Showing posts with label popularity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label popularity. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Gov. Sarah Palin: more of fans’ admiration & detractors’ condescension

11/18/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


A year after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s devastating defeat in the vice-presidential race, the beauteous Republican conservative who stands against abortion and “death panels” in healthcare commands stronger attention these days. She is a visible advocate for the disabled and a supporter of drilling fuel in the US territory to be energy sufficient.

But the condescension of her political enemies who make fun of the former beauty queen-governor as a dumb incoherent public figure, is ever strong. They continue to punch on her tearing the benign soul of those who watch her derided in public.

Perhaps part envy and part dread for the political impact of the views she espouses, Palin has been a continuing magnet of fascination and vilification. Even her daughters (as in case of TV host David Letterman making fun of them in a late night comedy show) aren't spared. For being openly religiously conservative, liberal feminists do not appreciate her.

Her popular book “Going Rogue: An American Life,” a instant current best seller has the Associated Press (AP) scrambling to seek for errors assigned 11 of its staff. Their review concluded the autobiography of the self-confessed hockeymom showed indications of a campaign manifesto. The news media is strict on Palin's written work. But they were not strict enough to check the accuracy of the recent books by Pres. Barack Obama, Sen. Ted Kennedy, vice-president Joe Biden, and autobiographies by Bill or Hillary Clinton.

Gov. Palin reacted to the media saying:

"Imagine that," the post read. "11 AP reporters dedicating time and resources to tearing up the book, instead of using the time and resources to 'fact check' what's going on with Sheik Mohammed's trial, Pelosi's health care takeover costs, Hasan's associations, etc. Amazing…."

They're obsessed with trying to discredit her," said Adrienne Ross, New York state organizer for the 2012 Draft Sarah Committee. "Because she's a conservative woman, they make fun of her accent, comment about her looks. She doesn't come in the package they want her to come in."---ForxNews.com (11/17/0, Shaffer, R.)

Yes, there are more important issues roiling the country than Sarah. Political observers see how the journalists and celebrities have treated her with unusual unfairness. In a Newsweek cover this week, she is shown in a “sexist” pose smiling in red tops, shorts, and sneakers which the magazine defended as the “most interesting” picture there is for a Palin cover.

The unfazed Alaskan ex-governor seems to ride the tide well--- bringing along attention for her populist wit, her ideas, and gaining more critics and fans on the side. Without much of political campaign she is accused of, Palin is now dubbed as a "minor Evita," in reference to the commandingly (in)famous Evita Peron of Argentina who in her time blazed through politics "beyond expectation." (Photo Credit: Newsweek) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Genealogists trace Gov. Sarah Palin's family tree & Brigitte Bardot whips her" Posted by mesiamd at 10/09/2008

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PostHeaderIcon More disenchantment over Obama’s administration

9/13/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




In the weekend thousands rally in Capitol Hill to protest against overspending and Obama’s way of managing the government. This comes on the heels of more uncertainty over joblessness and doubts over the healthcare revamp the government is proposing to the Americans.

Under overcast skies, the demonstrators whose magnitude was greater than expected aired their anger ---accusing Obama of not following with his campaign promises. The protesters’ dissatisfaction came across vexing issues from excessive government spending, unemployment, budget deficit, healthcare and illegal alien.

“Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!” the crowd shouted back, echoing the accusation that Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, hurled at the president three days earlier during his address to Congress.---New York Times (09/12,09, Zeleny, J.)

Dick Armey, former House Republican leader and member of Freedomworks who helped organize the rally assailed Obama’s lack of loyalty to the USA's founding fathers. Like Ruth Lobbs, a schoolteacher from Jacksonville, FL., Armey believed the president is violating the constitution.

There is wide public perception that Obama was not being honest with his policies. The details of his costly plan are confusing and hazy---suggesting his radical socialistic tendencies and ambivalent naivete.

Attended by citizens of all political stripes, the protests parallel the findings of the recent popularity polls showing Obama losing grip on approval ratings. He has lost a big fraction of his popularity capital since his spectacular win in the November election. The incongruence of his lofty rhetoric and uncertainty in the direction of the government cause more Americans to regret voting for him. But his ardent supporters are optimistic that bright days are ahead if his plans are put into action. Obama has a very short window period o prove he can be trusted. (Photo Credit: New York Times) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Tracking Poll Update: greater decline in Obama’s popularity

9/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post



"...in the history of polling, no newly elected American president has fallen this far this fast. Anxiety is now pervasive."
-David Brooks, The New York Times

The Rasmussen Poll has the following survey numbers for the Obama Adminiistration, giving a declining trend (when compared with past figures) in popularity among US voters as of Monday, August 31, 2009.

The result below is the lowest so far for the president's approval since he was elected in November last year. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Democrats approve while 83% of Republicans disapprove of Obama. It also shows the lack of confidence on the way US Congress is running the government.

The causes of the administration's declining popularity range from unchecked recession, unemployment, overspending, contentious healthcare reform, and uncertainty. There is discordance----between reality and what the government is saying. (Photo Credit: enstarter) For more details: www.RasmussenReports.com

Pres. Barack Obama Job approval

Strongly Aprroved -------------------------------------------------30%
Strongly Disapproed-----------------------------------------------41%
Somewhat Approved------------------------------------------------46%
Somewhat Disapproved--------------------------------------------53%
Presidential Approval Index------------------------------------ minus 11%

Poor Congress Approval Rating

Confident that Congress knows what it does for the economy------29%
Percentage of voters who want Congress replaced-------------------57%
Percentage of voters who want to keep Congress--------------------25%

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PostHeaderIcon US economic recovery & the uncertainties Americans face ahead

7/24/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


In spite of Pres. Barack Obama’s eloquent words, the US economy is still on the edge. The ambitious social engineering of the Democratic party has started to fray---- ahead of the economic recovery that it promised. The president who built high expectations since his election campaign is losing his approval and credibility at a fast rate.

Healthcare Dilemma

The country is spooked by the healthcare overhaul plan which will likely be rationed, endangers the independence of doctors to decide for their patients, and may lead to treatment delays and astronomical costs which can rob the future of generations.

Though most Americans agree that a change in healthcare is needed, Obama’s plan to pattern the delivery of American system of healthcare to Canada and Europe is met with growing opposition. His universal healthcare plan threatens the structure that makes medicine in USA the best in the world.

American medicine brings leaders of foreign countries to come to the US for treatment. With all its faults, it is the pre-eminent leader in innovation and the advance of medical science. Though expensive, the fast delivery of medical services for difficult health problems makes it outstanding.

Yet, cutting costs will bring undesired consequences. These, the Americans are grappling to understand. They don't know how much it will cost them in insurance premiums and what medical services will they get in return. They are seriously thinking how much of their income must realistically be alloted to medical care.

Even the Obama government shows poor grasp on the details of the change the "experts" are pushing, making the public doubt whether the rush to tinker with the current system will make their life better. It seems Obama wants the health plan to be voted upon soon while the public hasn't absorbed its hidden ramifications. In a speech, he mumbles of the same generic old tunes that don't clarify the uncertainties of his plan. To President Obama's and California legislator Nancy Pelosi's disappointment, the senate recently stalled the health reform bill for September after the August recess.

For one, they even haven’t tackled how to prevent billions that are lost in Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Many lawmakers who bat for more government intrusions in private life haven't read the legislation or discussed the health proposal. It's just like when Capitol Hill voted the $700 billion plus economic stimulus in haste and the public is left guessing. They don't know where the huge public money is going. Without giving evidence, the financial decision-makers say they "averted" the total collapse of the US economy while at the same time, they warn for another stimulus package if the initial strategy doesn't work.

The administration wants to tax the people so that it can subsidize the insurance of at least 10 million illegal aliens, part of the 47 million people who are uninsured. At the expense of the elderly who may be denied of certain diagnostic tests and medical treatment, the government wants to give medical coverage to those who ignored the law and gate-crashed into America.

Obama plans to control the approval and denial of services, putting the lives of the old, disabled, and those with chronic and rare disease in limbo. It is likely, the sick who are young with high chance for full recovery and are able to go back to work will be given priority over those who are old, recurrently sick, and those without hope of improvement. As a result of the expected decline of health service, according to political analyst Dick Morris, author of a new book "Catastrophe," this health plan will displace the elderly with poorer care, it may lower the life expectancy of the Americans in the next decade as well.

Joblessness still on the Rise

In the meantime, in spite of the outrageous spending that puts USA at the edge of bankruptcy, under Obama’s watch, the joblessness in the heartland doesn’t abate. The budget deficit continues to rise, prompting America to finance its runaway spending from debts abroad. If Obama’s plan fails, there will be many apologies, but almost no accountability---just the way it happened when bankruptcies occured in the housing sector, financial services, banking, and auto industries.

Newly laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits increased last week, consistent to the forecast by the Federal Reserve that unemployment will rise beyond 10%. Bolstering this prediction, the Labor Department announced that the initial claims for unemployment insurance went up by 30,000 this week, raising the number of idle workers to 554,000.

With these, the sword of Democles hovers precariously over the heads of US citizens, not used to having no control over their lives. Unlike before, Obama can blame his predecessors as the cause of the economic mess, but as time passes, it is looking more like his own. The free fall of his popularity may be one to tell. Those who slobber and blindly support him is likely to find disappointment. (Photo Credit: iQoncept) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Cebu jailbirds dance in homage to Michael Jackson

6/29/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post




As the tragic details of Michael Jackson’s life are revealed to the world, many of his admirers cope up with the his untimely demise in many ways. Immediately after learning the grim news, many fans converged outside the UCLA Medical Center to find out what happened. In Apollo Theatre at the Harlem section of New York, a crowd gathered to remember and pay tribute the fallen music giant.

Half way across the globe, in the Philippines, about 1,500 inmates of the Cebu Penitentiary staged “Thriller” the dance they performed before that caught the fancy of You Tube viewers throughout the world. Their performance was viewed by almost 25 million people after it was made available in the internet. Grieving for their idol, the prisoners of the maximum security jail last Saturday gave their all dancing to the tune of Michael Jackson’s hit songs.

“After being told of Jackson's death Thursday in Los Angeles, the 1,500 inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center hit the exercise yard, practicing for nine hours Friday night – and into the wee hours of Saturday morning – for the show.

They took breaks only to eat or when it rained, said professional choreographer Gwendolyn Lador, hired by the prison to teach the inmates the dance.

"I felt sad because we lost our idol," said inmate Wenjiel Resane, who plays the role of Jackson's girlfriend in the video.”----GMANewsTV / AP (06/27/09, Cerojano, T)

As the world tries to cope and make sense with the passing of a legendary musical entertainer, the sordid details that lead to his early death are starting to surface.

The controversial singer of incredible talent and fame who was adored and at the same time reviled by the public has left three innocent children. His finances are in disarray with about $500 million in outstanding debt. The series of concerts in London that should have ignited his stressful come-back in the entertainment world in July this year is in limbo---in part, because it's a freak creation of reckless, greedy, and manipulative people that managed the star during his career.

Amidst talk of abuse of prescription medications, the result of the pop star’s autopsy has been put on hold pending test results. In anger and frustration, the bereaved family and fans demanded a second autopsy---something that won’t change the sad fact that the king of pop is dead. (Photo Credit: Markiiboi; AFP/ Yahoo.News/ Aljibe, T) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Obama’s approval rating falls

6/23/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


After a very strong start early in presidency, popular Barack Obama is now experiencing an erosion of his approval rating as the Rasmussen reports the following salient findings as of Monday, June 22, 2009. His approval index has dropped to negative (-1).

33% of voters strongly approve
34% of voters strongly disapprove
(-1) net approval index

Among other findings from the survey, many voters still blame the Bush administration for the faltering economy, but the number has fallen to 54%----8 points down from last month. This indicates that the problem of the economy during the change of leadership is getting to be attributed to Obama rather than Bush.

The consumer confidence according to the survey is at its lowest level in the last two months. Americans are equally divided on whether to push through with healthcare reform now (46%) or wait on a later date to coincide with economic recovery(45%).

There is doubt on the massive spending Obama has laid out for the bailout of banks, mortgage institutions, auto industry and private companies which many believe compromises taxpayers’ money. If the economy improves (i.e. it comes out of the recession) Obama’s numbers are expected to rebound to his favor. But further slide of his rating is expected if financial trouble persists and joblessness remains rampant.(Photo credit: Roddick Remixed) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Obama fried chicken for lunch

4/07/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Although his approval rating isn’t as high as when he assumed the presidency, the first Afro-American US president is still very popular. Barack Obama mania still rages as one can see in a fried chicken store in New York City.

According to New York Daily News, at least two fried chicken joints have baptized themselves as Obama Fried Chicken. They are probably just riding on the popularity of the president and many are buying.

Obama's remarkable following is part of what writer political commentator Bernard Goldman described as "a slobbering love affair" of the media that has seeped into the psyche of the ordinary American citizen. The ripple effect of this adulation reverberates internationally and it will take some time before it fades away. (Photo Credit: Rob Bennett, NY Times/Redux, New York Daily News) =0=
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PostHeaderIcon Falling ratings of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo

3/17/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


It comes less of a surprise for the public to know that Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo (GMA) gets bad ratings for her work in the executive office. According to the survey on February 20 to 23, 2009 by the Social Weather Station Inc. (SWS,) her disapproval rating fell further to a net rating of negative (-) 33 (26% satisfied and 59% dissatisfied.)

“The President’s latest net satisfaction rating is lower compared to “poor” -24 percent (29 percent satisfied, 53 percent dissatisfied) in December and poor -27 (27 percent satisfied, 54 percent dissatisfied) in September."----Philstar (03/17/09, Sy, M)

More than half of the Filipinos don’t approve of GMA’s performance, in spite of Malacanang’s wish that the president be given appreciation for unrecognized “accomplishments.” Pres. Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo cites Arroyo’s work of insulating the country from the impacts of domestic and global economic crisis.

Many Filipinos feel this is untrue because the full blown effects of the financial crisis are yet to come. Even without the global crisis, the Philippines has been reeling in widespread poverty with about 40% of the population facing hunger each day. Her approval rating has been bad compared to past presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. With the presidential election coming in 2010, the public appears to extend their patience for GMA,---opting to let her corruption-riddled government to pass. (Photo Credit: AP/ Aaron Familia)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: "Corruption scandals hurting Filipinos under Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo" Posted by mesiamd at 1/29/2009; “Not as a lecturer or as a judge,” EU thinks RP must do more to curb corruption Posted by mesiamd at 1/29/2009; "Corruption and apathy: where will these lead us?" Posted by mesiamd at 2/10/2009


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PostHeaderIcon Obama’s popularity plunges from 83% to 68% a few days after assuming presidency

1/27/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
If only to augur the things that are to come, in less than a week Pres. Barack Obama’s approval rating dropped by 15 points. From a sky-high 83%, the new score fell to 68%. The long honeymoon predicted for the widely popular president is challenged by the worsening outlook of the economy.

The patience of the American people may not hold in spite of the dramatic changes Obama offers the public. Abandoning some blind credulity, supporters are now looking closely at the programs and plans the administration is selling the nation. Bashing the past administration, there is effort to paint a rosy liberal governance to replace the old. But it seems inadequate in reversing the public's lack of trust.

According to the Gallup poll, the drastic fall of Obama’s support suggests the herculean task and towering expectation the president is facing. His words and actions are under urgent scrutiny as dark clouds threaten to choke the immediate future of the country.

In spite of the media’s commitment to bring the glib president in the best light, there are many Americans who feel wary. They see something corrupt and negligent. For being remiss of their duties, politicians and community leaders aren't as trustworthy as before. And it is causing a toll on Barack Obama.(Photo Credit: Sebastian Niedlick/ Grabthar; Spudart) =0=



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