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Obama's 'likeability' fading fast
American Thinker ^ | 05/08/2012

Posted on 05/08/2012 6:33:32 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Ever since he burst on the national scene, up from obscurity as an Illinois State Senator addicted to voting present, his purported "likeability" has been cited as one of Barack Obama's principal political assets. Polling has historically shown that even as the public may disapprove his policies, they tell pollsters that they like him personally.

To be honest, he has always left me cold, because I recognize in him the sort of figure I encountered many times in my academic career: someone who masks his lack of substance with a big smile, jokes (sometimes mean jokes at the expense of others), and a stock of glib answers masked in abstractions that often do not stand up well under close analysis.

Last night on Hannity, Dick Morris reported that the last few weeks have been a disaster for Obama's likability, and that his likability has plummeted to the same levels as approval of his policies. Because television is unfriendly to documentation, I cannot cite the polls Morris claimed support his conclusion. But there is other evidence that the likability factor may have gone past its expiration date, that the illusion has been broken as Americans re-vet their president.

One of America's premier liberal columnists, Richard Cohen of Washington Post, has written a surprising column, lecturing Obama about his failure to build important political relationships, contrasted with the master of political power in DC, LBJ. The subtext, unmistakably, is that this guy is not very nice, and people around him are catching on. The entire column is worth a read, but here are some excerpts:

"Where Johnson was strong and unparalleled - personal relationships with much of Washington - Obama is frighteningly weak. Last week I asked a member of the Senate if he knows of anyone who really knows Obama ...

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: likeability; obama; obamacampaign; obamadisliked; obamalikeability
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To: SeekAndFind

The signs were pretty clear before the 2008 election. He said nothing of substance or specifics, only feel-good generalities around why he was THE solution for our country.

The people had a blank slate to pin their hopes and dreams upon, often competing visions, but it didn’t matter since there was nothing offered to use as a benchmark.

And now some suggest that we had better reelect this guy or there will be riots in the streets.

If so, the violence will be temporary. But the nation will finally have a chance to begin its recovery when “the One” is nothing more than a bad nightmare.


21 posted on 05/08/2012 7:12:53 AM PDT by Tigerized ("..and whack 'em, and whack 'em, and whack 'em!' cried the Toad in ecstasy." (also my 2012 strategy))
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To: Verginius Rufus
It's the people who laugh at his stupid attempt at humor or at just about anything else he tries to be “cute” about.

Liberal are deranged.

22 posted on 05/08/2012 7:13:23 AM PDT by yobid (Si vis pacem, para bellum, If you wish for peace, prepare for war)
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To: SeekAndFind
Is a coup possible, forcing Obama off the ticket? It would certainly be highly unlikely. But keeping in mind the fact that Obama is a man with many secrets, parts of his resume that have no details, it can't be ruled out. Politics can be full of surprises.

This is an ever increasing scenario ... Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his investigative posse may bring this issue to a head.

23 posted on 05/08/2012 7:26:07 AM PDT by BluH2o
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To: Verginius Rufus

You have summed a lot up with a gem of a word, “sneering,” that really encapsulates the man/child pantload. I too do not understand the reference to likeability. Turned off by the whole package from the beginning.


24 posted on 05/08/2012 7:29:57 AM PDT by Minnesota fox
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To: SeekAndFind
I can't believe that a sitting -on a golf cart - president, who writes CYA memos ahead of time to blame our men and women in uniform should any military operations go askew, could be perceived as unlikeable.

Anybody can be brave, but to have the self-preserving foresight to blame others pre-emtively? That shows a lot of character. /s

25 posted on 05/08/2012 7:33:47 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (When we cease to be good we'll cease to be great. Be for Goode.)
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To: rawcatslyentist

But at least if you get more conservatives in both the House and Senate at least they CAN put Romney’s feet to the fire.


26 posted on 05/08/2012 7:39:12 AM PDT by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Hard to fade any further with me.


27 posted on 05/08/2012 8:29:26 AM PDT by bgill
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To: SeekAndFind

The master of disaster will now have to change his name again,this time he will opt for the name of Dick.
History will record it as so.


28 posted on 05/08/2012 9:25:29 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: thethirddegree

He knows he’s a phony and fraud and doesn’t risk letting anyone get close enough to see what we’ve all figured out.


29 posted on 05/08/2012 10:05:11 AM PDT by surrey
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To: thethirddegree
He is probably bisexual...

Whenever I see the word "bisexual" I remember what I read in a "Dear Abby" column one time. She said that experts told her that there is really no such thing as a bisexual. Given the choice between a member of the opposite sex and their same sex these "bisexuals" will ALWAYS choose their same sex.

30 posted on 05/08/2012 10:28:19 AM PDT by OldPossum
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