The country is...

Right Direction - 45.8

Wrong Track 45.8

source - real clear politics

wow

yeah, look at the graph.  Stunning.

I watch events and I imagine the History channel / someone making a documentary of this time in history at some point in the future... like in 50 or a 100 years.... 200 years.  This really puts a perspective on if for me for some reason.

LOL Elsa I thought I was the only one who did that. 

Laughing.

 This week..

Right Direction - 43.1%

Wrong direction 48.6 %

Source

This is for June 23, 2008. Where do you think we go from here??

I think as his 'honeymoon' period winds down, his approval ratings will follow.  It could just be me, but I think people have been patiently waiting, giving him a chance but while they've been waiting, everything that makes this country great is being up ended.  And I think that there's a lot of anger below the surface about this.

I honestly don't know because the people I personally know fall into 2 very polarized groups - folks that think capitalism is evil, and socialism is the most compassionate way, and the other group thinks that liberty, following the constitution, and a true open market are the best (and they are mightily pissed).

The first group seems to be giving the President a lot of margin of error, though he is continuing a lot of policies from the former administration. That guy sure has some glamour on him.

Dan Froomkin got fired from the Wash Post last week, one of the few journalists on the left who would call him on stuff.

I agree Jilly.  I think a lot of people are losing faith in both parties.  On the glamour subject, I don't know if you saw the President's press conference today but the media finally actually asked him some really tough questions. 

What do you envision, Elsa?  (the History Channel special will be like, I mean) I think that we frequently reimagine the past in startling ways.  Suddenly, after the haze before Pluto in Capricorn, it is the fault of the maverick hedge fund managers and the housing boom, someone wrote a book about the Roaring 2000s and the inevitable bust.  I learned about the Great Depression as though it would never happen again.  Nouriel Rubini is suddenly not a doomsday prophet, but actually predicted the outcome.  It's like we gave tags to the War on Terror while it was happening, it was a hazy thing.  What do you guys think of the job Obama's doing now?  What could he do better?  I'm just sitting here hoping.  Do you think there will be a war?  Gulp.  Sometimes I think living in fear of the future is worse.  Are you afraid?

I am not afraid.

I'm afraid I might hurt my family because I won't be able to shut up.

I dont want to cause any uprisings here on the blog, but why have I recently been hearing so many folks, especially those that voted for Obama, who reside part of the time in other countries, saying, "hey, this is not cool, we need a fighter and he is not one." "At least with Bush, we knew we would be taken care of and we had someone on our side to defend and protect us".  These are people with US citizenships who are watching things happen in their country of birth and know how wrong it is and how evil and out of contol it is for regular citizens as to what to do.  when Obama says, "Let them figure it out", does he really know that THEY cannot!  The people in power have so much power that to have a legal and fair system is totally a fantasy?!  This is happening not just in Iran, but in Central America....where Chavez is gaining power very rapidly and without forces strong enough to let him know that he is out of bounds!!

Look at what is happening in North Korea, Sudan.....all over the place.  We have to all stand up!

Just because we can't hear the crackling of brush fire and bombings of buildings in other countries, does not mean it is not happening.!  Sept. 11 became a fixture for us because that was the first time that has happened here!  People across the world live with that every single day of their lives.....we need to get a grip...it is not about us as Americans, it is about all of us as a people, as humanity, as children of God. 

It's turned

Average of polls 6/10 - 6/22

right track : 42.0

Wrong track 51.2

-9.2

Source - Real clear politics

What is interesting (to me) is the reasons people would give for being "wrong track" are not the reasons I would give for being "wrong track", point being even when there is agreement, there is division!

where do you see the reasons elsa? (Or are you talking in general?)

I think change will happen when we all stop having faith in politicians. I mean, we think, oh, I'll vote. The end. Back to the TV. Really, we're not angry enough to ACT, and we just don't know how to because we're too distracted, especially with trying to make ends meet.

As for Obama, I think on the one hand it's only been 6 months, but I have to remind myself of this with seething anger at the bailouts. His and Geithner's arrogance about the whole issue pisses me off. And so does his conservative pinging of votes. Liek Sotomayer--HELLO, I didn't vote for him just because he was black, and now a semi-conservative is okay because she's Latina? Is that what I voted for????

As for Iran and Sudan, maybe we just don't have enough money. Sad, but it's true. It's hard to be isolationist in our world, but maybe we're just too broke to help as much as we should.

Yeah the glamor is getting old--I'm trying give him a year longer before I completely start hatin.'

Pinging= Pining*

where do you see the reasons elsa? (Or are you talking in general?)

Jilly, I just read people ranting about what is pissing them off and having them sway their opinion and withdraw their support and it is completely remote from anything I think. 

Right now with Jupiter and Neptune conjunct, who the hell knows what is going on. I guess what I am saying is I think the direction of the country is ridiculous but I realize that just because that poll turned does not mean people share my opinions.  I mean, I know they do not and this is just an interesting phenomenon to me.

 Also, while I am not sure because I would have to think about it, and maybe for a long time, I think this situation is fairly unique.   That is, people who agree, agree. They like or dislike something for the same (or nearly the same) reason but in this case the reasons are all over the universe and don't relate to each other at all!

"Right now with Jupiter and Neptune conjunct, who the hell knows what is going on." haha that's for durn sure haha.

Yeah when I was campaigning for my person in the last election, the supporters were all over the place in terms of core idealogies but had a foundation of beliefs in common. It was cool to see a bunch of different people get togther.

"but I realize that just because that poll turned does not mean people share my opinions. "

I've pretty much resigned myself that I am out of step & hope maybe people will "catch up" that sounds condescending but I don't know how to put it.

I think what ever people's political leanings may be the one commonality is the feeling is that we're being sold a bill of goods every week.  Like the Cap and Trade bill that passed the House.  It sounds good and very warm and fuzzy and I'm all for helping the planet but beneath the surface it's a whole other story.  http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/tst062609a.cfm?renderforprint=1

I've actually heard estimates that it would increase an average consumer's utility bills by over $100 a month.  So who knows.  But I do think we can't be afraid to take a stand, even if it is just in our own lives.

Periodically I've had to go on news "fasts" and avoid all news and I think I need to take a break again because it's just pissing me off and not fascinating me as much haha.

I feel the same from time to time Jilly.  Usually, it's when I'm in the middle of a rant and I look up to find that everyone in the house has quietly disappeared into another room.

sonah22, did you see the movie Wall-E, where all the folks are sitting staring at the tubular with their ginormous cokes and their barcoloungers too Too TOO fat to even move?  We are they!  Us are them! Our critical thinking minds have been sucked right out of our heads by the tv.  That segment of the movie was terrorizing it was so on target!

Yeah that part of Wall-E was true...but it's so hard to know what to do. I mean, it's like we become bombarded with these problems and how will we even begin when all we've been fed is to trust politicians. I suppose the only world we can really change is our own, as in on a very local level. I need a news fast also...

Tide has definitely turned, however we could easily see this reverse with the Saturn Uranus opposition.

-14 now

2 days after the election someone I know told me they thought eventually people would not going to admit they'd voted for him.  You see how these oppositions work - BAM, you're on the other side - HOWEVER we do not know how this is going end up by any shot.

Next summer should be something.

I guess we really need that Saturn in Libra. Of course the problem with me is that I did vote for Obama, I just wish he'd stand his ground more -- it doesn't mean I voted for McCain.