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Even with bin Laden's Scalp, Obama No Shoo-in for 2012
I've heard several people on talk radio and friends in casual conversation assert that the President's taking of bin Laden's scalp will assure him reelection in 2012.
Don't count on it.
Before this event, Obama's poll numbers were in the low to mid-40s, which is very low. And a huge percentage of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.
These numbers had nothing to do with bin Laden still being on the loose.
May 04, 2011
I've heard several people on talk radio and friends in casual conversation assert that the President's taking of bin Laden's scalp will assure him reelection in 2012.
Don't count on it.
Before this event, Obama's poll numbers were in the low to mid-40s, which is very low. And a huge percentage of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.
These numbers had nothing to do with bin Laden still being on the loose.
Instead, they had everything to do with the economy being in terrible shape, and unemployment being stubbornly high, and gas prices even higher.
While Obama did get a bounce the past couple of days, the gravity of the economy is guaranteed to bring that bounce down.
Before bin Laden's assassination, Obama was way behind in several states he carried in 2008, including Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana. And he's neck in neck in Ohio and Wisconsin.
Aside from the economy, Obama is plagued by intense hostility on the right and a lack of enthusiasm on the left.
The demographic groups that put him over the top last time-- African Americans, Latinos, labor, progressives, and young people-- aren't thrilled with his record.
Last time, they came out to make history.
This time, that impetus is no longer there, and that spells trouble for the President.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
© 2023 The Progressive
Matt Rothschild
Matt Rothschild is the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Prior to joining the Democracy Campaign at the start of 2015, Matt worked at The Progressive Magazine for 32 years. For most of those, he was the editor and publisher of The Progressive.
I've heard several people on talk radio and friends in casual conversation assert that the President's taking of bin Laden's scalp will assure him reelection in 2012.
Don't count on it.
Before this event, Obama's poll numbers were in the low to mid-40s, which is very low. And a huge percentage of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.
These numbers had nothing to do with bin Laden still being on the loose.
Instead, they had everything to do with the economy being in terrible shape, and unemployment being stubbornly high, and gas prices even higher.
While Obama did get a bounce the past couple of days, the gravity of the economy is guaranteed to bring that bounce down.
Before bin Laden's assassination, Obama was way behind in several states he carried in 2008, including Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana. And he's neck in neck in Ohio and Wisconsin.
Aside from the economy, Obama is plagued by intense hostility on the right and a lack of enthusiasm on the left.
The demographic groups that put him over the top last time-- African Americans, Latinos, labor, progressives, and young people-- aren't thrilled with his record.
Last time, they came out to make history.
This time, that impetus is no longer there, and that spells trouble for the President.
Matt Rothschild
Matt Rothschild is the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Prior to joining the Democracy Campaign at the start of 2015, Matt worked at The Progressive Magazine for 32 years. For most of those, he was the editor and publisher of The Progressive.
I've heard several people on talk radio and friends in casual conversation assert that the President's taking of bin Laden's scalp will assure him reelection in 2012.
Don't count on it.
Before this event, Obama's poll numbers were in the low to mid-40s, which is very low. And a huge percentage of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.
These numbers had nothing to do with bin Laden still being on the loose.
Instead, they had everything to do with the economy being in terrible shape, and unemployment being stubbornly high, and gas prices even higher.
While Obama did get a bounce the past couple of days, the gravity of the economy is guaranteed to bring that bounce down.
Before bin Laden's assassination, Obama was way behind in several states he carried in 2008, including Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana. And he's neck in neck in Ohio and Wisconsin.
Aside from the economy, Obama is plagued by intense hostility on the right and a lack of enthusiasm on the left.
The demographic groups that put him over the top last time-- African Americans, Latinos, labor, progressives, and young people-- aren't thrilled with his record.
Last time, they came out to make history.
This time, that impetus is no longer there, and that spells trouble for the President.
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