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: 113
"After weeks of events moving beyond the easy influence of the White House, the earthquake in Japan made President Obama seem even more a bystander in the news cycle. Still, I give him credit for caution in his policies and words. The United States will do all it can to aid the Japanese people, while our struggling economy and that of the world will be impacted by a stoppage in Japan's production of electronic components and the shutdown of its nuclear plants, which will likely cause prices to rise and availability to be cut back. Speaking of oil, the Saudis sent troops to Bahrain, a nation with an ethnic mix and power division much like theirs. That presents another touchy situation for the president on top of the violence in Libya that has turned in Qaddafi's favor. Space doesn't allow me to go on about a looming budget showdown with Republicans who may be itching for a government shutdown. No wonder none of the leading GOP contenders has yet to announce they want Obama's job." [See photos of the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami.]
This week's grade: B-
Last week's: C+
John Zogby is Chairman of the Board and Chief Insights Officer for IBOPE Zogby International, a non-partisan public opinion, research, and business solutions firm with experience working in more than 70 countries around the globe. IBOPE 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 (Random House).
- See photos of the Obamas behind the scenes.
- See editorial cartoons about President Obama.
- See who's been visiting the White House.
Reader Comments Read all comments (2)
Michael Ricke 2:22PM March 23, 2011
thebardofmurdock of NE 4:36PM March 18, 2011