Washington Post: The public opinion boost President Obama received after the killing of Osama bin Laden has dissipated, and Americans’ disapproval of how he is handling the nation’s economy and the deficit has reached new highs, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
The survey portrays a broadly pessimistic mood in the country this spring as higher gasoline prices, sliding home values and a disappointing employment picture have raised fresh concerns about the pace of the economic recovery.
By 2 to 1, Americans say the country is pretty seriously on the wrong track, and nine in 10 continue to rate the economy in negative terms. Nearly six in 10 say the economy has not started to recover, regardless of what official statistics may say, and most of those who say it has improved rate the recovery as weak. [MORE]
No one should be surprised by Obama losing his Osama bounce. No one can eat a dead Osama, no one can fill their tank with a dead Osama and no one can pay their bills with a dead Osama. It is all about the economy and this WaPo/ABC News poll shows Americans are not feeling Obama on all matters of the economy.Overall, about six in 10 of those surveyed give Obama negative marks on the economy and the deficit. Significantly, nearly half strongly disapprove of his performance in these two crucial areas. Nearly two-thirds of political independents disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy, including — for the first time — a slim majority who do so strongly.
In another indicator of rapidly shifting views on economic issues, 45 percent trust congressional Republicans over the president when it comes to dealing with the economy, an 11-point improvement for the GOP since March. Still, nearly as many, 42 percent, side with Obama on this issue.
The president has sought to point to progress on the economy, particularly in the automobile industry, and to argue that the policies he put in place at the beginning of his term are working. But the combined effects of weak economic indicators and dissatisfaction among the public are adding to the political pressures on the White House as the president’s advisers look toward what could be a difficult 2012 reelection campaign.
Talked up individual economic indicators and talk about how much worse things might have been, won't save Obama from a reelection defeat if the public doesn't feel significant improvements in the economy. Obama has less than a year and a half to bring this economy back. Failure to do so will certainly spell the end of the Obama administration and usher in a Republican president.
That brings us to the second part of the WaPo/ABC News poll. The poll shows Mitt Romney taking a slight lead over Obama (49/46). All other GOP contenders are behind. This part of the poll, I pretty much dismiss. It is just too early to take these match up polls seriously. Case in point, Newt Gingrich does second best against Obama at 44% to Obama's 50%. Given Gingrich's early meltdown these numbers should be far worse. The reason they are not is because most Americans are not focused on 2012 yet. Once the primaries and debates start in earnest, I expect these numbers to change dramatically.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Washington Post
Reuters: (Reuters) - A stash of pornography was found in the hideout of Osama bin Laden by the U.S. commandos who killed him, current and former U.S. officials said on Friday.
The pornography recovered in bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad,Pakistan, consists of modern, electronically recorded video and is fairly extensive, according to the officials, who discussed the discovery with Reuters on condition of anonymity. [MORE]
Imagine that, Osama sitting around in his undies watching porn and plotting Jihad!
Like every totalitarian system, the leaders never quite live up to the standards they want to impose on everyone else. I bet if they searched the compound further they would have found a bag of pork rinds and a bottle of Jack Daniels.
As more and more info of how Bin Ladin was living comes out, he shrinks as a figure to fear and terror. Instead we begin to see him for what he alway was a pathetic joke of a psychopath.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Reuters
Politico: Former President George W. Bush has turned down President Barack Obama’s invitation to join him at ground zero on Thursday, citing his desire to avoid the media glare.
"President Bush appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight,” Bush spokesman David Sherzer told POLITICO in an email Tuesday night. “He continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror.”
Obama — who has sharply criticized Bush for neglecting the hunt for bin Laden by invading Iraq — made the offer to Bush shortly after he decided on his New York trip, according to two people familiar with the situation. [MORE]
I wonder if Bush is being a classy guy or is he being politically astute in this decision?
On one hand, it is classy to allow Obama the full spotlight he has earned. Despite not catching Osama, much of what Bush did to keep us safe after 9/11 played an important role in finding Osama. Plus, there are still strong memories linking Bush to Ground Zero. Thus for Bush to attend, there is some possibility for him to steal a little of Obama's thunder.
On the other hand it would be politically wise not to attend, given that Obama has not missed a single opportunity to blame Bush and throw him under the bus for everything under the sun. Furthermore, Obama has been known to slam his invited guests (e.g. Paul Ryan during Obama's deficit speech). There is good reason for Bush to believe that his attendance was required only to serve as a visual punching bag for Obama.
Whatever the case maybe, we won't know for sure until Obama is out of office, because Bush follows the unofficial rule of past presidents not criticizing the current president.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Politico
Now that Osama Bin Ladin has been killed under Obama's watch, people are starting to wonder how this will effect Obama's political prospects for 2012. In the immediate future it is pretty obvious that Obama will get a bump in the polls, as well as he should. From all accounts Obama chose the more gutsy plan of sending in Navy Seals rather than a Tomahawk cruise missile. The payoff is that we have proof Osama is dead.
Despite the benefits and the good will, I think the ladies of The View are way off in thinking that Obama has 2012 in the bag now. The bump Obama will receive from bagging Osama won't last all the way to November 2012. As Will Jacobson from Legal Insurrection points out 2012 is all about the economy and big government. So long as gasoline, food prices and the threat of higher taxes loom, Obama's 2012 prospects will remain shaky.
The only way I see Osama's death translating into guaranteed votes for Obama in 2012, is if we suffer another attack and Obama makes a credible case that he is the one who will get us justice. Other than that, Obama can only use the killing of Osama to deflect Republican criticism that he is weak when it comes to fighting terrorism.
For Republican's challenging Obama in 2012, the need to sharpen their attacks and messages on the economy has become even more crucial. They must also not get too far ahead of themselves in praising Obama's success. If they do, they risk taking the War On Terror completely off the table in 2012.
Via: MemeorandumVia: Five Thirty Five blogVia: NewsBustersVia: Legal Insurrection
National Journal: I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude.
This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.
Mitt Romney's Facebook Page: This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere.
Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the families of Osama bin Laden's many thousands of victims, and the brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in pursuit of this murderous terrorist.
This is a victory for the American people, for the victims who were heartlessly murdered on September 11 and in Al Qaeda’s other numerous attacks, and for all the peace-loving people of the world.
May God bless our troops and our intelligence services, and God bless America!
- Sarah Palin
Via: Memeorandum
Via: National Journal
Via: Mitt Romney Facebook
Via: Sarah Palin Facebook
When we were attacked on September 11, 2001, many from the Culture of Death partied in the streets of the Middle East. Yesterday, it was our turn to do the Snoopy Dance of Victory! In this age of declining American influence and resolve, it is good to have a reminder of what we are capable of as a nation.
For some stunning images from Ground Zero click here.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: ABC News
Via: Ryan Brenzier.com
ABC News: Osama bin Laden, hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, has been killed, President Obama announced tonight.
The president called the killing of bin Laden the "most significant achievement to date" in the effort to defeat al Qaeda.
"Justice has been done," Obama said.
Bin Laden was located at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which was monitored and when the time was determined to be right, the president said, he authorized a "targeted operation."
"A small team of Americans carried out the operation," Obama said. "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
DNA testing confirmed that it was bin Laden, sources told ABC News. [MORE]
This is great news, we finally have some justice and have caught the mastermind of 9/11. Sooner or later there will be the typical left vs. right perspective on this event, but we really should just rejoice as Americans for having justice served.
On the down side, we should all gird our loins because no doubt the Islamic extremists will now be motivated to strike back. Hopefully, the clown patrol (Janet Napolitano and James Clapper) will be on point and ready for any retaliation.
