Washington Whispers

Week 50: No Runs, Hits, Errors

By Paul Bedard

December 31, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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 see's the president's week ending.

John Zogby on Week 50:

National pollster John Zogby gives President Obama a grade of B for week 50 of his presidency."The president is trying to take a working vacation. So far, no runs, no hits, no errors. Whether the 'system' worked or didn't work in the Detroit Metro Airport terrorist attempt—and there is plenty of evidence to make both sides happy—the fact is it DIDN'T happen. Congress members are bloviating, but Americans are following their president: taking a breather. Obama does have the good sense to be from Hawaii, at least."

This week's grade: B

Last week: B-plus

John Zogby is president and CEO of Zogby International, a public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience working in more than 70 countries around the globe. 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 is also the author of The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream.

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Barack Obama,
John Zogby

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This attack was like the "shoe bomber"a couple of years after 9/11 (during the Bush years) - an attempt by a lame person to do damage, and we are lucky that it was with no success.

In 2003 the "shoe bomber was arrested.

Bush responded after 6 days.

The bomber was tried in Federal Court.

He was convicted.

He went to prison where he remains without incident today.

The Bush Admin investigated airport security measures and made some changes to improve them.

The Democrats made no partisan comments about how Bush handled the event.

Obama's team arrested this guy (the "underwear bomber").

Obama & Napolitano responded after two days.

The bomber is scheduled to be tried in Federal court.

He will be convicted.

He will go to prison.

The Obama Admin is investigating the "improved" airport security put in place by Bush when Bush tried to fix them, and Obama can be expected to make more changes.

The Republicans got amnesia and forgot their silence about the "shoe bomber" in 2003, and launched a full scale attack on Obama.

Jessica in NY - There will always be attempts to attack us by terrorists. World leaders who invade countries are often not popular. The Obama Admin's response to this terrorist attack was timlier than Bush's "shoe bomber", and Obama is taking the same approach to legal action and strengthening security that Bush did. So why are you saying that this approach shows incompetence and is frightening? Were you similarly horrified when Bush's "shoe bomber" got through security? Did you assume then it was all due to incompetency in the White House?

Jessica - your comments reflect a DOUBLE STANDARD based on partisan politics. Shame on you!!!!!

Dorfy of SC 11:32PM January 01, 2010

Is that supposed to be clever? It didn't happen because of complete luck that the bomber was not very competent. The incompetence at the State Dept and the reaction from Obama afterward is frightening for all of us.

How unfortunate that the people that think these things are only some kind of nuisance, and of course their families, can't be the ones that are in the line of fire from these terrorists for either actual attacks or attempts that go wrong.

I bet Mr. Zogby's perspective would change then.

Shame on you! Your logic and explanations read false - as if you'd think it was no big deal if it was you or yours.

Jessica of NY 6:17PM January 01, 2010

Islamist Rebels in Somalia Threaten to Attack Ethiopia

Islamist Rebels - Hezbal Islam

Hezbal Islam an Islamist rebel movement fighting the Somali government vowed on Thursday to carry out attacks inside Ethiopia targeting military bases and government buildings. According to Sheikh Shuriye Afrah Sabriye, the group’s regional governor of Hiiraan region bordering with Ethiopia, Islamist forces are ready for a big war against Ethiopia, saying the attacks inside Ethiopia are imminent in the next few days, “Ethiopia is responsible for attacks on positions belonging to our forces outside the city of Beledweyn and in retaliation we will attack Ethiopian army bases inside Ethiopian territories, we are committed to do that” he said

He said that in the past several weeks there have been attacks on Islamist positions near the border accusing Ethiopian military of helping the Somali government forces who carried out those attacks on Islamist positions in the region. “The enemy is on the way–we will not to wait for them to come and kill us so we are taking the battle field into inside Ethiopia specially the city of Ferfer where the enemies prepare themselves before they attack us” he added. He said that Hezbal Islam leaders are currently engaged in the final discussions to fix the date and how to carry out attacks in Ethiopia. “For the past several days I have been in Mogadishu for consultations with Hezbal Islam’s commanders and we will soon invade on Ethiopia” he stated during Thursday’s press conference in Mogadishu.

Meanwhile he also declared war on the moderate-Islamist controlled cities of Guri El and Dhusmareb

wondesen hailemarayam of WA 2:15PM January 01, 2010

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