Approval Ratings
Obama 01/31/2010 = 49%
Reagan 01/31/1982 = 48%
Unemployment
Obama 01/31/2010 = 9.7%
Reagan 01/31/1982 = 8.6%
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
The President has to play the hand they are dealt for the good of America
George W. Bush was dealt 9/11 soon after he became President. Barack Obama was dealt a bad recession before he became president. George W. Bush focused on playing the 9/11 hand the rest of his presidency to the best interest of the American public. Barack Obama continues to complain about the hand dealt him.
I can't speak for the rest of Americans, but for all of our sakes, I hope the current president starts dealing with the issues at hand. If he does not, he most likely will be a one term president, history will not be kind to his presidency, an more importantly, America will have lost 4 years of badly needed leadership through some tough times.
I can't speak for the rest of Americans, but for all of our sakes, I hope the current president starts dealing with the issues at hand. If he does not, he most likely will be a one term president, history will not be kind to his presidency, an more importantly, America will have lost 4 years of badly needed leadership through some tough times.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Here Are The Numbers for December 2009
Approval Ratings
Obama 12/31/2009 49%
Reagan 12/31/1981 48%
Unemployment
Obama 12/31/2009 10%
Reagan 12/31/1981 8.5%
Obama 12/31/2009 49%
Reagan 12/31/1981 48%
Unemployment
Obama 12/31/2009 10%
Reagan 12/31/1981 8.5%
Monday, December 14, 2009
Here are the Numbers for November
Unemployment
Nov. 1981 = 8.3% Reagan
Nov. 2009 = 10.0% Obama
Approval Rating
Nov. 1981 = 48% Reagan
Nov. 2009 = 49% Obama
Nov. 1981 = 8.3% Reagan
Nov. 2009 = 10.0% Obama
Approval Rating
Nov. 1981 = 48% Reagan
Nov. 2009 = 49% Obama
Sunday, December 13, 2009
For a combination of amateur historian and pseudo scientist , right now is a very unique time in American History. From an amateur historian perspective, it is amazing the likeness of the key issues and circumstances that faced Ronald Reagan when he took office in January 1981 and those that face Barack Obama as he took office in January of 2009. From a pseudo scientist standpoint, this provides an excellent opportunity to establish some truly comparable benchmarks then objectively measure the success of policies from the conservative right and liberal left to resolve those issues.
Did you get all of that? Good, now we can explain the like type issues that faced Reagan and are facing Obama.
Economy - Ronald Reagan entered in January 1981 with an economy in recession and a increasing unemployment rate of 7.5%. Barack Obama entered in January of 2009 with an economy in recession and a increasing unemployment rate of 7.6%.
World Turmoil - Ronald Reagan entered the presidency at the end of Iranian Hostage Crisis, increasing tensions in Poland and the cold war with the USSR at one of the highest levels of concern ever. Barack Obama entered the presidency with the war on terror into its eighth year, nuclear concerns with Iran and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Following Unpopular Administrations - Ronald Regan followed an unpopular Jimmy Carter Administration. Carter's approval rating leaving office was 34%. Barack Obama followed an unpopular George W. Bush Administration. Bush's approval rating leaving office was 34%.
Now the question becomes what benchmarks to establish, whether quantitative or qualitative, and how to objectively measure progress against the benchmarks. Following are some suggestions:
- Economy - I propose using the all important jobs index for the economy for these reasons.
1. It is an objective measure developed monthly by a fairly independent source.
2. It is the key indicator of how Americans are affected by the economy, and
3. There have only been minor changes in how the index is calculated since the Reagan Years.
We know how Reagan's Conservative policies affected the unemployment rate during his first administration. Over the next three years we can compare the affect of Obama's liberal policies and make a judgment of success in that context.
- World Turmoil - In this area the benchmark and measurement will have to be more qualitative than quantitative. Qualitative assessment always leaves the door open for more debate but in this instance the debate will be healthy. We know the results of Ronald Reagan's efforts. With respect to Obama's administration, our qualitative assessments should be associated with his success with the war in Afghanistan and the nuclear concerns in Iran. The University of Maryland and the pollster Pew have some world public opinion polls that we can look at on a regular basis for good measure.
- Following Unpopular Administrations - The benchmark proposed here are the president's public approval ratings. That rating is all important to express the confidence Americans have in the President's policies. It should be a good measure to compare Obama as he moves through his term with that of Reagan during his first term. There is one anomaly that will need to be taken into consideration. Reagan's approval rating spiked after the assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. in March 1981, but leveled out, to some extent, in the months following.
What do we have here? Basically, we have established a somewhat level playing field for comparing and measuring the results of liberal and conservative policies in resolving a common set of issues. Albeit being implemented nearly 30 years apart, this concept provides us with a basis for healthy contemplation and discussion.
The last question is, What are we going to do with it?
How about we establish a well maintained blog site that keeps track of the benchmarks and measurements on a regular basis. We encourage healthy debate on the policies and appraoches while keeping it clean with an always present respect for the facts. We call the site #40-America's Real Conservative and have some fun. We need it during these times.
Did you get all of that? Good, now we can explain the like type issues that faced Reagan and are facing Obama.
Economy - Ronald Reagan entered in January 1981 with an economy in recession and a increasing unemployment rate of 7.5%. Barack Obama entered in January of 2009 with an economy in recession and a increasing unemployment rate of 7.6%.
World Turmoil - Ronald Reagan entered the presidency at the end of Iranian Hostage Crisis, increasing tensions in Poland and the cold war with the USSR at one of the highest levels of concern ever. Barack Obama entered the presidency with the war on terror into its eighth year, nuclear concerns with Iran and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Following Unpopular Administrations - Ronald Regan followed an unpopular Jimmy Carter Administration. Carter's approval rating leaving office was 34%. Barack Obama followed an unpopular George W. Bush Administration. Bush's approval rating leaving office was 34%.
Now the question becomes what benchmarks to establish, whether quantitative or qualitative, and how to objectively measure progress against the benchmarks. Following are some suggestions:
- Economy - I propose using the all important jobs index for the economy for these reasons.
1. It is an objective measure developed monthly by a fairly independent source.
2. It is the key indicator of how Americans are affected by the economy, and
3. There have only been minor changes in how the index is calculated since the Reagan Years.
We know how Reagan's Conservative policies affected the unemployment rate during his first administration. Over the next three years we can compare the affect of Obama's liberal policies and make a judgment of success in that context.
- World Turmoil - In this area the benchmark and measurement will have to be more qualitative than quantitative. Qualitative assessment always leaves the door open for more debate but in this instance the debate will be healthy. We know the results of Ronald Reagan's efforts. With respect to Obama's administration, our qualitative assessments should be associated with his success with the war in Afghanistan and the nuclear concerns in Iran. The University of Maryland and the pollster Pew have some world public opinion polls that we can look at on a regular basis for good measure.
- Following Unpopular Administrations - The benchmark proposed here are the president's public approval ratings. That rating is all important to express the confidence Americans have in the President's policies. It should be a good measure to compare Obama as he moves through his term with that of Reagan during his first term. There is one anomaly that will need to be taken into consideration. Reagan's approval rating spiked after the assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. in March 1981, but leveled out, to some extent, in the months following.
What do we have here? Basically, we have established a somewhat level playing field for comparing and measuring the results of liberal and conservative policies in resolving a common set of issues. Albeit being implemented nearly 30 years apart, this concept provides us with a basis for healthy contemplation and discussion.
The last question is, What are we going to do with it?
How about we establish a well maintained blog site that keeps track of the benchmarks and measurements on a regular basis. We encourage healthy debate on the policies and appraoches while keeping it clean with an always present respect for the facts. We call the site #40-America's Real Conservative and have some fun. We need it during these times.
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