# Poll finds Obama is the worst president since World War II **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 2, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186 "2014-07-02T13:08:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/81 "2014-07-03T23:45:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not Presidential. Typically the President has people who do this for him. Sure Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi’s rhetoric is far more heated, but Obama has taken the unprecedented step of attacking Republicans after agreeing to compromises with them, which is just awful diplomacy. Imagine signing SALT 2 and then Carter going off on the Soviets for not agreeing to an even better treaty at the press conference announcing it? That’s the kinda dumb shit he pulls. How has he attacked Republicans? What has he said beyond standard political criticism? Cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/82 "2014-07-03T23:46:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That depends on whether Obama gets credit for it. A guy who constantly whines that he can’t do anything and points the finger elsewhere for everything bad that happens isn’t likely to get credit from the public for things that do go right. This is more meaningless nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/83 "2014-07-04T00:46:19Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > I think the big question for us lefties is whether - 20 years from now or so - we look back on Obama with the same retrospective love and admiration that the 'Pubs exert for Reagan. If you do, it’ll be because you’ve completely forgotten what his presidency was like. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/84 "2014-07-04T00:48:20Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Is this the big break that the Romney campaign has been waiting for? 80% of those polled said it hurt like hell and they didn’t want it to happen again. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/85 "2014-07-04T03:29:04Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is more meaningless nonsense. Unemployment has dropped from 10% to 6.1%. His approval rating has been immune from the economic recovery. If you have a better theory as to why this is, I’d love to hear it. My own is that since the President doesn’t want to take responsibility for his own Presidency, the public is obliging him. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/86 "2014-07-04T08:47:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Unemployment has dropped from 10% to 6.1%. His approval rating has been immune from the economic recovery. If you have a better theory as to why this is, I’d love to hear it. > > My own is that since the President doesn’t want to take responsibility for his own Presidency, the public is obliging him. It might have something more to do with the Republican propaganda machine and the fact that a lot of the new jobs (primarily due to factors out of the President’s control) are part-time or that workers have fallen out of the work force. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/87 "2014-07-04T10:40:04Z")
The Republican propaganda machine is stronger than the President’s bully pulpit? Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/88 "2014-07-04T13:10:40Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The Republican propaganda machine is stronger than the President’s bully pulpit? Fascinating. Let’s see, there is a network “news” channel devoted to advancing the Republican agenda. Hate Radio devotes several hours a day to bashing Obama and the Democrats. Yes, it is stronger. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/89 "2014-07-04T13:36:12Z")
So one network and AM radio outweighs MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, _The New York Times, The Washington Post_, The Huffington Post, Slate, DailyKos, and 80% of the blogosphere. Good to know. It appears to be rather similar to when the GOP had the Dems outnumbered in the Senate 41-59. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/90 "2014-07-04T13:54:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Let’s see, there is a network “news” channel devoted to advancing the Republican agenda. Hate Radio devotes several hours a day to bashing Obama and the Democrats. Yes, it is stronger. The NY Times is essentially Obama’s mouthpiece and of course there’s MSNBC. My heart bleeds for how badly the deck is stacked against Democrats. No wonder they want to narrow the 1st amendment! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/91 "2014-07-04T14:18:46Z")
You two are SO adorable! Gosh, I wish I could recapture that blind faith that you have. At the risk of spoiling your innocence, I’d like to inform you that there are straight news media, like the NYT, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, etc. that report the news as it really is. Now unfortunately reality does have a liberal bias, so you may misinterpret that as being pro-Democratic Party. But rest assured, the objective truth is more easily found in these straight news sources than in your right wing echo chambers. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/92 "2014-07-04T14:33:22Z")
Actually, if you look at MSNBC and the NY Times, they are far more pro-administration than CNN or CBS. The NY Times especially is known for burying stories harmful to the administration and then getting called on it by other media outlets, whereupon they defend their coverage and then belatedly get on the ball. The IRS coverage has been a good example. Besides, this whole aspect of the discussion is ridiculous. When a President’s supporters start blaming the media for his unpopularity it’s a good sign he’s done. Not to mention a lot of reporters are speculating that he’s already looking ahead to his post-Presidency. Even he knows he’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/93 "2014-07-04T14:54:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Besides, this whole aspect of the discussion is ridiculous. When a President’s supporters start blaming the media for his unpopularity it’s a good sign he’s done. Isn’t this… all Presidents? Actually, scratch that. Isn’t that all politicians? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard of no unpopular politician or government program yet that didn’t have supporters waving their hands at the undifferentiated media. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/94 "2014-07-04T14:59:31Z")
So what does it mean when a president’s detractors credit the media for his popularity? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/95 "2014-07-04T15:00:53Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > So what does it mean when a president’s detractors credit the media for his popularity? The world continues to turn. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/96 "2014-07-04T15:22:26Z")
The media does something fail to challenge a President. Bush benefitted from this during his first term and Obama during his two campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/97 "2014-07-04T15:53:57Z")
> [@2ManyTacos](#): > > I think the big question for us lefties is whether - 20 years from now or so - we look back on Obama with the same retrospective love and admiration that the 'Pubs exert for Reagan. I think the passage of the ACA certainly makes that likely, though to what I extent I wouldn’t know. The ACA is a giant clusterfuck and Obama will go down in infamy for having spearheaded it. The only thing that he has accomplished in office is making Carter look competent. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/98 "2014-07-04T16:31:03Z")
If ACA isn’t actually universal health care, then what makes it more significant than SCHIP, which Clinton signed? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/99 "2014-07-04T16:35:26Z")
This again? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186/100 "2014-07-04T17:01:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If ACA isn’t actually universal health care, then what makes it more significant than SCHIP, which Clinton signed? The wildly hysterical, batshit crazy reaction? Thousands of Republicans rolling around on the floor, screaming their heads off? Shit like that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-finds-obama-is-the-worst-president-since-world-war-ii/692186.md?page=6)