying to hide the question and I still maintain that the question he was asked is _exactly_ the context we were just discussing. Note that even now, you are claiming that there has been a misinterpretation but have yet to say what the misinterpretation actually was. If I have got the context of the question wrong, please point out how. I would genuinely like to know if I got something wrong. Right now, ISTM that people are reading the thread topic, and jumping in on a pile on without properly reading what I am actually saying. I mean a minute ago I was accused of just being anti-Biden and Obama which is laughable for anyone who’s familiar with me on the Dope _or read my posts in this thread_. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > it might be instructive to examine exactly which “prominent MSM sources” those were I named them 😕 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/270 "2021-09-07T09:09:47Z")
very “fair and balanced” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/271 "2021-09-07T09:48:07Z")
Erm, thanks? What’s the suggestion here? That me asking for what exactly I got wrong _isn’t_ being fair? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/272 "2021-09-07T10:03:47Z")
"“Fair and balanced” isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement in these parts. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851/273 "2021-09-07T10:14:30Z")
That’s Fox News’ slogan, for your reference. To be clear, I’m not piling on [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-the-only-person-stunned-at-just-how-badly-president-joe-biden-is-doing/949851.md?page=14)