Obama’s Popularity

Opinion polls point to a fall in President Obama’s popularity to such an extent that he is approaching levels of the least popular presidents in the history of the United States. Perhaps the most prominent of the reasons for the fall in this popularity is the economic situation. The average American citizen’s emotions are no longer stirred by speeches full of resonance or by rose-tinted promises to overcome the economic crisis and establish well-being as long as this approach doesn’t improve the economic situation via improving salaries in sectors directly related to it.

The language of numbers alone, and not the language of words and promises, is capable of changing the way the president is viewed and improving his popularity. This is the real indication of the relationship of the president with his citizens. One is a successful president only as long as they are able to fulfill their electoral promises and to improve the life of the average individual. Perhaps this issue reflects the pragmatic mentality of the American people, the compass of which moves only in accordance with their interests.

Obama made many promises during the electoral campaign, and these promises became a burden to him when he took the reins of power. This has harmed the Democratic Party, which could lose its chance to secure a governing majority to the Republican Party in the coming midterm elections.

So far, the president has not been able to fulfill even one of his electoral promises, and this is what increases the pressure on his party, which is in an extremely critical electoral position. Perhaps after the elections, Obama realized that he went too far with his promises for change, as he is currently incapable of any of them for various reasons. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which disrupted marine life for several months, made the situation worse.

Perhaps Obama doubts his ability to succeed in the second presidential period and beyond, and his party is worried by the predictions for the upcoming elections in which the party may lose out to the Republicans. This comes at a time when popular pressure on the president, as well as on his party in general, is increasing.

Nobody is denying President Obama’s intelligence, but the economic challenges through which the United States is living have tied his hands in the midst of a flood of opposition and discontent on the American street. At the same time, Republicans are taking this opportunity to put more pressure on the president and his administration.

If the Republicans do win the midterm elections, it is unlikely that the president will be able to implement any of the promises he set out for himself. This is because, in the current climate, he will be in a position that does not allow him any room to maneuver. This could destabilize the Democratic Party, which will find difficulty in adopting policies and laws without a quorum or effective power to create and pass them. The party, like the president, will be unable to move and will have no room to maneuver.

It appears that the coming years will be difficult for the president and his party. This could lead the president to grab on to any opportunity to achieve political goals. Perhaps the peace process will be the last achievement that the president and his party will attempt to complete, just as it occurred to President Carter when his popularity was at an all-time low.