ObamaMeter Morphs Into an Obama Report Card
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
By now you've noticed that we've made a big change in Whispers. Gone is the ObamaMeter, replaced by John Zogby's weekly report card. This week, Zogby gives the president a solid C for the reasons he spells out below.
We changed the feature to make it easier to understand and erase the confusion some readers found in the ObamaMeter. Each week, Zogby used to give a performance number from 1 to 100 to Obama. It was based on his polling, his review of the news and mood in Washington, and his frequent travels and interaction with people. But some thought the number was an Obama popularity or job approval rating, which it wasn't. So we've changed it to an A-to-F report card scale. Work better? Drop me a note at pbedard@usnews.com and let me know what you think. Now on to the Obama Report Card.
Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.
John Zogby on Week 35:
"Now that dust has settled after his healthcare speech, Obama is back in the game, but he may be caught in a rundown between second and third base. He clearly got to second base by taking over the message on healthcare, but as is always the case in baseball, the runner caught between bases is rarely safe unless the other side drops the ball. And it doesn't help when your teammates can't agree which way you should run. Then there are new questions about Afghanistan, which is now his war, as some in his party and even some conservatives are abandoning ship. And the economy is still stupid."
Last week, Zogby gave Obama the equivalent of a B-. This week, he slides back to a C.
John Zogby is president and CEO of Zogby International, a public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience in more than 70 countries. Founded and led by Zogby since 1984, Zogby International specializes in telephone, Internet, and face-to-face survey research and analysis for corporate, political, nonprofit, and governmental clients. The firm is headquartered in Utica, N.Y. John Zogby also is the author of The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream (Random House).
Want your Whispers first? Check out U.S. News Weekly.
Tags: Barack Obama | John Zogby
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (7) | Print
Reader Comments
Dr Ruby (?)
Racism is still racism. When did harking back to the Constitution mean going back to slavery? Where did you read racism in this article or get the notion that anyone wanting to go back to the IDEALS of the Constitution meant going back to sitting in the back of the bus?
Geez, are we to assume that because you have Dr. attached to your name (if you really do) that you have a special knowledge of socialism that the rest of us don't? Maybe you do...as being a "Dr" would definitely place you among the social elite in a socialist regime.
As far as this President having to endure so much so early in his Presidency, if it's too hot in the kitchen then get out. He touted himself as able, ready and worthy in his campaign, so why the tears over his bewilderment now?
As far as the crazy's of the world are concerned I heard far worse about Bush. Get a grip about social issues in this country, sure America is not perfect but it sure beats any other country in this world! I among others just get tired of people like yourself who fantasize about a perfect world using our hard earned money while keeping yourself above the fray! When you contribute your salary (other than absolute living costs, and I don't mean a fancy new car every two years, weeks in the Bahama's for vacations, million dollar homes and private schools and tuition for the "best" schools for your children) than you can talk about social issues to the rest of us.
Popular reading
Glen of RI...it may be "claptrap", but guess what...you read it!?! You took the time to flap your gums and truth be told if you're not part of the solution - you're still and always will be...part of the problem!
This Entire "Column"
This entire colume -- whether an Obamameter or a report card -- is useless claptrap. It's justs more of the 'scoring' that so enamore the media and the DC crowd. It encourages even more extremely-short perspectives and dysfunctional thinking.
The country needs more sage thought about the inteconnections on major issues and trends, then informed decisions for the long-term good of the country at large.
The entire underpinning of this 'column' (or 'feature'?) leads to the opposite. Wasted space, wasted time, wasted money.
advertisement
