Bill Clinton's approval ratings in 1993 and 1994 were pretty bad.

[Drunken Irishman]

His highest of 1993 was 64%, a month after taking office. From that point, it was all down hill and by summer, he was in the 30s.

Not many people realize just how bad it got for Clinton in the first two years of his term. What Obama is seeing is definitely not worse than what was coming at Clinton (and remember, this was coming from both sides, as the conservative Democrats had a larger role in the party back then). Clinton got through it, though. Even with people already predicting his presidency a failure in its first year, he rebounded, righted the ship and coasted to re-election.

Obama might have a more difficult challenge than Clinton ever had, but it also doesn't appear he's got near the opposition Clinton had, either. It's still early, of course, but until his approval ratings start dipping into the 30s, then we need to cool our jets and realize he's still doing worlds better than Pres. Clinton was this time 16 years ago.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yes. They were. The press ate him alive. But he finished with a high rating.

Republicans GAINED seats in Congress the year he was elected prez, so the country - including Democrats - were still skewing right.

Gingrich, Bob Michael, Dick Armey and Trent Lott were tough opponents.

After Katrina, people - even conservatives - realized that GWB did not know how to govern. Dems stomped Republicans in the '06 election as a result and again in '08.

[BeatleBoot]

2. The wave of change that hit last year

and even the year before that, only happens once every 25 to 30 years or so.

Obama's win was clearly more decisive than Clinton's, given the 3 way race of 1992.

The guy has only been in office for what, 6 weeks or so?

All the belly aching you hear are pukes trying to find themselves after the ass-whipping.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Post Katrina. In '06 Republicans got whupped. nt

[BeatleBoot]

4. Truly the tipping point

yes.

[AllentownJake]

12. Katrina, Social Security Private Accounts, Terry Schiavo,

and the War in Iraq.

[NavyDavy]

5. the repukes are even pulling out their playbook from back then

in hope that it will work again....and I truly hope the Gingrich(sp?) runs

[Captain Hilts]

6. It won't work because GWB's presidency failed so thoroughly. nt

[CreekDog]

7. Clinton wasn't facing a worldwide meltdown of the economy and its institutions

Obama is.

God help him.

[sampsonblk]

8. Healthcare debacle, gays in the military and Black Hawk Down

That's your answer.

[AllentownJake]

9. George H.W. Bush was not a hated man

Most democrats didn't hate him, they may have disliked him, but nobody really hated him like we do W.

The healthcare problem was no where near as bad than as it is today. The economy wasn't great but it was nothing like this. We had just "won" a war in Iraq. The middle class was not in the middle of a total melt down. Bush I left Bill with a small to moderate mess. Not a total breakdown of every institution that the nation relies on from the federal government to the banks to the military.

You also have to remember that most Americans didn't vote for Bill Clinton. He won in a three way race. Not saying he wouldn't have won in a two way race, but the reality is that most of the electorate (people who vote) voted for somebody else. Its easy when you voted for someone else to not like the guy whose in office at the time.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. That's my point.

With all Obama is being dealt, he's sitting in good position.

Clinton's administration probably got off to the worst start of any president who was re-elected. Not many pundits thought he'd crawl back into respectability and win re-election and the Republicans were licking their chops at the prospects of running against him...especially after the mid-term elections in 1994.

Obama will be fine. The economy will be shaky for the next four years, but I do believe it will start to rebound within the next year or two. From there, I don't think the climb back to the level he needs to be to win re-election will be nearly as hard as it was for Clinton.

[AllentownJake]

11. FDR got elected 3 times during a depression

I don't think the American people were any more patient or smarter in 1936 than they will be in 2012.

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Pretty much and Reagan somehow managed to win in shit economic times.

[Captain Hilts]

15. I think they were more patient as most did not expect govt. to help them.

The shame of 'being on the dole' was strong in our culture.

Most had had no contact with the federal govt. until the R Admin.

[Captain Hilts]

14. That's exactly right. We thought he was out of touch, but he was certainly not hated.

For many, he was a 'daddy' figure that generated security. Ugh!