CBS POLL: Obama approval inches up to 48% (+3), highest since April. 82% support START.

[jefferson_dem]

President Barack Obama’s overall job approval rating is up slightly in this poll, from 45% last month to 48% now. 42% disapprove. Approval among independents has risen as well, from 40% last month to 45% now.

...

Against the backdrop of the new START agreement and the delay in ratification, Americans overwhelmingly favor the idea of the U.S. and Russia coming to an agreement to limit nuclear weapons. These views are similar to those held more than thirty years ago, as the cold war raged: in 1979, 77% favored the idea.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/poll_Obama_120310.pdf?tag=contentMain;contentBody

[CJCRANE]

1. K & R nt

[WI_DEM]

2. There really is a reservoir of good will, still, for Obama

given the relatively stable numbers he has had with high unemployment and everything else. He is well positioned to make a comeback, but he really needs to fight harder and take on the GOP.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Well, if people on the left want him to take on Republicans more forcefully,

this isn't really incentive for him to do so.

[jenmito]

4. K&R. It's at the highest approval since APRIL?! How much coverage will THIS get?

None.

[cilla4progress]

5. What!

I've given up on him. It's not what I voted for. I voted for someone to fight for me against the wealthy establishment. To vote for what's right 1st, and prioritize "compromise" after that.

Bait and switch.

[great white snark]

6. Sorry that people feel differently than you.

:shrug:

[cilla4progress]

9. I'm interested...

how do YOU feel?

[treestar]

12. "fight for you against the wealthy establishment"

That is very vague. Very self centered, unless you mean it generally. And Obama may think he is doing that, you just don't agree with his way. "Fighting" for a President involves making deals with Congress. They have power, too. The "wealthy establishment" is not considered evil per se in this society - many have jobs as a result of it.

[cilla4progress]

13. Take my lead from top economists, progressives

1) I am in agreement with Krugman, Steiglitz, Reich, Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, Thom Hartman, Ed Schultz - many others, Nobel prize-winners, former administration officials, economists, current legislators, progressives, who have, albeit more eloquently, expressed the same disappointment in and criticism of Obama's faltering leadership on many fronts, in particular, on the economy, and on behalf of working people.
2) Of course I mean it more broadly than myself.

He's a lovely man, I believe his heart is in the right place, but he is not the fighter we need in the White House. At many turns I've expected (and expectation turning to hope) that he would stand strong and at least make an impassioned stand on behalf of working people. I believe, as do many others, that he could show more leadership in bringing to bear the promise of his campaign.

I do also believe that there needs to be a grassroots movement to push Obama left; but, as head of the Democratic party, he has a large role in generating the animus. I think he blew his huge mandate for change in '08, primarily by capitulating, from the size of the stimulus on.

I have been the strongest of Obama supporters from the beginning. I am losing faith and confidence. Perhaps most importantly, I'm on the same page with Velma Hart, who also became "exhausted of defending" Obama.

[yodermon]

7. ..supporting evidence that DU is a bubble of left-wing obama-bashing.

i include myself in that group.

[cilla4progress]

14. I don't agree

Have you seen today's cover of today's NY TImes http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/opinion/03krugman.html?_r=1&hp

Krugman: "Freezing Out Hope" snip:

"After the Democratic “shellacking” in the midterm elections, everyone wondered how President Obama would respond. Would he show what he was made of? Would he stand firm for the values he believes in, even in the face of political adversity?


On Monday, we got the answer: he announced a pay freeze for federal workers. This was an announcement that had it all. It was transparently cynical; it was trivial in scale, but misguided in direction; and by making the announcement, Mr. Obama effectively conceded the policy argument to the very people who are seeking — successfully, it seems — to destroy him."

[yodermon]

15. i include Krugman in that bubble. However,

The poll probably lags this latest cave-in, so we'll see how the numbers are next week.

[cilla4progress]

16. Yup

[Larkspur]

8. If Obama's poll ratings remain below 50% doesn't that signal he will lose the General Election?

I mean over half of the country doesn't approve of his job performance right now. Course that may change before 2012, but if the unemployment rate stays about the same and the GOP continue screwing the economy, Obama could be a one-term wonder.

[Jennicut]

11. Clinton's approval rating did not bounce back until mid 2005, W. had

an approval rating in May 2004 that was in the low 40's after the Abu Ghraib prison stuff broke. You cannot predict what will happen in two years.

[RichGirl]

19. You think that all...

the dems who disapprove of him are going to vote for the republican candidate?????

[Larkspur]

22. They may not vote for President or could vote for the Green Party

They don't have to vote Democrat and Republican isn't usually the only other choice on the ballot.

[DrToast]

20. Not necessarily, but it's usually a bad sign

Harry Reid won this year with a sub-50% approval rating because the other candidate was crazy.

That said, there's still time for him to get is rating back up.

[Still a Democrat]

10. The ratings are nothing short of incredibly high

given the state of the economy and the constant negative drumbeat of the media telling us how unpopular he is.

[joe1991]

21. compared to any other pol, he's v-e-r-y popular

his numbers seem to be in line or ahead of Clinton and Reagan at similiar times,
I think anything above 45% is an easy slide into a second term.

two points:

Most dems want him to be MORE liberal, so we're not going to vote GOP.

of the GOP retreads running for 2012, none are as popular as Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

17. Ah, news from the real world.

[CakeGrrl]

23. Almost jarring any more. n/t

[young but wise]

18. ......

This shows that people think he's a decent person, trying to fix this mess, and not
some evil person trying to ruin our lives on purpose.

[impik]

24. Hee. Hilarious.

[jefferson_dem]

25. DU Bubble Boys and Bubble Girls ... meet reality.

:)