Obama, late 2009 / Reagan, late 1981: A comparison

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<-Mohammed
Aug 4, 2009
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With a very similar economic situation and trouble in the middle east left over from the last president, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama had the following Approval ratings at roughly this point in their presidency:

Ronald Reagan, Fourth Quarter 1981 Approval Rating (Gallup):
Approve: 49% / Disapprove: 41%


Ronald Reagan From the People's Perspective: A Gallup Poll Review

Barack Obama, Current Approval Rating (RCP Average):
Approve: 53.3 / Disapprove: 40.8%


RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval

Seems about even, Obama may be a little ahead, though the gallup poll was a month or to later in the year.

There are many other parallels:

  • Both inherited mounting debt and unemployment from their predecessor
  • Both inherited much increased commodity prices from their predecessor
  • Both were very popular a few months earlier (in the 60%'s)
  • Both dealt with their economic situations by increasing the deficit

Interesting. Thoughts?
 
With a very similar economic situation and trouble in the middle east left over from the last president, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama had the following Approval ratings at roughly this point in their presidency:

Ronald Reagan, Fourth Quarter 1981 Approval Rating (Gallup):
Approve: 49% / Disapprove: 41%


Ronald Reagan From the People's Perspective: A Gallup Poll Review

Barack Obama, Current Approval Rating (RCP Average):
Approve: 53.3 / Disapprove: 40.8%


RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval

Seems about even, Obama may be a little ahead, though the gallup poll was a month or to later in the year.

There are many other parallels:

  • Both inherited mounting debt and unemployment from their predecessor
  • Both inherited much increased commodity prices from their predecessor
  • Both were very popular a few months earlier (in the 60%'s)
  • Both dealt with their economic situations by increasing the deficit

Interesting. Thoughts?

And the anti-debt person chimes in......I wish Obama would actually change the habit of defecit spending that every president i've lived under, besides Clinton, practiced.

Other than that i have no issues raised by your post :)
 
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So, all the crazy partisan banter from both sides aside, this presidency seems to be shaping up to be another Reagan-esque presidency?

I'm feeling pretty comfortable with that, except perhaps also for the deficit spending part.
 
Ronald Reagan was pro-America and spoke glowing of his Love and Admiration for this country, Obama has yet to say anything about America without adding "I'm sorry"

Reagan turned the economy back over to business and entrepreneurs and ignited a boom that only ended with the election of the Marxists Obama. Obama has nationalized whole industries and has threatened our AAA credit rating.

Reagan couldn't wait to confront and defeat our enemies; Obama couldn't wait to blow them
 
difference is foreign policy

in 1981, foreign countries were developing a new found respect for America after the abysmal embarrassments of the Carter years, in 2009, foreign countries are developing a new found disrespect of America's authority after the failed appeasement campaigns of the early Obama administration
 
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Ronald Reagan was pro-America and spoke glowing of his Love and Admiration for this country, Obama has yet to say anything about America without adding "I'm sorry"

A complete falsehood.

Reagan turned the economy back over to business and entrepreneurs and ignited a boom that only ended with the election of the Marxists Obama. Obama has nationalized whole industries and has threatened our AAA credit rating.

So Ronald Reagan decreased supervision of industry? Judging by the causes of our latest economic problems, that would be a bad thing, not a good thing.

As far as "the boom", there have been several ups and downs in the economy since then, starting with the recession of George H.W. Bush's administration.

And the latest economic downturn started during George W Bush's administration. In fact twice as much growth in unemployment occurred during the Bush administration than the Obama administration. Not too mention the fact that the Dow fell 6000 point in the months BEFORE Obama took office, and has gone up 2000 points since.

Reagan couldn't wait to confront and defeat our enemies; Obama couldn't wait to blow them

What does this even mean? You mean our enemies in Afghanistan that Mr Obama has ramped up the troops levels against, like Reagan ramped up the defense budget against the USSR?

Why do you lie so much Frank?
 
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difference is foreign policy

in 1981, foreign countries were developing a new found respect for America after the abysmal embarrassments of the Carter years, in 2009, foreign countries are developing a new found disrespect of America's authority after the failed appeasement campaigns of the early Obama administration

Actually, foreign countries are now starting to warm up to us again after the dismal foreign policy choices of the Bush administration.

So, another parallel there. Thanks. :clap2::clap2::clap2:
 
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So, we're trying to frame the flaming Marxist radical in the same light as the reputed conservative....Yet again. :rolleyes:

Gettin' pretty desperate in Leftyland.

A rhetorical answer to a relatively straight-forward question.
 
Ronald Reagan was pro-America and spoke glowing of his Love and Admiration for this country, Obama has yet to say anything about America without adding "I'm sorry"

A complete falsehood.

Reagan turned the economy back over to business and entrepreneurs and ignited a boom that only ended with the election of the Marxists Obama. Obama has nationalized whole industries and has threatened our AAA credit rating.

So Ronald Reagan decreased supervision of industry? Judging by the causes of our latest economic problems, that would be a bad thing, not a good thing.

As far as "the boom", there have been several ups and downs in the economy since then, starting with the recession of George H.W. Bush's administration.

And the latest economic downturn started during George W Bush's administration. In fact twice as much growth in unemployment occurred during the Bush administration than the Obama administration. Not too mention the fact that the Dow fell 6000 point in the months BEFORE Obama took office, and has gone up 2000 points since.

Reagan couldn't wait to confront and defeat our enemies; Obama couldn't wait to blow them

What does this even mean? You mean our enemies in Afghanistan that Mr Obama has ramped up the troops levels against, like Reagan ramped up the defense budget against the USSR?

Why do you lie so much Frank?

Then and Dem. Here's what's Happened to the US Economy since the Democrats took Control of Congress:

1) Consumer confidence stood at @ 102.9. Consumer confidence plummet 54 which is an increase over the last 2 months! That’s down from 102!

2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon. The cost of regular gasoline soars to over 4.12 and is now $2.58 a gallon;

‘With Skyrocketing Gas Prices, Americans Can No Longer Afford Rubber Stamp Congress” Nancy Pelosi Monday, April 24, 2006

Barack Obama: “I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment.” June 2008

3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%. Unemployment is now 9.7%

4) Gold was $625 down from $700 in May 06 when it looked like Reps might hold control. Spot Gold 9/17/2009 $1012.

5) Barrel of Crude $60. Barrel of Crude $72 (9/17/09) Price of crude falls as US Economic activity continue to contract under Socialist policies of Obama & Dems.

6) Value of Dollar (euro) 1.28. Value of Dollar (euro) 1.47

7) Deficit $248 Billion. The Number is so huge we need to use scientific notation. It’s 1.8 X10^12 !!

8) US Debt $8.4T. We need to use Scientific notation again because the debt ceiling was just raised to 1.2X10^13!

“America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.” -- BH Obama
 
Ronald Reagan was pro-America and spoke glowing of his Love and Admiration for this country, Obama has yet to say anything about America without adding "I'm sorry"

A complete falsehood.

Reagan turned the economy back over to business and entrepreneurs and ignited a boom that only ended with the election of the Marxists Obama. Obama has nationalized whole industries and has threatened our AAA credit rating.

So Ronald Reagan decreased supervision of industry? Judging by the causes of our latest economic problems, that would be a bad thing, not a good thing.

As far as "the boom", there have been several ups and downs in the economy since then, starting with the recession of George H.W. Bush's administration.

And the latest economic downturn started during George W Bush's administration. In fact twice as much growth in unemployment occurred during the Bush administration than the Obama administration. Not too mention the fact that the Dow fell 6000 point in the months BEFORE Obama took office, and has gone up 2000 points since.

Reagan couldn't wait to confront and defeat our enemies; Obama couldn't wait to blow them

What does this even mean? You mean our enemies in Afghanistan that Mr Obama has ramped up the troops levels against, like Reagan ramped up the defense budget against the USSR?

Why do you lie so much Frank?

Obama looks like he handing Afghanistan to the Taliban, but time will tell
 
So, we're trying to frame the flaming Marxist radical in the same light as the reputed conservative....Yet again. :rolleyes:

Gettin' pretty desperate in Leftyland.

A rhetorical answer to a relatively straight-forward question.
It's a loaded question using extremely and purposefully limited criteria.

Like I said...Getting real desperate in Libloonland.
 
With a very similar economic situation and trouble in the middle east left over from the last president, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama had the following Approval ratings at roughly this point in their presidency:

Ronald Reagan, Fourth Quarter 1981 Approval Rating (Gallup):
Approve: 49% / Disapprove: 41%


Ronald Reagan From the People's Perspective: A Gallup Poll Review

Barack Obama, Current Approval Rating (RCP Average):
Approve: 53.3 / Disapprove: 40.8%


RealClearPolitics - Election Other - President Obama Job Approval

Seems about even, Obama may be a little ahead, though the gallup poll was a month or to later in the year.

There are many other parallels:

  • Both inherited mounting debt and unemployment from their predecessor
  • Both inherited much increased commodity prices from their predecessor
  • Both were very popular a few months earlier (in the 60%'s)
  • Both dealt with their economic situations by increasing the deficit

Interesting. Thoughts?


Reagan became president right before the North Shore oil in Alaska started to flow.

I can describe Reagan in one word, "Lucky."
 
I've seen this canard trotted out: that Obama is really just like Reagan. He even wears a necktie sometimes.
Yeah, the two are nothing alike. Their presidencies are nothing alike. Obama is more and more like Jimmy Carter, who succeeded after 12 years of GOP presidents and benefited from overall wearines with the GOP after Nixon and Ford.
I'd love to see comparisons of approval ratings of Carter and Obama.
 
Then and Dem. Here's what's Happened to the US Economy since the Democrats took Control of Congress:

Oh, I see, now we're changing the subject to the Democratic Congress. I wasn't aware that Congress and the President were one and the same. Thanks for clarifying that.

And, Reagan had a Democratic congress helping him out, or did you forget about that? That is one difference I guess, an opposition majority in Congress, I'll give you that.

Oh, and there's one thing you forgot to mention about that Democratic Congress... They were unable to pass anything worthwhile because of a President that either Vetoed or threatened to Veto everything they tried to pass, and a minority in the Senate that threatened to philabuster anything the president had only threatened to Veto.

Which could indeed have accounted for most of the issues listed above, as they were unable to significantly change anything that had been passed in the preceding Republican congress.
 
I've seen this canard trotted out: that Obama is really just like Reagan. He even wears a necktie sometimes.
Yeah, the two are nothing alike. Their presidencies are nothing alike. Obama is more and more like Jimmy Carter, who succeeded after 12 years of GOP presidents and benefited from overall wearines with the GOP after Nixon and Ford.
I'd love to see comparisons of approval ratings of Carter and Obama.

Actually Carter's were significantly HIGHER than either president at this point:

9/77-12/77 Gallup: Approve: 54 / Disapprove: 29

And were significantly higher in the preceding months, with a high of 75% in March.

Data Access-Presidential Approval

Making his numbers unlike either.
 
Then and Dem. Here's what's Happened to the US Economy since the Democrats took Control of Congress:


Oh, and there's one thing you forgot to mention about that Democratic Congress... They were unable to pass anything worthwhile because of a President that either Vetoed or threatened to Veto everything they tried to pass, and a minority in the Senate that threatened to philabuster anything the president had only threatened to Veto.

Which could indeed have accounted for most of the issues listed above, as they were unable to significantly change anything that had been passed in the preceding Republican congress.

Wow. Were you alive during the last 8 years, much less the last 29?
Bush issued a veto a total of 12 times. Of those 4 were over-ridden and 2 were passed later with his approval. So he was hardly the veto machine you make him out to be. In fact, an early criticism (on the right) was that he didnt veto enough.
That compares to Clinton using the veto 37 times in the same period.
As for Reagan being loved by the media, what are you smoking? The media hated Reagan, portraying him as senile, bumbling, and out of touch. They were hoping to pin Iran Contra on him and make him resign. That was the whole purpose of those absurd hearings.
 

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