Overall ratings remain stable near 50%

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama’s approval ratings remain polarized by political party and race, and continue to show a significant gap between younger and older Americans.

Job Approval Ratings of Barack Obama, by Selected=

These party, race, and age gaps have been apparent throughout Obama’s presidency.

His first-year ratings were the most polarized for a president in Gallup history, with an average 65-point gap between Republicans and Democrats. Obama’s approval ratings have become slightly more polarized thus far in his second year in office, with an average 69-point gap between Democrats (83%) and Republicans (14%) since late January.
Obama’s approval ratings among non-Hispanic whites slid below the majority level in July 2009, and have not returned to that mark, generally hovering around 40% since mid-November. Meanwhile, his approval ratings among blacks have been stable throughout his presidency, right around 90%.
Though the latest 58% weekly approval average among 18- to 29-year-olds is among the lowest Obama has registered to date, it remains his highest current rating among the four age groups and is significantly better than his rating among senior citizens. Older Americans last gave Obama an approval rating above 50% last July. The gap in ratings between young adults and senior citizens has averaged 16 points during Obama’s presidency.

More broadly, Obama’s 50% approval average among all Americans for the week ending May 9 continues an extended run of stable ratings for him. Since mid-November, Obama’s approval ratings have narrowly ranged between 47% and 51%.

Weekly Average Job Approval Ratings for Barack Obama, November 2009-May 2010 Trend

Thus, little Obama has done in recent months — including his work to help pass landmark healthcare legislation — and little that has happened recently on his watch have caused a significant, lasting shift in the way Americans evaluate the job he is doing as president.

Although his second-year ratings have been highly stable, he is on pace to follow most other presidents in seeing a significant drop from his first-year to his second-year average. Obama averaged 57% approval his first year in office — mainly because his job approval scores during the initial months of his presidency were in the 60% range — and has averaged 49% thus far in his second year.

Explore Obama’s approval ratings in-depth and compare to past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.

blog comment: After reading the article i would have to say … if you are a Democrat or an Independent and support President Obama … good news

82% approve of the job done by President Obama—Democrats

47% approve of the job done — Independents

89% Blacks approve of President Obama

43% Whites approve of President Obama

18-29yrs old 58% support Obama

39-49yrs old 50% support Obama

50-64yrs old 48% support Obama

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Nordstom resell used underwear—and there’s video evidence!

05/17/2010 Nativegrl77

editor

by Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff, on Wed Mar 3, 2010 12:41pm PST

Have you ever bought underwear at Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, or Nordstrom? Because we have. And we’re disgusted at the thought that some of the panties we purchased may have been used. In a new “Today Show” segment, Secret Filth Exposed, reporters uncovered these shops putting used garments back on the sales floor. And to prove it, they themselves purchased undies from these stores, cut out the tags, peeled out protective pantyliners, stained them with baby oil, and took them back to the store a week later. Not only were they issued refunds, “Today Show” cameras caught employees re-tagging the items and putting them back on the shelves to be resold at all of the above mentioned stores. Gross!

One woman who worked at three seperate Victoria’s Secret stores said it was regular practice to resell underwear that was returned and may have been used. She said if the items came back to them with an odor, they would “put it on a hanger, hang it up to dry overnight, re-tag it the next day, and put it back on the sales floor.”

Though items were also purchased and returned to J.Crew, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Express, reporters did not see their items go back to the sales floor. But we’re completely grossed out that five other major retailers did resell the underswear. Perhaps we all need to take some time to think about where and how you purchase your undergarments. Somehow it is not illegal to sell used underwear, despite the dangerous germs and diseases which may linger in the material. Consider us horrified.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Monday in Congress …

05/17/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 2pmET

The Senate will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.

Call your Senator today ! end Republican stalling …time to get Wall Street,Bank and Insurance Industry Reform

The following amendments are pending to
Dodd-Lincoln #3739 (Substitute) to S.3217:
– Brownback #3789, as further modified (automobile manufacturers)
– Snowe-Pryor #3883 (small business)
– Specter #3776 (civil action)
– Leahy #3823 (antitrust laws)
– Whitehouse #3746 (States rights)
– Cardin #4050 (resource extraction issuers)

Senator Reid then filed cloture on the Dodd-Lincoln substitute amendment and S.3217, Wall Street Reform. Senator Reid said that he had a conversation with Senator McConnell and they agreed that they will continue to process amendments tomorrow and Tuesday. Under Rule 22, the cloture vote will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday.

Senator Dodd then asked consent to set aside pending amendments in order to call up the Bond-Dodd amendment #4056. Senator Wyden asked to modify the request to allow Wyden to call up amendment #4019 (secret holds). Senator Risch objected to Wyden’s request and the original request was granted.

By unanimous consent, the following amendments are in order:

– Cardin-Lugar #4050;
– Corker re: preemption, and
– Carper side-by-side to Corker amendment re: preemption

Votes:
Rockefeller #3758, as modified (FTC) was agreed to by voice vote.

151: Crapo motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Crapo amendment #4020: (GSEs on Budget);
Not agreed to: 47-46

152: Cornyn amendment #3986: (IMF);
Agreed To: 94-0

– Udall (CO) #4016 (credit scores) was agreed to by voice vote.

– Bond amendnet #4056 (Angel Investors) was agreed to by voice vote

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S.Res.533, a resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:30pmET on May 18th 2010

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Monday mashup

05/17/2010 Nativegrl77

It’s going to be a week of enlightenment for We the People … Super Tuesday is here and while primaries do matter what we all will definitely glean from it all is what side are Americans really on. The effort to educate recruit and mobilize Democrats for special and mid-term elections is still a work in progress. It’s hard to believe any true American is willing to put people into office that practice exclusion or do in fact state they want less government but ask for money and advice from Wall Street, Big Banks and the insurance industry. The Primaries will …or should help organizers see just who isn’t getting out there, who isn’t motivated to vote and this could be very important leading up to November elections.

FYI … people on the right are crafting a few falsehoods around the Elena Kagan appointment to the Supreme Court; please get the facts go to: White House site and read the information about Kagan; you will see this is another crazy show … a stalling tactic and effort to portray her in the worst light ever … remember the comments and strange behavior during the Sonia Sotomayer appointment? the mis-understanding of saying what was really meant by “a wise Latina” The questions will be just as strange the length probably as long but Kagan probably will be the next Justice; a woman justice.

BP’s only focus has been capping the oil dump leak with top hats, holders and tubes and while that has gone on they either have forgotten or have no idea how to deal with what is going on with the plumes they are dispersing … strange, because it just seems like someone should be trying to siphon those plumes … is that a novel idea or just common sense. It is also apparent that what was going on at MMS, other regulators as well as the EPA before President Obama was elected has to be reformed; this is another learning moment for what happens behind closed doors, handled by Republicans… the light has been turned on turbo style and while this oil dump, regulations and the Gulf Coast economy on his plate … who better than President Obama to reform the entire system. It’s obvious a lot of what has been going on was in the hands of Republicans including the winking and handshakes … it’s disgusting

Other News …

In a deal reached with Brazil and Turkey, Iran has agreed to ship most of its enriched uranium abroad and would receive medium-enriched fuel rods for its medical reactors in return. The agreement is nearly identical to the U.N.-drafted plan backed by the U.S. and its allies and could “deflate a U.S.-led push for tougher sanctions” on Iran.TP

**Hank Jones died at 91; Jazz pianist/composer-Grammy lifetime achievement award Winner

**The President signs the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act into law/protect the rights of journalists

**The President has issued an executive order to get an independent commission started

**A refinery has exploded in Huston,TX

**1.9million dart gun kits are being recalled as 2 children have died

Four Hispanic House Republicans told Roll Call that “the GOP must tread cautiously on immigration so as not to reverse the gains the party has begun to make with Hispanic voters on other issues.” “Part of the reason we have done so poorly with Hispanics was that there are a number of people who really went out of their way not to solve these issues but to stir them up,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) said.TP

C-SPAN …

Today at 8pm (ET) on C-SPAN
Campaign Rallies for Pennsylvania 12th Congressional District Special Election Candidates

BP Exec. again Defends Containment Efforts to Congress

Nearly a month after the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, BP America, Inc. President Lamar McKay appears once more before Congress to explain the new techniques being tried to halt the spill. Also, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will provide the federal government’s response to the oil rig disaster.

Senate Hearing on C-SPAN at 2:30pm ET
Previous Hearings on Gulf Oil Spill

Candidates Prepare for State Primaries

On Tuesday, four state primaries will be held that may shape Congressional elections in November. In Pennsylvania, Mark Critz (D) and Tim Burns (R) are in a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha (D). Also, Incumbent Sen. Specter (D-PA) defends his seat from challenger U.S. Representative Joe Sestak (D). Kentucky holds a primary for the GOP U.S. Senate race with Trey Grayson, Rand Paul, Gurley L. Martin, John Stephenson and Jon J. Scribner. Lastly, challengers Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and D.C. Morrison are up against incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Arkansas U.S. Senate Democratic Primary.

Republicans continue to offer Amendments to Financial Reform Bill

Senators continue work on the financial reform bill this week with debate on Republican amendments, including an amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that would give the U.S. representative at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the right to oppose future international rescue packages over repayment concerns. This and other amendments have been introduced by concerns over the Greek Financial Crisis. A cloture vote to end debate on the bill may happen as early as Wednesday.

Senate: 2pm ET on C-SPAN2