Obama's falling approval rating

Timothy Blocker

Meda 295

WASHINGTON-Ever since becoming President Barack Obama’s job performance had been being tracked by polls. On January 21^st the polls have been tracking his performance as president since January 21^st. This poll states that on January 21^st less than 60% of Americans do approve of the job that Obama is doing. In the polling for February 21^st-23^rd 59% of Americans had given Obama a positive review, while 25% say they disapprove, and 16% have no opinion. From what the polls indicate President Obama was not able to keep his rating up. Most people believe that the president is taking on a wide variety of issues because there are so many problems that is going on. I spoke to a few neighbors where I live at Grand Avenue and 176^th street to get their reaction to the poll numbers. Diana Colon a longtime democrat seen the fall as the reality of our country’s situation and the war in Iraq are having are starting to set in.” I think that people are starting to realize that it is going to take a lot of time to fix our economic problems and the war that is going on in Iraq” said Diana Colon. A few other democratic voters have said that they were surprised by the falling poll numbers. Patricia Smith-Blocker, 58, a lifelong democrat says that she is “very surprised by the drop in the numbers”. Some people figured that since he had high ratings at the beginning of his presidency that he would be able to carry those high numbers of approval through out his term in office.

With the situation in Iran dealing with the presidential election on June 12^th, President Barack Obama has taken a stance on the matter. His reaction to the results of the election and the aftermath is “We in the United States do not want to make any decisions for the people or Iran, but at the same time we do believe that the Iranian people, and their voices, should be heard and respected.” At the same time critics have said that President Obama has put on a fresh coat of paint on Iran’s fake democracy. Another stance that the president has taken on was with the automobile industry and renewable energies. The president has spoke spoken about doubling the nation’s supply of renewable energy with the need to make renewable energy profitable as well as the need to rapidly develop technologies to build more efficient cars. Even though President Obama says that he wants to avoid meddling in the Iran election. A few people say he has already gotten in the conflict. He has spoken about the conflict when he was in Cairo, Egypt “about expanding dialogue between the U.S. and the Muslim world—including Iran—and that was the right time to do it.” A few of the people I spoke to say that the United States needs to stay out of this conflict and to let Iran deal with this them selves. As for the automobile industry President Obama believes that with the cars being more energy efficient that these cars will help the environment.

Ethics complaints still dog Palin

When the governor of Alaska Sarah Palin resigned she thought that the ethics accusations against her would be clear. She found out that she was wrong. Just days after her surprise resignation was announced a new ethics complaint was filed with state authorities arguing saying she should not be able to claim per day funds when she is staying at her home in Wasilla, Alaska instead of in Anchorage or Jeaneau where she has offices. This complaint says that she was charging the state when she stayed in Wasilla and traveled to her offices. The soon to be e-governor claims that she is the target of politcal destruction. Sarah Palin told cnn "It doesn't cost the critics anything to file frivolous lawsuits or ethics violation charges. She also says that It costs our state such a great deal -- thousands of staff hours, millions of dollars in public resources that aren't going to things that it should be going to." Many of the complaints that was filed have been dismissed. Sarah Palin last month had reimbursed the state more than $8,000 for travel expenses for nine trips, accompanied by her children, after the state paid for them. Another inquiry led to some new ethics training for a staff member. Of all of the complaints and inquiries the one that cost the most and drew the most attention was was centered on whether Palin wrongly fired the state's director of public safety. This complaint had been filed weeks before Palin's run for vice president. An independent counsel found she had a right to fire him, but in doing so she had violated a state ethics law. This independent counsel found she had abused the powers of her office by pressuring employees to get the trooper fired. I feel that she probable did do some wrong but what she did was nothing compared to some of the things that other politicians has done. True what she did was not right but at the same time it was not illegal and at least she reimbursed the state for the travel expenses that was used for that came from taxpayers money.

Lawmakers $320 billion short for health care plan

After huddling and speaking with democrats on the senate Finance Committee, Chairman Max Baucus had told reporters that lawmakers need $320 billion over the coming decade in order to pay for the health care plan. The remaining balance or cost would be paid for through savings in Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. There are other options including raising taxes. This include including taxing employer-provided health benefits. A senator from North Carolina (Kent Conrad) said that senators are talking about raising the tax exemption on those benefits to $25,000 for a family.Doing this and other things would raise $90 billion over 10 years, Conrad said, leaving negotiators $230 billion to raise through other taxes. Overall this sounds like a good idea because everyone would be sort of chipping in but the problem is the real cost of this funding. Another problem is WHO is going to be paying for this?

Biden cheers deal with hospitals on health care reform!!!

Today the vice president Joe Biden announced today that he has struck a deal with hospitals to help fund the health care reform. The VP has said that hospitals have pledged to contribute $155 billion in medicaid and medicare savings in the next decade. Biden said that hospitals have acknowledged that significant health care savings can be achieved by improving efficiencies. Biden was also joined by the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and representatives of the hospital industry. This hospital deal follows Obama's announcement last month with agreement that was reached with the nation's pharmaceutical industry to cut drug costs for elderly Americans, saying it is an example of the kind of compromise required for successful national health care reform. I think that this a good idea because this will help people who have little to no health care. This will help people that have a hard time paying for medicine and their medical supplies some help. There are too many people in this country that have either no coverage or too little coverage.

Testers smuggle bomb parts into buildings

Today in Washington D.C. a head of the Federal Protective Service took the blame Wednesday for a series of security lapses that allowed investigators to sneak components of bombs into 10 federal buildings. Investigators in plainclothes tested the effectiveness of private contract guards at federal buildings was able to smuggle bomb components in all 10 attempts. One investigator was stopped and questioned but was eventually let through with the bomb components. Once the investigators got inside the buildings they went to the bathrooms and put the bombs together, then put them in briefcases and walked freely into government offices. When the director was asked why the security guards had failed he said that it was a lack of oversight. The investigators bought all of the components over the internet for less than $150. When these investigators was trying to get into the buildings at the checkpoint clearly the guards was not looking at the screen that clearly shows the materials passing through. I feel that this is a serious problem because if they was able to get past security at these buildings that means they can get into any building in Washington D.C or anywhere in the country. Clearly these guards are not doing their job.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/07/federal.buildings.security/index.html

D.C.'s Marion Barry arrested once again

The great mayor of Washington D.C. Marion Barry was arrested again but this time it was for misdemeanor stalking. A lady had flagged down an officer and pointed to Barry who was in another car. Marion Barry was arrrested and processed but was released. He has a later court appearance for the charge. This is not his first run in with the law. He was arrested in a sting operation in 1990 and had a few other run-ins. He was arrested in 2002 after marijuana and cocaine traces was found in his car when he was stopped. Also last year he failed to file a tax return again. His probation was extended to May 2011. I feel that Marion Baily needs alot of help because this man has been in so much trouble and it is not very funny. He is the only mayor that i know of in this country that has beenin trouble constantly. He makes Washington D.C. look very bad and he also makes its citizens look like fools for electing an idiot.

News you should know

On Friday July 3, 2009 the governor of Alaska Sarah Palin announced that she is stepping down as the governor at the end of the month. She will not be seeking a second term in 2010. As the vice presidential nominee in 2008 she is considered one of the front runners for the republican nomination in 2012. She transferred power to the LT Governor for the rest of the term. She also stated that she took the right path for alaska even if it is not the easiest path. A source close to her team says that it was a calculated move on her part to move on. This source also believes that she is mapping out a path for 2012. This also came as a surprise to a few people in her party. After her announcement the Democratic National Committee blasted her behavior. Aspokesperson for the DNC said that she is leaving the peoplel of Alaska high and dry to pursue her political ambitions or she cannot handle the job of governor.

I feel that this is a plan by Palin for the White House. This move can be a good move or a bad move by her. I do not know. I find that this move is somewhat confusing because she feels that she has a better shot for the white house now.

Honduran military ousts president ahead of vote

In Hondouras the military had successfully kicked out the democratically elected president of Honduras on Sunday and Congress named a successor. This is the first military takeover of a country in Central America in 16 years. This drew widespread criticism from countries in Latin America and the rest of the world. The president was awakened by Sunday by gunfire and was held while still in his pajamas hours before a referendum that many saw as an attempt for him to try to stay in power past the one term limit. A presidential plane flew him into exile in Costa Rica while military vehicles and soldiers surrounded the home of the president. Around 80 to 90% of people in Honduras are happy with what happened. I feel that what happened is good because some people love power a little too much and will do anything to try to stay in power.

Sanford's mistress mum on affair, e-mail

The woman at the center of the governor of South Carolina's affair and trip has finally broken her silence. She said that she would not discuss the nature of the relationship she has had with the governor. She told a television station in Argentina that her private life has been made too public over the pass few days. This lady said she has a firm idea of who hacked into her in late 2008. She also says that she will leave this situation in god's hand. The governor of South Carolina admission on Wednesday has lead to some people calling for his resignation. The governor had admitted the relationship after a reporter seen him getting off a plane from Argentina in Atlanta. I feel that the governor should resign from the governorship because he was trusted by not only the citizens of South Carolina but his own cabinet also.

South Carolina governor apologizes to Cabinet

On Friday June 26, 2009 the governor of South Carolina who had admitted to having an affair with a lady in argentina met with his cabinet behind closed doors. The governor says that he has already apologized to the citizens of South Carolina. He said that he has plans to reimburst the state for the money he had used for the trip. The governor's recent amends came as a state representative wants a grand jury investigation into the misuse of "state property, finances, abuses of power and the negligence of duties in the Office of Governor." I think that there should be some sort of investigation because the governor did not tell the truth about where he was or what he is doing.

Negotiations over health insurance co-ops at impasse

Today intense negotiations between key Senate Democrats and Republicans over health insurance co-ops as an alternative to a government-run health plan was at a stand still because both sides had faced off over how much the government should be involved in the creation and running of co-ops. One one side the democrats want the federal government to have a heavy presence to make sure the co-ops can compete with the big insurers to help drive down costs but republicans say that the only way that they will go with this idea is if Washington gives the go ahead. I feel that the government should have a say in health care reform because there are too many people in the United States that cannot afford to get sick because they have no health insurance. Not only that some people who cannot get health insurance at work and have to buy it themselves are paying a lot of money for it. With government regulation the cost of health insurance hopefully will eventually go down and many more people will be able to afford it.

Message Sarah Palin sending if she does not run for re-election in Alaska?

Today there is growing speculation in Alaska that Sarah Palin will not run for re-election in 2010. One reason why she may not run for re-election is to focus on national politics. Some experts are saying that the reason why she is staying quiet because she can keep her options open. Even though her approval rating have fallen since her run for the white house with John McCain last year she still has enough power to scare off most challengers in her own party. One former staffer for the Alaska governor says that if she files the paperwork needed to run for re-election whoever runs against her the race is over. I feel that Sarah Palin may be gearing up for a potential run for the white house in 2012. I guess she feels that she need more experience in government in order for people to take her more seriously.

Obama toughens his talk on Iran

Today the president in a press conference said that he is not happy with what is going on in iran concerning the recent presidential election results. He said that the United States and the international community is "outraged" and "appalled" by the current situations in iran. Some republicans are wondering why the president isn't taking a bigger stance and approach to the situation in iran. The president said that there is a clear path to legitmacy. I think that what the president is doing is a good idea. He is letting the people of iran figure out what is best for them.

President Obama's more popular than his policies

The article that I have found at cnn.com talks about how the president is more popular than his policies. Recently a poll was conducted and this poll indicated that 6 out of 10 americans had approved of the job the president is doing. Only 31% dissaproved of his job. Overall his approval rating has held steady for the last month of may and the first 7 polls in early june. I think that this poll shows that most americans approve of the job that the president is doing.

NKorea warns of nuclear war amid rising tensions

The president of South Korea wanted his top security officials Sunday to deal with new North Korean warnings of a nuclear war on the eve of his U.S. visit. The president will travel to washington d.c. on monday with talks with presiden obama that will focus on North Korea's nuclear and missle program. The trip comes when North Korea's Foreign Ministry had threatened war with any country that stops its ships on the high seas under new sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council in response to its May 25 nuclear test. I feel that North Korea is very capable of having weapons because they see the USA as a threat and trying to knock down and invade its regime.

Iran Election

On last week Iran had their election for a new leader. On Friday the iranian government announced that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the election with 62.63 percent of the vote. The results of this election had sparked protests by his main rivals supporters who claim the election was rigged. The V.P. of the USA says the Iranian government has suppressed crowds and limited free speech by shutting down social networking sites such as Facebook, which he said raised questions. I feel that this election was rigged because this man loves power and I highly doubt he would give it up fair and square.

Bill to regulate tobbaco Industry

On Friday June 12, 2009 President Obama looked forward to signing a bill to give the FDA more power to regulate the smoking industry. He said that the bill was a long time coming. The senate had passed the bill of 307-97. This means that the FDA can regulate how the tobacco industry can market their products especially towards teenagers. At the same time first amendment rights might come into play because this cause a problem with restricting a manufacturer's ability to communicate truthfull info to adults and consumers on their products and commercials. This sounds like a good idea but the problem that I have with this is where does the the personal responsibility lie with consumers. I understand about wanting the tobacco industry being more truthful but at the same time consumers need to take responsibility for their choices also.

President Obama's Plan to fix the healthcare system

In his weekly address (June 1-6,2009) had discussed his plan(s) to fix the broken health care system in this country. The president says that fixing the health care system is a necessity because it is a luxury that we can't hope to achieve. My personal take on this issue is that the health care system can be fixed but it will take some time. The insurance companies that are currently up and running has a monopoly on the health care system. They do not have no competition whatsoever. So by creating some more insurance companies, insurance prices may very well drop. A lot of people cannot afford to get sick because of the fact that they do not have any kind of health insurance. A lot of people that file for bankruptcy is because of medical bills. All I am saying is that the health care system is this country needs a major overhaul so that everyone in this country can afford it.