GOPolitico on Friday:
Yep, that was an ugly figure from the Gallup poll, nothing to be happy about there at all.
But what GOPolitico (and just about every ‘mainstream’ media site I looked at) failed to mention was that the most recent polls from Rasmussen (another GOP tool), CNN, Reuters, Fox (!), NBC and Pew had the President on 46, 48, 46, 49, 49 and 47. Needless to say, though, they ignored those figures and focused solely on the latest from Gallup.
Today? The President is up 3 with Gallup, which is quite a leap in one day:
and up 2 with with GOP/Rasmussen:
What has GOPolitico to say about it? Nothing at all. There’s not a mention of the rising approval figures on their site. (And the fact that the President is up to 48 on Rasmussen is really worth reporting – Nate Silver: Rasmussen exhibits “a considerable bias toward Republican candidates”)
No, no, I’m not celebrating these figures at all – even if they are entirely predictable due to several issues beyond the President’s control, including rising gas prices (which, apparently, always have a big effect on Presidential approval figures). And the only polls I really care about are the ones on election day. But still, the dishonest reporting of these polls never, ever ceases to amaze.
The Obama Diary 
To quote President Obama, “How stupid do they think we are?” Most news outlets only report the low poll numbers, which somehow get spread far and wide, and mainly only on sites like this excellent place do we ever see the higher approval polls. It’s clearly manipulative, dishonest and ugly.
And about those gas prices—-admittedly I am no expert, but I read something about this on Think Progress which was inter—esting. Since global oil supplies have remained steady despite unrest in the Middle East, experts increasingly believe speculation in global oil markets may be artificially inflating prices. And guess who has been heavily involved in oil speculation?—the Koch Bros.—-they may be manipulating the market to hurt Obama with high gas prices. It sounds very plausible to me because there seems to be nothing they won’t do to try and harm his presidency.
An excellent analysis; gas prices in a fragile economy wear people down and they react. Never mind the fact that there are many many people out there with multiple gas-using machines in the same garage, each machine demanding a fill up on cue. People, regardless of their good intentions, can be remarkably short-sighted. The Koch Brothers Inc. know this and will exploit us to the last drop.
I’m REALLY skeptical about the Gallup numbers this week. Since the beginning of this Presidency, Gallup has consistently been on the HIGH side of the President’s numbers. Rasmussen and others have been lower, in some cases by substantial margins. BUT, the low numbers are the ones that get the press. Could it be that Gallup was feeling a little “neglected” and “adjusted” their samplings to be closer to the lower polls?? I would not be surprised. BUT,
When you average out the earlier polls with Gallups 41% you get 46.7%
Average out the lastest Gallup at 44% with the other polls and you get 47%
So you have to figure Pres. Obama is at around 47% for the last week. Although We might be the only ones who know it.
BTW, I don’t think it’s just oil prices that may have brought him down in the last week. I don’t think that near government shutdown helped ANYBODY. That was really ugly.
I don’t understand Gallup lately. They seem to delight in posting not only lower numbers for the President, but also highlight anything to put President Obama in a bad light. It’s sad. Betsy
Hey guys,
Cheer up. I have an Easter flash back for you guys. The Easter Egg Roll is coming up soon so here are the last two:
Hey all, I saw those wonky poll numbers on Friday on the O’Donnell show and just rolled my eyes. You would think that since those so called lefties who pride themselves on being so different from Faux so-called News, because of a little known thing called facts, they would spend the extra three minutes it takes to compare all the different polls and report the one with the most support, but, what the hell, what’s the truth got to do with anything? Anywho, cheer up! I spent the day gorging myself on the first family! I literally spent a good number of hours on this site, going over videos and pictures of the fam and Bo. It was fun! I rewatched that Rahm Roast by the prez, damned hilarious, especially when PBO started talking about Rahm’s half middle finger. Ahhh, I miss Rahm and Gibbs and A-rod.
speaking of stalking….do you guys know who the president’s main body guard is? He’s caucasian, he’s tall and sort of stocky(?) he’s got like a bald plate but he’s got greyish black hair on the sides and in the back[he looks strickly marine]. He’s always with the president. I wonder who he is and what his life is like? does he have a family? how did he get involved in SS? does he like the president? did he vote for him? what’s their relationship like? do they talk? shoot the breeze? do they exchange birthday cards? Man, I wonder what stories he could tell. But he can’t I don’t think. I watched a documentary once about the SS and I think they said that agents can never, ever talk about their service to a president, ever. But boy, that’s some amazing access.
I can’t recall his name, but I think he (and the other agents) gave the President a fishing rod for his last birthday, and encouraged him to go fly-fishing. I think they take their job very seriously, but the Obamas really try to make a connection with them, since these are the people keeping them alive and putting their lives on the line to do so.
I think the one you’re talking about is named Joe Clancy. He’s the head guy and I think he’s been with the Pres. since the beginning. There’s another guy with a beard who’s been with BO since very early in the campaign. I always see him with the Pres also. I remember reading something Axelrod said after the campaign about how the Secret Service guys were rooting for Obama to win. It seems like they really like him. There was also a little bit in the recent book about the history of the Secret Service called “In the President’s Secret Service”. It was a bit of a muckraking book and there were bad things said about nearly all the recent Presidents but nothing bad said about the Obamas. I think there was something about how down to earth Barack is, how warm and friendly Michelle is, how the agents were invited into the Obama’s home for Thanksgiving dinner and how the girls wrote nice thank you cards to the agents after the campaign. Everything I’ve gathered from little snippets of info seems to indicate the agents really like all the Obamas.
As for all those poll numbers, what has changed between Wednesday’s budget address and now? How does Gallup go up 3 points on a weekend? What are the questions, who is the demographic, what was the intent? These polls are a snapshot in time, apparently only a day or so, so who changes their mind from day to day about whether he or she agrees with POTUS and if he’s doing a good job? If people are so fickle, need we give them any intellectual benefit? Just sayin!
You just know the shills at Rasmussen will come out with a poll next week with even lower numbers.
I am not going to worry about any poll numbers. If July or August of 2012 they are still low, then I might worry, but not now. These numbers go up they go down. The media never tell anyone what G.W. Bush numbers were at this time, or Clinton, or Reagen, so we shall see. We know how the media is, how it works. Now about the green eggs and ham, the President did a great job. I was enjoying his reading of green eggs and ham like I was a kid. I am so looking forward to Easter Monday at the White House. And don’t forget the First Lady and Dr. Biden on the View tomorrow Monday at 11am.
I don’t believe the polls numbers are real. I think they need some news so the data was manipulated or manufactured.
Made the mistake of going to the CNN website last week for the first time in probably about 6months. The only poll number headline they had was one from Florida because…you guessed it….it was bad. Despite all the major national poll numbers showing just the opposite. Stay classy CNN!
Heard John King had Oily Taintz on today. Stay classy John.
Just read about the interview Fred, an absolutely extraordinary ‘performance’ by King – see here:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-john-king-manages-to-out-crazy-birther-queen-orly-taitz-in-wild-interview/
In this instance, Rasmussen and FOX, who have more conservative responders post higher numbers. Maybe Barack is making headway with older conservatives now that the RyanCare coupons bill has been passed.
Can it be that “ObamaCare,” once maligned as a “turdblossom” by some on the right, has now turned into a bed of roses with the House’s passage of RyanCare.
I have learned not to let polls bother me or excite me. I remember during the 2008 campaign I would see polls and I would be plunged into despair. If I looked at the HuffPo before bedtime, I would wake up in the middle of the night with chills. I learned not to pay attention to polls, and before bed not to go to HuffPo, but to go to the Obama blog where people who were working for him wrote. Like people here, I got to know some of them well through their writing. I never felt free to join that conversation, but reading it kept me sane. I knew, in my heart from 2004 on, that Barack Obama would be our next president. But, it was such a ride…highs, lows, attempted slander…you all know. What I know is the majority of American people will consider whoever runs against him, and find that person lacking. We are so blessed to have this man as president, a man of principles, character and integrity.
To hell with their stupid polls. We gave them a beating and bruises and a shock they will never heal from that roared around the world in 2008 after they blubbered on and on of how the “white people” wont be able to pull the lever for Obama, and guess what, who had the last laugh? And we are doing it again in 2012. If it means dragging him to the finsh line, then that we will. Meaning, I dont give a ****ing damn about their silly polls.
You tell ’em Asher!
Asher – 1
PBO – 1
Gallup/MSM – 0
dotster – You are so right about speculation in oil prices – some time ago (I am not able to recall/research the references)
I read that about 200 – 300 barrels of oil were produced a day, but about 3 – 4 billions were traded a day – so of course oil is also an object of speculation.