Why does Pres. Obama seem to have lost his touch?
(PHOTO CREDIT: SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
For a man who was invincible on the campaign trail - Barack Obama seems to have lost some of his magic since he got to the White House.
Politico reports how a series of recent missteps has the president's team struggling to regain its touch. One top Democrat says, it's baffling "how one group of people can be so good at campaigning and so bad at politics."
First, the White House has come under fire for trying - and failing - to coax two Democratic Senate candidates out of running for office... by offering them administration jobs.
Lots of presidents do these things. The problem here is, they got caught and it runs counter to Mr. Obama's big themes of transparency and grass-roots empowerment. No more "politics as usual," etc. ...
Then there's the crisis in the Gulf. A catastrophic environmental disaster the likes of which we have never seen before. The president spends three hours on the beach in Louisiana and then goes to Chicago on vacation. And this happens weeks after the oil began gushing from the busted well on the ocean floor.
Like it or not, there are times when a president is called upon to be a father figure to the nation… to sympathize, comfort and reassure us when things are bad. It's what made Reagan and Clinton so popular.
Whatever happened to that firebrand, charismatic speaker who made a thrill go up Chris Matthews' leg?
The president is in trouble.
As Barack Obama marks 500 days in office - a new average of polls shows only 48 percent of the public approves of the job he's doing . And those numbers aren't good enough if he plans to spend more than four years running the country.
Here’s my question to you: Why does President Obama seem to have lost his touch?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
K. in California writes:
Well Jack, I didn't vote for the president and I'm not going to vote for him in 2012 but I am going to support him just a little for your question. Let's remember that Pres. Obama came into office at a time of recession, two wars, deficits, etc. His popularity was so high on January 20th 2009 that his numbers had no where to go but down. Here we are in June 2010 with a natural disaster, hurricane season is warming up, two wars, plus North Korea, Iran and Israel showing their teeth. The president can only do so much.
John in San Antonio writes:
Now that he has been elected, it is evident that he will continue the same policies this country has been on for 30 years. Increase the size of government and spending while destroying the economy and middle class. We have heard rhetoric of huge differences between the Republicans and Democrats but never anything that would change the direction of the country, only what would keep our focus from the reality that we have only one political party. We are under corporate control and being guided towards a one world government and there won't be enough people awake in time to prevent it.
Ron writes:
The basic fundamental skill of any junior executive is to be astute enough to prioritize properly. Obama prioritized health care over jobs. A real dumb move and it's been downhill ever since. Now, as unexpected emergencies arise he's spewing words rather than action. He appears to be a nice guy, truly bright with a lot of energy. However, his presidency is in a very deep FUNK and he's quickly sinking to a point of no return.
Melissa writes:
He hasn't, but you Republicans want us to think he has, especially since you're a reporter who loves to scare people to sell your articles.
Dan in Indiana writes:
He is a 1970s academic who views the world through those lenses for good or bad. When the real world of war, oil spills, job losses comes, he and his fellow academics can't find the right book for the answer. Didn't we already do the idealistic 1970s once?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
tampa, fl it is sad when the people finally realize that the emperor has no clothes. it is equally sad when the president while spending trillions of dollars can't seem to be able to buy a clue. kinda like the day after you get married and you wake up with a stranger that you really didn't know after all.
lost it! that presupposes he ever had it!!!
He was over his head from day one...
A community organizer.... who got carried by Chicago Thugs...
Great speaker.... empty suit...
Great academic.... Poor leader
Jack:
When people are in need of real leadership, a soaring rhetoric takes you only so far. It's time for President Obama to stop talking and show some real compassion for the people of the gulf (and all Americans) whose lives have been forever altered by this disaster:
Make us no undying vow. Show us now!
Sing us no song! Read us no rhyme!
Don't waste our time, Show us!
Don't talk of now! Don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show us!
Never do we ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one we haven't heard.
He han't "lost his touch". The idea that he has is merely CNN and Fox News flavor of the month.
The disaster in the Gulf is the result of lack of oversight and regulation by Bush and Cheney.
Bob Flleming
Louisville, Ky
Not really. We elected him because he was an excellent campaigner and now that he has the job of President we are finding out that being an great campainger is not enough. Being President requires a different skill-set than he currently has. He is new at this and has alot to learn but with all the problems I don't know if we have the time to wait.
President Obama seems out of touch because he has an "Obama Agenda" and none of these huge problems in the country fit into his plan.
He is not interested in leading or making decisions to solve the problems unless he is pressured into doing something, whether its the Border Problem or the Gulf Oil Spill and Cleanup or for that matter, the Economy and Jobs.
He seems aloof and disconnected ....or perhaps someone else is making the decisions and he is just the spokesperson..just a thought.
Allentown Pa
He's a corporatist, just like most other presidents. What touch was there to loose?
Thats easy Jack...he put way too much on his plate an doesn't know where to go with it!
hi jack well i we can all take the blame for this oil problem with us all useing it.but it doesn't hurt to go out of the country to look for help.after all how many of us canadians go south each winter.this is everyones nightmare.
Jack, the difference between fantacy and reality is pain and the President is not willing to have his people go through the pain of being honest and tough. We need leaders who have the guts to say NO and someone to create real jobs.
this problem has not yet started wait till the wind start takeing it in land on homes and families.
It depends on who you talk to, as far as most people are concerned he has not lost his touch. Remeber what he walked into, a pile of crap.
The country was a disaster and he's not going to woek miracles
in a year.
I don't think he's lost his touch...whatever that implies. He's doing the job he was elected to do, and has a solid backing from the country if not an outright majority right now. Do you think he may be tired of all the media carping about his "lost touch?"
Maria
Brunswick,MD
watch the news and you can see this country is going down more every day . he does nothing but makes it worst
I believe that in its effort to show itself unbiased, the media has gone overboard in pointing out his flaws. Bush had his ardent defenders and for his first 3 years, very few in the media criticized him for fear of being unpatriotic or some other accusation by the far right. Even CNN, by far my favorite news station and in my view the least biased, has been guilty of this. PLEASE go over the comments by some of the good folks at your station and see how often he is referred to as Mr. Obama or just Obama, rather than President Obama. Even the former Presidents are still referred to as "President". I don't usually bash the media and don't intend it that way now, I don't think this is meant to have the effect that it does.
It seems like he's lost touch. He delegates too much, instead of providing leadership.
To me, it seemed like he delegated Health Insurance Reform and Financial Industry Reform to Congress, and didn't seem to get involved himself. And with this oil leak thing, it looks like he's just telling BP to fix it, but isn't doing anything about it himself.
Maybe delegating these things to other people actually is the right way to solve these problems, but to me it looks like he isn't doing much himself.
Because Obama is still living in a fairy tale. His response to the oil leak crisis in the Gulf of Mexico is no better than Bush's response to Katrina. I guess the Presidents of late see the world through rose colored glasses. Could that be due to the Whitehouse Rose Garden? Instead of getting involved with a national crisis by putting the pedal to the metal, they use a petal instead.
Cause suave and debonair isn't cuttin it.He has spent all his time trying to please the left instead of trying to lead the country.
Mr. President .If you make a mistake we will forgive you. Don't just talk the talk ...Walk the walk.
When he was running for the office he now holds his vision of a changed Washington and his ability to connect with the little guy gave him and air of strength and confidence. As the last year has unfolded the world has come to realize that he was just that, all air. He is all talk Jack. He just doesn't have the spine to kick the asses of the people that need it from time to time. He would rather send it to a committee for study and hope that the little guy that is getting hurt by his inaction will forget about it. I'm not even American and although I like the guy as a man, I have lost all respect for him as a President.
Let's see... the economy sucks, the gulf is full of oil, Israel is making waves, the Koreas want to blow each other up, Europe going is bankrupt, there are still two wars going on, debt is high, and Congress is useless. I'd say he is being pulled in too many directions for one man to handle. Can't remember such a slate of problems for a president to handle ever before.
Because you keep telling us he is..
He hasn't. Nobody fares well when trolling for approval. He's still doing what he thinks is right, but some people want him to dance to their tune. That's poor management.
Las Cruces, NM
People didn't vote for him to be touched, they voted for him to allow taxes to go up on the rich and to pass health care. So far, he has done both to some extent. We will see what happens in the fall with tax legislation.
Why does President Obama seem to have lost his touch?
Jack, Obama hasn't lost his touch, he is just busy getting the job done instead of grandstanding and doing nothing like our last president.
Jenna
Roseville CA
The sad part of him seeming that he lost his touch is due to his advisors, aids, and cabinet members. Their advise has been out of touch in general. Why is it that now adays if you want a job done right you must do it on your own and that you can only trust very few when you give them a task. The concept that he has lost his touch is not a totaly valid one. One person can do everything and he promised so much.
The President Was and is a Great Campaigner. He Was also a Good Organizer on the Chicago Streets, Stirring Up the Masses.
However, He Now Has to Govern. He is in an Executive Position. It is His Job to Perform, Where His Past Was Just Promises. He Hasn't Got It. He is Still Using Oral Rhetoric, Instead of Producing Results.
As Much as I Disliked the Antics of "President Clinton," I wish He Was Back in Office. He, Along With "Reagan" and "Kennedy," Were Truly the Best at Their Jobs in My 73 Years on this Earth.
Because we see him clearly now. He was never what we believed him to be, what the media led us to believe he was. It isn't that he lost his touch, we've regained our senses.
It's tough to fight City Hall, Jack . Changing an entrenched way of life (Washington's business as usual) isn't an easy thing. Corporations and special interests have way too much influence there and the Supreme Court affirmed recently that it should continue. The everyday American doesn't really have a voice.
Obama hasnt lost his touch, he's just being drown out by the kind of sensationalist tabloid style politics that the republicans are practicing and that we, the people, just can't seem to get enough of. Like it or not that's what our national discourse has sunk to and it seems to be an accurate reflection of who we, the people, are.
The President was literally swept into office on a wave of hope and change. Sadly, hope is fading and little has changed. We're still at war. Wall Streeters have been installed on the White House staff. Health care turned into a welfare program for big insurance. Jobs aren't returning because we have lousy trade agreements, but no one even mentions them. All I can say is it would be a million times worse if McCain and Palin had won the election.
He never had his touch. He never was qualified to be a President. Only the Press thought he had the touch, especially over Hilary. People voted for him because they hated Bush.
A reminder to all the Liberals, Bush's first 6 years were economically
great. The unemployment was averaging around 4.4%. It was after the Democrats won Congress, the last two years of Bush's term, that's when everything went downhill.
He needs to be more proactive than reactive. Avoid crisis management. Establish real task performance accountability relying more on real results rather than hope and wishful thinking.
Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Let me guess: hmmm, media control perception, media need controversy or sensation in order to get viewers, ergo, media needs Obama, the greater changer, to seem to have lost his touch. If any one doubts this, just try to find out much news other than the oil spill. This is not media bias, it's just the business aspect of media.
I was wondering if BP has fully compensated the families who lost their loved ones in this MESS. I hope so if they are spending so much money on PR and have not dealt with this extremely important issue, it will be further vision of what BP is really all about. Also if a real time cleanup is sucsseful, can Exxon be forced to restore Alaska. Truely my condolences to the famalies who have lost their loved ones.
What touch? All he ever had, was the ability to give a speech. He is an "actor", playing a role. That's all he actually has, to bring to the table.
I think that with his easy going, friendly personality, his ability to reach out to people and his genuine desire to do a good job, he thought that being president would be sort of like herding sheep and now he is finding out that it is more like herding donkeys. (In the Bible they're called asses.)
President Obama came into the Oval Office wearing velvet gloves and a mantel of glory. Since then however, reality's set in - too many balls in the air with many falling to the floor. He's now being seen as the Chicago politician that he is. The gloves have holes and the mantel's askew. He's no longer acting, he's reacting.
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
Handling stress is a big part of being the president of the United States, sometimes you need to take some time to gather yourself and clear your head when you're trying to fix things that the previous presidency left for you to clean up. Perhaps President Obama just needs a smoke break?
Jack that may be your perception, but frankly I think he is doing a fantastic job and has a great grasp of reality. The people who feel he has lost his touch are just surprised because the right wing conservative radicals have found thier voice in the Republican tea party. I was surprised they didn't come out with their racist positions during the election but I guess when they did, you didn't cover it. Obama has always known it was there, he just doesn't choose to give it recognition because they don't deserve it. It was always there in the Republican "Town Meetings" so I am not surprised, why are you?
I voted for our President and wish him well.He is so much better than the previous White House occupant that most of us have been more than willing to give him his "honeymoon " period to try to clean up some of Bush's messes.However, the President simply does not seem to possess that FDR.,LBJ or give 'em hell Harry quality needed to accomplish great things for America. Speeches alone fall short if a passionate courage of conviction is lacking.
I'm beginning to believe that he is thinking that his job just sucks, he probably wished he was back practicing law making about five times what he is now and can go and do whatever he wants without ten people following him around.
Jack:
I personally find President Obama aloof & distant. This is far different from several years ago when he seemed to connect, with passion and sincerity to the American people.
Something has changed-empathy ? I do not sense this from him.
So many, in so many areas are struggling, and turning to the White House for some reassurance.
Because he set a level of expectation that was not only difficult to meet but impossible to sustain if he did meet them. It's the first rule of marketing. Under-promise, over-deliver. Obama has done exactly the opposite. But, he has a Messiah Complex and you cannot tell someone with that affliction that they are not going to meet the unrealistic expectations they set for themselves. The only thing his handlers could have done was to try to mitigate how much he disseminated them. Unfortunately (or fortunately for those of us who would like him out of office), they failed.
Jack: A man of many words--who has lost his judgement. America needs a President who is going to be a "shaker and mover;"--not a teacher.
He is smarter than me and works harder than I ever did and is more even-tempered under criticism than I could ever be in a million years. That's a pretty good touch.
It's not that as much as the majority of the people who voted for him now see him as just another lying politician. He has broken every campaign promise and he's a survant to filthy rich corporations and to to Israel. Yes, I voted for him, but never again. He's a tool. Nothing more.
I don't believe he has lost a step or his touch.
It is the instant gratification, or lack of self discipline, of the American public that is the problem.
I personally think that whatever "touch" President Obama had was a product of his feverishly high popularity during the two thousand and eight elections. Not to say that our President was making false promises then–there is no doubt that the man is honestly trying to achieve his goals–however, I do think that there is a doubt as to how much of a "touch" our President had when he started. He was popular–yes we'll give him that–but my belief is that the "touch" was a figment of his fans' imagination.
Because a good speech, a good mind, and a good temperment, don't stop the sky from falling. With everything that's going on in the world the average person would be balled up in a corner weeping hysterically if they were in command of everything right now. Cut the guy some slack.
I don't think he realized what a rotten state things were in when he took office. I would be done after 1 term. I would move back to Hawaii and hit the beaches
The POTUS hasn't lost his touch. He simply isn't playing media darling anymore and is showing what it is like to have to clean up messes and fix problems created by a decade of GOP policies. History will show that in the 10th year of the 21st century, the USA finally began reforms and policies based on our future, not on ideologies of the past.
He has not lost anything. It is organizations like your and folks like you who keep screaming in his ear when you should be covering news. For example, what useful purpose does a question like the one you asked serve?
Mr. Obama leads America and the world, he is not a freak show that the likes of CNN and most of you have become. Grow up.
We all lose our touch it seems to me. Obama is just the latest victim. One reason I can think of is his lack of commitment to popular purpose. When he ran for President, most of the issues he sided with were in touch with the pulse of America. Now he doesn't seem to care about not just what America thinks but his own constituency as well. Take for example over 60% of Americans side with Arizona's new anti-illegal immigrant law yet Obama is very critical of the measure. I wouldn't mind if he opposed majority view if he were right, as he would have been if he held onto his principles and stood up to the idiots that called for expanded offshore drilling. What I think has happened is that he has insulated himself within his Chicago/DC cocoon and that's why he can't see things as clearly as he once could. Of course I would offer him my services, but at 55 I've lost touch with the silly band generation coming up in our middle schools across America.
Obama is losing his touch because the American people are realizing that after all of the rhetoric and campaign promises this man is a politican the same as all the rest. No change here.
Too closely surrounded by advisors and staff. Too inclined to set policy without listening to the public. Perhaps he should reseve half a day to talk with real people.
Sorry, Jack. Hadn't noticed. He's a little busy with real problems to worry about dancing to pundit whining.
President Obama has not lost his touch. The republican right has lost their minds. Obama has been quite busy for the last 500 days or so cleaning upthe reublican's mess. It's like Obama said, "change is hard." He also said recently, "It's like people weren't listening to me when I said change was going to be hard." And boy, it sure is when lawmakers say no, no, no and won't try and help clean up the mess they made.
I don't think that he has lost his touch. Being President is tough and I think that the Obama supporters need to realize that.
Dee
Houston
He never had a touch to begin with. He is a man of words, not action. It seems that his words have a hollow ring.
He hasn't lost His touch. Unless being President and losing ones touch is the same. He realizes now that four years is just not enough time to accomplise His agenda. Are we all sleeping? The press, they talk in their sleep all the time. The only awakening comming is a spiritual one. Oh I'm awake. Too bad what I think is right was only a dream!
Hi Jack,
I'm not sure the President ever had a 'touch' so much as he had a lot of political capital. Throughout his term however, it has eroded very quickly, or at least it seems that way. In regards to the oil spill, I don't think any man or woman on earth could handle it in a manner that would satisfy anyone unless they somehow managed to personally swim down there and use their own body to plug the hole. In regards to anything else that has 'damaged' his Presidency, such as the illusion of inaction, well.... the media and the public just doesn't like it when smart people actually sit down and think about things before acting.
Best,
Kian
He is losing his touch. His Vulcan mind meld should have stopped the oil leak, fixed the deregulated banks, return the stock market back to the thirteen thousand level. Return all of our 401(k)'s back to their full value. Or, perhaps spin the clock back to the event that repelled the Glass-Steagall Act and stopped that from happening. And at the same time return our home values back to the'04 level. So we can can all refinance all of our equity out again.This country is in a huge mess that even Merlin couldn't fix. Have a good weekend, lots of sports on, or BBQ a dead animal. Ah,"Little pink houses for you and me".
Absolutely, President Obama has lost his touch/charm. He should be spearheading efforts to cap the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. BP is trying but clearly they need help. This is the largest environmental disaster which continues to grow. President Obama should be calling upon America's brightest to come up with ideas to deal with this disaster on all fronts. Not only do we still have to figure out an effective way to stop the leaking oil we have to deal with the consequences of the millions of gallons of oil spreading along our coastlines. The scope of this disaster will take years to comprehend. President Obama can't let BP go it alone. They need help. All the oil companies should be joining together to help along with our government. News agencies need to keep the American public informed as to just how serious this disaster is. Mr Cafferty please continue to do your part. Thank you, Jane Walsh
He hasn't Jack. It is just that you and the media wants us to believe he has. When you have what he has had, one crisis after another, a political party out to destroy him, constant obstruction and the media crucifying him every chance they get, one tends to get a little discouraged.
If he could get at least a half way decent break from you and other media, we, the American people would not have to get so upset, disappointed with you.
His body language does not seem to match his flowery words. blank facial expression and flat affect are uninspiring. Words do not inspire confidence. He seems detached and out of touch. He does not appear to be leading but rather deferring to BP to solve the problem that they created even though BP admits they had no contingency plan. If this disaster was along the eastern coast I bet his reaction would be a lot different! To say that I am disappointed, disillusioned and frustrated is an understatement. The promise of open transparent government with accountability was forgotten as soon as the oath of office was taken.
Anybody who saw todays job report and the corresponding drop in the market and says the economy is recovering is not only out of touch, their nuts.
For some reason, Obama cowers in fear any time a Republican growls. he has good intentions, and stands firm trying to do the right thing, but he MUST realize he is attempting to negotiate with rabid dogs. It is not going to work Mr. President. Brainwashing will not allow them to hear what you say.
There is an old saying (wish I knew the originator): Never attempt to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig.
But you just keep upgrading your lesson plan Mr. President.
Jack,
There are two old clichés; actions speak louder than words and a picture is worth a thousand words.
President Obama has plenty of words but has taken no actions that have lead to any pictures of success.
Obama is a phony politician that never stops running for office.He's only interested in how the world perceives us as to what is best for our country.Loves to throw lavish parties at the White House and have people tell him what a spendid person he is .Doesn't give one iota whether people can find work or not because he can blame Bush for our problems and his media lapdogs will spread the word.Nerver seen a worse president in my time other than maybe Carter but at least Carter wasn't struck on himself.
You are assuming of course..that he had a "touch" to begin with. Well in the beginning he seemed to care about the people and doing their will. Now,however, Obama is only concerned with his private agenda.
One of making enemies of our allies,taking Jerusalem from the Jews,taking control away from our military..so they can't win!! And Obama is not done yet!!! But I am done with Obama!! Very done. We will see in November if anyone agrees with me....
Kris M.
Sparks,NV
President Obama has lost his touch, because he doesn't listen to the people, but instead calls them miss-guided.
Thats easy Jack. Obama was handed a bucket of crap surrounded by land mines from the Bush Administration. Iraq, Afghanistan, Banking Fraud, Katrina, Guantanamo Bay . What I want to know is why you dont hear Chaney, McCain and Palin yelling "Drill Baby Drill". We all know why, one of those land mines exploded – its called an Oil Rig ! Disaster waiting to happen. Obama's not losing his touch, he's probably losing his mind. Wouldnt you be ? If he gets the Government too involved then the Republican morons will start calling him a Socialist which will only keep Limbaugh and Hannity employed for yet another year. This Country needs more humility and less Insanity. Obama's doing fine, let him do his job.
"Easy Touch? Is that what you mean? He has done nothing, but talk like some East-African dictator. He promised everything to his Black kids and turned up nothing. He has spent billions of your cash on wasted programs. Now he says the job market is better. Yet all he did was emply 390,000 for his own companies9Government), and there was a small rise of summer jobs (about 20,000).
He is not Midas, He is a Minus!"
It appears that Obama has lost his touch, but we are dealing with image here. During the campaign, he was in campaign mode, always giving speeches to stimulate votes. Now he is in presidential mode, if you will. He is all business, professorial, and his natural “geek” personality shows through. Personally, I am more concerned that he is busy at work dealing with all the problems and crises he has before him than his image. I’m all for geeks. Look at Bill Gates.
Jack,
Obama has lost his touch for a number of reasons. First, he's not listening to the American people. Then he's saying the 435,000 jobs that were created in May is a sign that the economic recovery is under way. What happens when the 411,000 census workers that make up that 435,000 figure are no longer needed? He promised transparency with this administration, and we're not getting it. And now there's the issue of trying to get Sestak and Romanoff to drop out of Primary election. The American people are fed up with this behavior. But then, Obama (as well as those in Congress and the Senate) isn't listening.
He hasn't but you Republicans want us to think he has, especially since you're a reporter that loves to scare people to sell your articles.
Jack, it's called "The Peter Priciple". The media invented his touch and now that he actually has to perform, his inexperience is showing.
Jason in Colorado Springs
He’s the typical politician; full of promises that are soon forgotten.
This guy talks a good game but delivers nothing except forcing his own agenda on us despite our objections.
The country was overwhelmingly against the stimulus package, bailouts of Wall Street, the banks, AIG, GM and the health care bill yet all of it was rammed down our throats.
I seem to remember during the campaign that Obama promised to eliminate earmarks. Didn’t the stimulus package contain over 8,000 earmarks?
What enrages me the most is his refusal to secure our southern border.
Obama places a higher priority on representing the interests of illegals than those of the American citizens who elected him.
The people are coming to the realization that Obama is a phony, full of talk and little action. Witness the disaster in the Gulf as proof.
Where's the help that was promised?
The luster has eroded and he is no longer the savior he was proclaimed to be.
Obama hasn't lost his touch. The reality is that he never had one.
His presidency is doomed to one term and I will not be the only one shouting “good riddance."
The president is continuing to show his academic background. Good at analytical analysis and speaking about the many problems we are facing but short on the practical side of solutions and leadership ability. This is not a lecture series at some high end school, but real life day-to-day hard to solve basic problems of sustaining our country in the face of unlimited challenges. It is a tough job. He is learning as he goes, but can we wait?
gee does promises of more accountability, cut pork barrel spending, more open administration ring any bells to anyone he is the same old story with the dems and the rep's we need someone to get in there are say no to the lobbyist and helo to the average american overtaxed americans
Jack, the only people who think President Obama has lost his touch are the pundits, whose opinions and over-blown sense of importance don't really matter to anybody but them, and members of the opposition party. The number of people watching cable news shows is negligible compared to those that voted for him. I'm well satisfied to have a president who doesn't shoot off his mouth before thinking things through and just quietly doing what needs to be done. This President can't do anything right in the eyes of the media. Where do you get off assuming and/or deciding that he has lost his "touch."
He has proven his management skills are zero. The oil spill is a disaster and he goes off to Chicago while nothing is being done to solve this problem and the coastlines are not going to recover for years. The economy has not improved and is getting worse. We are drowning in debt which our grandchildren are going to be stuck with. We are not building borders to keep the illegals out. How is that for starters?
President Obama is trying to be a people pleaser and a consensus maker. America is at this point in its history too polarized for either to happen.
Here is a thought. If the President vowed NOT to seek re-election in 2012, then the Republicans would have no reason to try to make him fail at everything he tries to reform, such that his remaining 31 months in office might be extremely productive.
Another plus would be that President Obama's stress level and family life would improve by his knowing that he had less than 3 years left in that pressure cooker of a job.
With his unsurpassed speaking skills, President Obama will certainly make a wonderful "former President". And no one will blame him for a lackluster single term in office since he inherited such a mess from his predecessor George W. Bush.
The eight years of Bush/Cheney have finally caught up with us: tax cuts, wars, and deregulation of financial markets and offshore oil exploration. President Obama is a smart guy, but he's no superman. He can't fly around the earth at light speed to take us back in time to prevent those mistakes. So, like the bumper sticker says: "Where are we going and why am I in this hand-basket?" Have a good weekend, Jack.
Americans, being compassionate, understand that he's overwhelmed by it all. What we don't understand, however, is his overwhelming lack of "fire in the belly" - we want ACTION, not just more PR blabber. I almost don't want to see any coverage of his trip to the Gulf today, but maybe seeing him holding a precious bird covered in oil, looking right into the camera with a tear in his eye and saying "This will be stopped, so help me God" might give me reason to believe in him.
Hello Jack,
The short answer is the noise tea party makers. Incumbent democrats are hiding and not helping the president either. The Wall Street wants the President to fail and fail badly! All these so called "Wall Street Analysts" poh-poh the resurgence of the economy and do not remind the public that it is a miracle it is breathing at all! People like Bobby Jindal asking the President to lift the embargo on deep water drilling is a joke! BP has told that the tool box does not have tools to address the spill like his state is facing now! What if another spill happens? Republicans are more concerned about ideology and less on the countery, I am sorry to say.
KK
LCF, CA
poor choice of question, Jack. Obama did not say he was Jesus or that he would work miracles. He has not caused the problems but he has tried to solve them which is allot better than the last president. You should walk one mile in his shoes before raising questions but you are in it just for a buck in your pocket.
Jack,
The President seems to have lost his touch because he found out after taking office that the President and Congress don't run America. Big Business does. Ike warned us and I'm surprised to see that we're just figuring it out now.
Jack, obviously it is because the reality of governing has replaced the fantasy of the campaign promises. The shine of the smile and the slick rhetoric are rapidly being replaced by the fact that this man is nothing except talk and unfulfilled promises. He has no leadership. He has no experience. He has no plan except to throw more taxpayer money at every issue that surfaces. He isn't developing leadership, he isn't learning from experience, and he is going to run out of our money pretty soon, or kill the country with his deficit spending. I told you so, just doesn't seem to say it loudly enough!
The President has not lost his touch – he is dealing with many, many extremely difficult problems and, with the Republicans fighting him at every turn, it is a wonder he has done as well as he has. Without this intelligent and capable person at the helm this country would have "bit the dust" with everything we have been facing. I thank the good Lord every day that Mr. Obama is in charge and not McCane/Palin.
Lost what? There's a big difference between campaigning and actually doing something, so I'd say he didn't lose anything. The campaign is over, and now his total lack of executive experience of any kind is showing, mixed in with partisan political manuevering. He may be smart, he may be inspiring, but he is in way over his head and surrounded by a bunch of partisan political hacks.
At least he has Hillary Clinton on his team, probably the most competent one of the bunch.
Americans feel the President as well as the vast majority of politicians simply are out of touch with the public. This President rammed healthcare down our throats when popular sentiment was clearly against it. We are in uncharted waters in terms of voter anger and apathy...God help us all.
J. Serrat, MD
I do not think Obama has lost his touch, it more like the GOP complain about everything or say no to everything.
That's how most of Americans see it.
Your question should be, "How did America get into this mess?"
Who got America into 2 wars? – GOP
Who took a budget surplus and spent it into a record deficit? – GOP
Who pass tax cuts to companies who sent American JOBS out of America? – GOP
Who allowed oil comapnies to skirt regulations for safety valves while drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico? – GOP
Who deregulated Wall St rules set up by FDR which caused the biggest drop since 1929 crash? – GOP
Who supports CEO's getting ridiculous wage and bonuses? – GOP
Bash Obama all you want but I will still take Obama over Bush / GOP anyday !!!
President Obama has more items on his plate than many previous Presidents combined AND the Republican-Tea Potty Lawmakers are not helping him nor the American people whatsoever. President Obama hasn't lost his touch, he's simply much more involved than the previous little man, Bush jr.
War in Afghanistan
War in Iraq
Possible War occurring in Korea
Possible War occurring in Iran
Possible War occurring in Yemen
Mines and Mineral Federal Agency in bed with Republican Big Oil
Oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico
Economic Stimulus
Wall St. Regulation
Health Care for America
Alternative Energy and Cap and Trade Regulation
Immigration for American citizenship
Remember that he inherited a crashing economy, a virtually unregulated oil drilling industry, two wars (one unnecessary), a hostile international community, an opposition party dedicated to "NO!" that wanted him to fail and started tearing him down even before he took office, a deficit that was already growing at alarming rates, and that is just for starters. If he has lost his touch, then it is because we expect "magic." Well, Jack, we don't live in Wonderland. These problems require hard work. And that is not as easy to admire as "one line zingers" that grab headlines.
Your question makes an assumption that is not true. Obama hasn't lost his touch. Thank God he is in control of his emotional response to such an unpresidented disaster. If he had acted the way the drama queens have wanted him to, we would have all lost confidence in his strength and abilities. I rather march behind a strong, controlled leader than one that threatens, rants, raves and goes off half cocked. Your voice is getting lost in the rhetoric of the day, Jack. Please go back to thoughtful op ed and stop the emotional massaging.
Jack
Thank goodness the president does not conduct bussiness according to the polls. For a world leader who has done more in one year than most presidents achieved only in 8 years, he is doing great. I certainly would not respect a "drama queen" president who throws tantrums and act impulsive, trust me I had a boss like that in a previous job and was happy to be away from that.. The man has a lot on his plate and he cannot expect to micro manage every darn thing. He has experts in place to deal with the oil spill, I would not want him rolling around in it (not that I would mind watching him do it) just to prove to us he is taking care of it..
Sorry Jack. BP's failure to have a backup plan is not Obama's fault, no matter what Palin, Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity says. There's just no presidential scandal here. Sorry. Now take that stupid tea bag off your forehead!!
I think it is all in the eye of the beholder. I didn't vote for him but now I'm so glad he is the President. They way I see McCain and Palin acting these past 200 days gives me shivers "What if"... Give the guy a break. Next week concentrate on the positive and not the negative. And we'll all be better off.
Hmmmm ... probably because they are real problems now, and because he has to actually try to solve them.
Even if we weren't still coming out of the ditch Bush drove us into, all presidents at this point after election find the honey moon over. This one is no different. By 2010 he'll beat anyone the Republicans put up by a landslide.
Jack: There are alot of issues from North Korea to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I think President Obama is handling the job very well. I think the media would like some news item to report that shows President Obama with some personality flaw. He handles the stress of the job amazingly much better than George W. Bush.
It's probably because he's been so busy cleaning up other people's manure, only to have more manure thrown at him. Certainly he's screwed up, but most of the time he admits it, as opposed to the guy he replaced–and he speaks good English.
Rose, London, Texas
Ask Michelle whether he's lost his touch or not. Looks like the magic is still there.
(By the way, how many unflattering photos of people do you have anyway? Sure glad I'm not a public figure.)
•
Simple, Jack.....he's more worried about his "image" than having the courage to do what's needed to be done. If he'll do what's right and stand up for America and it's people and not appear weak to our adversaries and his own people, his "image" will take care of itself and he will do fine.
He hasn't lost a thing. President Obama was all promise and no proof when he was elected. He was great at getting elected but never had to actually perform at being a senator, where you can develop a record and possibly be criticized. Now he has the top job and actually has to lead the country, if not the free world and run the Executive Branch. Well is hard, damn hard! Pretty much everything has trade-offs and the world keeps pitching fast ones his way. Now we just have to accept the fact that we elected a handsome, glib speaking neophyte to the presidency and hope he will grow into it.
Well Jack, I didn't vote for the president and I'm not going to vote for him in 2012 but I am going to support him just a little for your question. Let's remember that President Obama came into office at a time of recession, two wars, deficits etc.. His popularity was so high on January 20th 2009 that his numbers had no where to go but down.
Here we are in June 2010 with a natural disaster, Hurricane season is warming up, two wars, plus North Korea, Iran and Israel showing their teeth. The president can only do so much. He has done everything humanly possible to clean up the Gulf of Mexico. But seeing how he is the leader of the free world, he takes the blame for our country's problems and gets the praise during triumph. This is exactly what he signed up for.
I don't think President Obama has lost his touch, I think that his policies are not working as well as he expected and this disappoints him.
Also, many people in this country who were affected the the Bush – Cheny economic disaster are still hoping for better times, but they have yet to arrive.
I think the Presidents popularity will once again improve as the already improving economy improves and unemployment returns to normal.
Hi
We never expected the world to be smooth. He said he will fix things. He is just a preacher. A Preacher cannot solve problems. Looks like he never had a touch!!
No jack, Obama is very much in touch with the pain and misery of the people of the Gulf coast region. In fact, he is more in touch than George W. Bush was during the Katrina crisis. Obama said it eloquently last night on the Larry King Show that he was elected to solve problems and not just get mad and yell at people. This demeaner shows that Obama is more in control of himself and the nation than John McCain would have been were he elected president. Obama's accomplishments exceed his misteps. So Jack, give Obama is break and let Obama be himself and a strong president of the United States.
Big surprise! Republicans cry socialism when government steps in and when they do not and hold business responsible for fixing their own mistakes then he is doing a horrible job.
What can you touch when you’re juggling more plates than your hands can hold? I just thank God every day that he won instead of the ex-maverick, new right wing fringe suck up.
What happened to you Jack? For the last 3 months or so it sounds like you would be much happier over at FOX or MSNBC. You sound just like them now.
Now that he has been elected it is evident that he will continue the same policies this country has been on for thirty years. Increase the size of government and spending while destroying the economy and middle class. We have heard rhetoric of huge differences between the republicans and democrats but never anything that would change the direction of the country, only what would keep our focus from the reality that we have only one political party.
We are under corporate control and being guided towards a one world government and there won't be enough people wake up in time to prevent it.
...heck no, he's still doing his thing...only to the media, birthers, baggers, and republicans.is he lacking...........and they don't count.......
depression. it has been a tough 500 days.
Being "in touch" implies emotional involvement. Obama is an intellectual.
Simple, because news outlets like your own keep telling us he has.
Because the time for BS speeches is over and this is the real job...something it turns out he's really not as great as his speechwriters made people think he'd be.
The Presidency is a difficult job, the honeymoon period is over, and he is tired and worn down.
Obama has lost his touch because the liberal media is no longer artificially inflating his competence.
He has not lost his touch. You people are trying to make it seem like he is not doing anything. What are you doing other than reporting negative information. I don't think he is in trouble. BP is in trouble!!!!!!
If President Obama thinks that BP will "do the moral thing" he is misinformed and may not be up to the task. All BP assets in the United States should be seized by the Federal government to insure that an arrogant, possibly criminal, multi-national corporation doesn't use it vast ill gotten gains to do unimaginable damage to our national resources and get away with it. The President has legal authority and legal precedent to take action now to insure that BP don't use our own court system to avoid the consequences of their robber-baron behavior. You can't put a price on our national pride and the beauty which was once our Gulf Coast. This is not politics as usual.
He has never had the touch–never been interested
in a lot of the people-other presidents "couldn't catch a break" with wars, terror on and on–they worked and didnt run to vacation
think his wife is not as supportive to America as some feel
sorry
I keep hearing all the republicans saying that President Obama is going to be a one term president. Question is ..... who is gonna be able to unseat him. Sara.....or Mit ?? Quite frankly I don't see any republicans right not that would be a better President. Yeah he is slipping a little in the polls.......but when has a new president NOT fallen in the polls after their 1st year ?
Obama is a great leader. Cafferty needs to work on his self and stop discussing negative things. Obama is being a great leader he provides us with a plan to solve this promblem. He is making the rich account for there actions.
Jack,
As usual you are on the negative side of things. Give Obama a break. The president does not have control 5280 feet under water. On land i believe he is doing a great job and he will be elected another four years.
It doesn't matter who the president is. When things are not going good in this country, the president will be the first to lose touch with the people.
because he has so much SHIT on his back... constantly...everytime he gets a handle on one thing, something else erupts... he just can't reload and get his groove back... how can anyone get up swinging if they just keep getting jump by a gang of situations...
Because he is in office now. Why worry he is there . Be cool. Be Chicago
In another year he will be his old self so he can win another term.
He has lost it because he never had itam this is noteably the most unexperienced politician to ever hold the office of president. I can't understand why anyone voted for him. He hasn't filled the first promise he made.
President Obama is being badly advised. Especially by Rahm Emmanuel. He needs to admit he made mistakes and sack half his cabinet. Then he's really taking responsibility and not just lip service anymore.
He was a charmer on the campaign trail and said all the right things, fact is he never really was in touch with America.
It seems to me it goes back to his "pickup truck", "guns" and "religion" comments. He doesn't seem to be empathetic to the average middle class citizen. He lost his touch because he speaks to his Harvard college friends instead of speaking to the blue collar worker of America. He doesn't understand us and he think's he is better than almost everyone.
You can't loose what you never had-it was a glitz-glam pretend event for the months it took to get elected. What president have we ever had that would have waited to act with the worst chemical disaster we have ever known as he has as he did. He did not want to offend–whom? why? those are the real questions!
Campaigning is about promises. Promises are made to be broken. Governing is about delivering. Obama never intended to keep any of the promises he made. He's a corporatist. He said what he needed to say to get elected. Since then, he can't move fast enough to do the opposite.
Jack you must be completely out of touch with reality. President Obama is doing a great job. If I didn't know better I'd say you have an agenda to try and make people not like the president. Anyone who just witnessed the president's press conference would have to come away with the thought that out president is a true leader. Shame on you Jack. Maybe you should think about retiring.
To me the President doesn't seem as if he has made the transition from candidate to Leader. At heart he is still a community organizer not a Leader.
Jack, are you kidding me with this dumb question? President Obama has NOT lost his touch.
The problem is that between the repugs not wanting to cooperate and wanting him (and everyone the in the US) to fail and this man made disaster there's so much he can do!!!
President Obama really cares about people because he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth like the previous president whose fault it is that this oil rig is one of the worst disasters (livelihoods and ecological) we have ever encountered.
I wonder how many of us could take the heat and still stay in the kitchen! He is not a quitter and he will do what needs to be done.
President Obama lost his touch before he entered the Oval Office. The reason; he chose a Cabinet that did not merely hold hands with what was in the White House years earlier. Mister Obama's Secretaries and Advisors are the Bush and Clinton people.
Any President is highly dependent upon staff to perform well. Advisors and inner-circle types have to be adept at identifying gotchas well in advance, or the President's performance – and approval rating – will suffer. That said, you are right, Jack: President Obama the man has to stiffen some and hold true to his campaign promises of transparency in government, and not doing Washington business as usual. I for one love President Obama and have confidence he'll correct his administrations mistakes.
Obama hasn't lost his touch – he never had it. Running a country is not like campaiging or community organizing. He is also discovering that the Chicago style corruption doesn't work on a national level.
Obama is just a Failure!
Obama has not lost his touch, he is over whelmed with the oil spill, North Korea, Isreal being a bully and most of all he is to Black to do anything right in this country. Give the Man a break. He is doing quite well considering all of this has hit him at the same time.
Obama is failing because campain rhetoric is talk. Leadership is action and you can't vote present!
CEO DuoView
Jack, the reason the president seems to have lost his touch is because the campaign is over and he no longer has time to answer every little criticism the other campagin taht already lost is still throwing at him. You see, he's too busy doing his job to worry about keeping it.
If the last guy hadn't had things the opposite way around, this guy wouldn't be having such a hard time.
He has not lost his touch.
You really have to ask that question when you are right in the middle of the problem? Can you say CORPORATE MEDIA? President Obama has been losing his touch because you guys spend all your time shoving Sarah Palin down our throats and trying to make us believe the Teabaggers are a valid entity in this country.
I don't think he has. We wanted an intelligent and calm persident and we have one. Banging on a desk and waving his arms are not what he does. He has a lot on his mind and that would be phoney for him. He has done much for this country so far, gotten out of a recession, healthcare, will sanction banks, took care of insurance companies, gave health care for children and stem cell research. Soon "don't ask don't tell will be passed. All this without the help of the other party and without yelling. I'lll take this kind of action any time.
What do you expect the President to do? The states governors need to get their acts together. Anyone who blames the President for this oil spill is just an idiot. Must we remind everyone that George W. Bush took well over three years of vacation while President. Its a matter of public record. I think he owes us three years worth of pay.
He doesn't have the skill, experience or the knowledge to be a leader. He has proved this time and time again over the past days since the oil dump.
I think he lost touch with the people he reached out to in his campaign: first time voters, young voters, black voters. His political messages are just that, political. This isn't what first time voters,etc. are interested in....they still want "hope".
Jack,
You are goofy. Obama is not God. How can any one man be everywhere and solve every problem! This is stupid beyond belief and contributes to the false notion that we need an emperor to solve our problems. Why weren't YOU down there capping the oil leak since you seem to have all the answers, Emperor Jack!?
'
Jack: Give the President a break, get off his case.. Could you do better?
Jack,
Reason that The President has lost his touch is simple. He never had one. We elected a guy who has no experience, no credentials, and no history. If plugging oil leaks was something a community organizer needed to know-maybe he'd have a clue.
The popularity isn't going to go up. As Barack Obama's experience and leadership is tested more and more we all are beginning to realize – we were duped!
Jim Miller
Virginia Beach, VA
I believe that his speeches have ran out, and now he is not delivering.
He never had a touch to lose. He was great at campaign promises, which he of course broke once he got in office. His big agenda is to take money from hard working Americans to give to those who choose not to work due to sheer laziness or inability to get a job due to having to pass a drug test. He is great at castigating big companies that repsonsible people have put their savings in so they don't have to be dependent on government in their old age. He is an inept, dishonest, corrupt tool of the unions, moveon.org and George Soros. I can't believe it is just taking so many of you liberals this long to catch on to this crook.
I don't think Obama's lower approval ratings have anything to do with him losing "Magic" as you state, but rather, the public that fell in love with Obama's soaring rhetoric is finally seeing the real man behind the thinly coated facade.
Duh! The man was and is a good campaigner, all the while he ain't and wasn't qualified to be President. He's so wrapped up in Obama this and Obama that and flying around almost daily in Air Force One, that there is no time for him to function as President. He never ran a city, county or state or he would have had an idea of what was expected of him. Duh! We knew this going in and voted him in. The Peter Principle does rule!
he hasn't. there is no politician in washington or elsewhere who could handle with perfection all that not only was dumped on this man but also the extraordinary thingds that have happened such as the oil spill in the gulf. I don't know what you people in the media or those Americans who fault him expect of this man. It's about time the people get behind this man before there is no long a U.S.A. and don't think it can't happen. I am behind my President.
Jack you sure know how to hit a man below the belt. Who comes up with your questions? If it's you, I'm not surprised. I can feel my blood pressure rising when you go off at the mouth. You should change places for 24 hours with this President and maybe you would learn something and stop being so nasty and crude.
His Touch has not been lost, the nation just does not realize how good we have it, He"s still got it.
Jack, teleprompter, teleprompter, teleprompter! Take the man away from it and he has to think on his feet. He was barely a senator and he's barely a president. He's a jack of all trades and master of none. Now it's showing.
Is this a trick question??? was he ever in touch with us little folks?? I think NOT...he was able to talk around and over the feeble minded masses and snuck into office, it wont be repeated next time since so many are finally waking up!!
When you personally and all news media in general plus the political machine of Fox (make)News have nothing but negative to speak about while completely ignoring the accomplishments of this administration and the congress – it is not very difficult to understand why his poll numbers are low now.
Obama has not lost his touch i would like to see anyone else make the difficult decisions he has to make and maintain a cool head. Handling 2 wars possibly 3 soon one of the worst oil spills in history and a economic downfall i would love to see anyone handle it like he does
Unfortunately, the only thing President Obama has run in his life is his presidential campaign, (which never seems to end), and the rookie chickens are coming home to roost. His inexperience at prioritizing, managing, and choosing staff members is showing, and his results show his lack of ability all too clearly.
I thank God every night that we have such an intelligent and steady man as our president. Think if all this stuff happened under Bush!
Jack, you are starting on an assumption; a bad one. I do not feel that the President has lost his touch. I believe people are unable to see it due to all the events going and many of them not having an end date. People need to re-realize that we are in a mess here and that things do not happen overnight. Obama is a fine leader. I am glad to have him in charge as opposed to some of the others who may have been in his spot.
He was a former community organizer who is overwhelmed at the enormous responsibility of being leader of the "free world"
What touch? He never HAD a touch. He's a community activist, nothing more. This whole mess should be a lesson to all the young people that voted for this guy thinking the democrats would change things for the better. The country can't wait to get rid of this guy and his loser regime – hang on America, his days are numbered. Too bad about Al Gore and Tipper-maybe the global warming will be enough to keep each of them warm this winter.
Because people tend to forget how long we had the right wing stealing from the poor and doing away with the middle class. The transfer of wealth form the bottom to the top is what we expect now. We accept large corporations stealing and paying fat lazy CEOs"s for wreaking havoc. Until we wake up and get rid of the Limbaugh's screaming and yelling, and start paying attention to us instead of them, he will do poor in the polls. However that has little to do without he elections in 2012.
Why did he lose his mojo? He was given a mandate to change government and politics as usual, and instead HE IS COMPROMISING. He is coming across like Solomon in the Bible...wise but confounding. I am VERY far left of center, and I am frustrated with him too. He had a MANDATE.....and he squandered it to make nice nice with the far right. Next time, I am voting whatever left wing party comes up that is NOT the Democrats (if they can be considered left wing anymore).
He is doing a great job for what he has on his plate. I have never never heard of a President that inheirited a mishmash as he has.
As for the senate candidates, I remember when Cheney blocked Tim Paulenty from running so that Norm Coleman could run for Senate. I don't think we heard anything about that.
As far as the oil, It seems like if the Reppublicans get in, we are going to have Drill Baby Drill, Drill here and Drill now!!!
Watch who you root for.
Can we be a little more positive about our Commander In Chief, he hasn't had a day with no problems.
Why do you hate the President? Who are you to question the President? You criticize everyday. You have no touch, and Ted Turner should take you off CNN. You and David Gergen and the others are just a group of angry old white men who are so mad that the President of the United States is a Black man. You expose your racism everyday. Why don't you find something positive to do. You represent racism in the highest degree. I'm sure you won't read my comment. You only choose the racist ones.
President Obama just has a lot of issues that he has to deal with right now. It seems like after every problem is solved, a new, bigger problem arises for him to tackle.
Obama has always been calm, cool, and collected and we shouldn't expect him to change now. That's just the way he is. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't care about the people of Louisiana. I'm sure he's doing everything he can, even though it seems like he's not doing enough.
You answered the question yourself in the 2nd paragraph. He's a good campaigner, but that's it.
Most of us (including then-Sen Clinton, Biden and former SecState Powell) recognized that he didn't have the experience to be President. But primarily due to the anti-Bush sentiment, he got elected anyway. So he hasn't lost anything - he never had it and 500 days into his term is still in on the job training mode.
I am one of those people who believed in Obama 08'. His speeches instilled confidence and hope in his voters. However, now his actions are what are talking now...and they are not saying much.
he only lost it to the people who drank his kool-aid. i had seen behind the smoke and mirrors at the fraud he was and is today! in pa we had the spector debacle, we have seen first hand his failure and are now getting ready to erase his touch here and hopefully the nation will also!
jack....sometimes you can be very childish. When is going to the house you own on a holiday weekend start being described as a vacation? Also as anyone can understand. Obama has a lot more responsibilities now than he had on the campaign and there are some of us that don't need a father figure to make me warm and fuzzy.
He hasn't lost his touch at all. He has 48% because of faithful loyal patriotic democrats, the other 52% are the party of "no" and idiotic teabaggers that goes for Palin's comedy act. Get used to it – there is a new Sherriff in town – called Barack Obama!
The "lame stream media" is why it appears he has lost his touch, Jack, which includes you! Love them or hate them, the RIGHT sticks together and supports their own right or wrong. The "lame streamers" are with you while you are looking good but are among the worse when you hit a rough spot or two. Where are the BECK's and LIMBAUGH's of the left? Too bad we have just the likes of turncoats (did someone say CARVILLE?). I applaud the president for not succumbing to every whim of the media such as"he is not emoting enough". Hell, you fair weather friends emote enough for the entire world.
Give the man a break! It's a lot easier to campaign for President then it is to do the jobs a President is required to do. And everyone knows that Obama is dealing with two wars, a failed economy, health care, immigration, oil spill, climate change, alternative energy, a Congress that can't seem to agree on much of anything, etc. etc. Obama most likely has no energy left to ressurect that ol' campaign magic. In 40+ years of voting I've never known of a President having to shoulder so much responsibility. BTW, I do not need a father figure for President. I need somebody with the intelligence to get the job done!
I would'nt say he has lost his touch. We are so focused on everything thats going wrong while he is in office and completly ignoring the good things. Yes, he is our president but yet he continues to be human...shame on him..NO! Shame On Us!
You don't know how lucky u guys are. He THINKS before he does . Very smart man look at the mess he's dealing with.
I voted for Barack Obama because he was new to Washington and could articulately address the multitude of problems caused by established politicians. He very successfully painted himself as a refreshing agent of change who could turn things around in this country. Now I fear we are seeing the real Barack Obama: a President who is naive in implementing his agenda, out of touch with average working Americans, and totally unable to prioritize and perform triage when the crap hits the fan. It turns out Hillary was correct about how his lack of meaningful experience would hurt him in the White House.
Even though I voted for Obama, I too believe he has slightly lost his touch. He has had a lot to deal with as leader of this country from day one. I think we tend to over analyze him and mistake his lack of emotion as lack of care. Even if he did exactly what we wanted, we would still find something to complain about, just like we did with Bush.
It goes to show the people of America. That He "Obama", and his people are salesman... He was a Community organizer with no experience.
The people that voted and elected him. Did it out of fear with no hope in thier lives...Maybe they should ask God for guidance. Sure would be a better Ideal... God Bless American.
Obama has not lost his touch. There is no "handbook" for the Presidency. He is undergoing what every President undergoes; "a true test of leadership". He may seem to be overwhelmed, but he will come out stronger than ever. These event galvanize the leadeership our Presidents.
We wanted an intelligent and calm persident and we have one. Banging on a desk and waving his arms are not what he does. He has a lot on his mind and that would be phoney for him. He has done much for this country so far, gotten out of a recession, healthcare, will sanction banks, took care of insurance companies, gave health care for children and stem cell research. Soon "don't ask don't tell will be passed. All this without the help of the other party and without yelling. I'lll take this kind of action any time.
Even if Jesus Christ was president Fox news and their talking heads would say he should get a hair cut he a hippie, or he in bed with the Romans, he has no common sense,his head is in the clouds.
Obama figured out that,after Bush, people wanted a very intelligent man. Then he figured out how to use the net to win the Presidency. 500 days later it has become clear that he is only slightly smarter than Bush. Big problems like the oil spill made that clear.
The honey moon of the first black leader of the world is OVER.
Touch?? This guy and the people that surround him have been "smoke & mirrors" from the beginning.
Let's just hope we're not faced with a real crisis!!!!!!!!!
The last one wasn't alot better, but it would be nice to "trade up" !!
President Obama is doing great! He has gotten some of his agenda passed, and others are in the process of being passed – Financial Reform, and perhaps even an energy bill.
ALL while significantly improving the economy, jobs are growing, and will continue to grow.
Have another drink Jack and come up with another dumb question. He hasn't started any fake wars and no 9/11 under Obama.
All talk no action. This is how he elected all talk. He is a great speech maker but that's where it starts and ends. He should get a job in sales.
Why do you feel the need to attack. Does a positvie take on the job The President is doing amidst a horrific world situation, does that enter your thinking?
These are difficult situations. Besides being the "father figure to the nation," he is first a father to his children and needs time with them while they are out of school. As I see it as a Louisiana resident, he's been attentive to Louisiana, 3 trips in 46 days.
As I see it, after his visit, there wasn't anything that was going to be impacted more by his hanging out here on a holiday weekend, instead of being with his family...like the rest of us were.
Please cut him some slack and knock off the criticism. These are difficult times and there are no quick, easy answers. If there were – I think we would have already reached a resolve.
I think the important issue is that he will see this through for justice to be done to those whose lives have been impacted, for litigation to get into place for this to not be repeated. Follow through is a greater asset than quick fixes. I believe that was the approach BP took to get us in this mess to begin with.
Rev. Ginny Allen
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
It is sad how this whole oil spill has gone. If you ask me it all has to do with money. Who's gonna pay to fix this? No one wants to and it seems the government is part of that category too. There are a lot of people that are to blame for this, not just BP. Are we, as the human race, going allow this to continue getting worse as the oil hits the Florida coast and is slowly heading to hit more regions eventually? Will someone forget about money and think about our livelihoods, environment, and over-all existence on this planet? Haven't seen it from Obama either.....unfortunately.
Lost his touch? The man inherited and is blamed for a mess that everyone expected him to cleanup in his first year. This mess wasn't made in just a year, how is supposed to be fixed in a year. And last I checked, our military isn't in the oil business and does not have the know how to fix this catastrophe. And if they did, these paranoid tea baggers would claim that Pres. Obama is trying to takeover the oil industry as well. The man can't win
Because no president in the history of the United States has ever faced so many devastating challenges, beginning even before he took office, and has had to deal with so many dire circumstances in his first 500 days as Barack Obama. Add to that the absolutely rabid opposition he faces each day from a bunch of whining, spoiled Republicans and Tea Partiers who despise him and would enjoy nothing better than his defeat, not to mention the bumbling idiot Keystone Kops who call themselves the Democratic Party in both houses of Congress who are more of a hinderance than a help with all their infighting and bickering, and it's a wonder the poor man hasn't quit by now! He never gets any credit for what his is doing, and I must say the media is doing more whining about his performance than the average guy. After all, most Presidents have ratings around 48% at this point in their presidency.
Obama and his team are spending more time on things that matter, and less time worrying about politics.
President Obama has not lost his touch, if there were an election today or tomorrow, President Obama would win again, hands down, regardless of who he will be running against. The News media reports all the bad that is happening with President Obama. Is there any good that you would like to report that he has done in his 500 days in office. Hell, give the man a break, his is attempting to clean up the mess that was made 8 years ago. You know, if the media would have stayed on former President Bush as they stay on President Obama, we wouldn't be in this mess today.
Jack quite honestly I don't think he's lost his touch at all, quite honestly he's been the same person he's always been since becoming President! President Obama came into a mess yes its true and everyone knows this and he has taken the mistakes of the Bush administration and made them his own and now he's dealing with all these problems the best way he and his administration can do, miracles and change cannot happen overnight Jack and we all know this, it didn't Bill Clinton only one year to make change happen did it? No but by the end of his 8yrs he ended his presidency with a billion dollar surplus, stop hating on Obama he's doing the best he can do for being President even though like I've always said Hillary would have been better because she has more experience, Hello America!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
I dont think its fair to say that he lost touch with the public. I think in this country when someone out of the ordinary comes in and run for public office we hold them to a different standard than the people we used to. Jack, just lets wait until the end of his first term and then we will start judging him !!!
It's not that Pres. Obama has lost his touch, it's that we're seeing the difference between the boyfriend who courted us and the husband who is doing the job that he promised to do through good times and bad. The Earth as well as the USA is going through a bad time and he's working as hard as he can to get us out of it.
Obama hasn't lost his touch, he never had it. He is still as self serving and arrogant as ever. You mentioned he should be a "father figure" to the country, maybe so but that comes from being a LEADER which he isn't, we can't solve our problems with a beer, we need someone who is willing to make sacrificies, set the example for the rest of the country to follow. We need the types of leaders that emerged after WWII when the whole country gave in for the same goals. We need someone to get us back there, maybe someone will emerge, maybe it's too late for us and the whole world.
President Obama hasn't lost his touch, the American people have lost their patience. That is, if they had any to begin with. They want results and they want them in the next ten minutes. In a country ruled by underground corruption and driven by money and the personal interests of the big businesses, its no wonder we can't get anything done. Unfortunately, the blame falls soley on the President. Have some faith, stop pointing fingers and just come together to make a difference. We all want change, but were going to have to get off our asses to get it.
And please, pray for all of us residents and creatures who live in the Gulf.
Jack, you rarely disappoint me, but I have to disagree with your question entirely. President Obama is doing a lot of good for this country and I don't think he lost his touch at all.
Concerning the oil crisis in the Gulf, he could be a little more forceful with BP, but there is not a whole lot more he could do. The government says it doesn't have the technology to fix the problem, so it has to relie on BP. The President should be a little more tough on BP concerning them cleaning up quicker, yet he is holding them accountable financially and has people there pushing BP to get this thing done. But BP doesn't need to be pushed by the government to try its best to plug the leak as quick as possible, its shareholders and bank accounts will do that for them.
Came on Jack.... I don't need a father figure........I need a President and I got one... You guys in the news media need some Valium to calm you down!!!!!!!!
Obama promised transparency, well he delivered because we can see right through him. And there's nothing there. All Hype, No Hope.
Because corporate media whores like you spend all your time echoing Republican BS and searching for anything you can say to put him in a bad light. It took thirty years of Reagan economics, de-regulation, and privatization to get this country into the mess it's in, and you jerks blame Obama because he can't fix it all in a year and a half. Republicans have waged an unprecedented campaign to block everything he's tried to do, but you virtually ignore that and blame Obama for everything. Just go to hell!
Dan Leahy
Santa Barbara
He hasn't. He has delt with extremely important issues, health reform, Wall Street reform, Arizona border, umemployment, war, 1st in our time on earth an oil spill that will affect the world, making sure people will be repaid and doing all this working against the "PARTY OF NO". He has been majestic – I don't know of another leader who could have handeled this. Nancy
You people have to stop saying Bush to defend Obama. All news stations still praise him. I think he lost his touch when he decided to try to make changes in all the wrong places. He wants to make history with every woman or diverse ethnic person he appoints. He wants the votes and popularity so he can get some votes from people that have no idea what is going on in the country come 2012. You know, the same people who didn't even know who Joe Biden or John McCain were. We are in a world of denial and our president is the number one denier.
It could be that he's not God and he's not Superman either. Unfortunately he is only a human and with the burdens he inherited in addition to all of the new problems he has to contend with – what we may need is a miracle-worker. I'm sure he must be frustrated that he can't waive a magic wand and fix all of our problems and make EvERYBODY happy... I suspect he may just be plain exhausted.
President Obama hasn't lost his touch. If the election was held today he would still win. The news media is out of touch with the American People. When Obama met the caskets at 4 in the morning, the press and Republicans called it a photo op. Now they are saying he should be putting his arms around the people as Bush did at 9/ll. That was a photo op. He is damned if he doesn't and damned if he does. He is intelligent, in control of his emotions and up on the technology of today. He is dealing with the war, mine blast, Hatti earthquake, flooding in Nashville and on and on. The first year the republicans were accusing him of traveling too much at tax payer expense. Now they want him flying down to the oil spill every week. He has confident people in his administration to handle this disaster and with the technology of today he doesn't have to be right on sight.
Obama never really had "his touch" to begin with in my opinion. History will verify that Obama for the most part was elected by Harry Reid (and a few other Democratic Senators) helping him behind the scenes during the primary according to the credible "Game Change" book, by most of the mainstream media who were deep in the tank for Obama rooting for him to win, and by Bush's unpopularity at the time. This is what happens when a very sincere but inexperienced person like Obama wins the Presidency on basically a default basis.
His touch has always simply been the gift of the gab. All talk, no action. This is how I believe he got himself elected. Eloquence can go a long way in swaying people.
John from Kingston Canada
Jack, I think you may be overly pessimistic about his appeal. Sure, during the campaign he made some great speeches. He smiled and winked at the girls, and we all swooned. Now he has gone to work, and he works long hours. He has actually gotten a lot done dispite very stiff opposition. Look at his record of accomplishment versus what the pundits are saying are his failures. You will see the scales are still tipped in his favor.
Has the President lost his touch? Or have the people (including some of the media) who just cannot stand it that we ELECTED a black man, are making the most noise? You know, empty barrels!
I don't think he's lost his touch–remember, this is a President who passed major health care reform a few months ago–as much as he is being affected by a natural tendency for people to be scrutinized as they take jobs with great responsibility. There has been a lot of criticism launched at him from groups that didn't exist before he took office (I won't dignify them by naming them) and it has continued to build up. Now there is an oil leak that one of the world's most powerful oil companies can't stop, and people are looking to President Obama to help stop the leak. He does deserve some criticism for not strengthening these regulatory commissions sooner, but that's the extent to which he is realistically responsible. I can't fault someone with a law degree for not having the engineering wherewithal to stop this leak, and more people need to recognize that.
He hasn't lost his touch...he never had it! Now that Obama has had time to show us what he's got, he is coming up empty. Why? Becaus he never was a true leader, just a big talker. He is an egotistical maniac and just had a goal to take over the USA...he can talk the big talk as he is a fine actor. There is and was no substance to his words....they were simply words. People in this country were hoping for change and a miracle and believed him. I did not, I did not vote for him, nor never would. What has he done for us?? A big fat goose egg....well except for putting the health care bill that no one wants into law. Can't wait to see him go!!!!
I have heard you comments for more than a year, but you don't have good words for the President. Why don't you switch to Fox News. You would have been more comfortable. He is trying to solve the problems created by the past adminstration.
I don't think Obama has lost his touch. I wish you news people would stop spreading bad comments about him. I never hear a possitive comment from you. There are people who will believe what you say. I see him totally different from what you and your guest are reporting.
A better journalistic question would be: "Has Pres. Obama lost his touch, yes or no, and why do you think that?" The question, "Why does President Obama seem to have lost his touch?" is leading and pejorative. Let's certainly not assume that everyone agrees with that statement.
He did not lose his touch, he never had one!
Folks want a President to show leadership and passion. the qualities of a good experienced executive. The problem is Obama has never been an executive and we all knew it when we pulled that lever in Nov 2008. Not only does he have zero business experience, he has surrounded himself with a bunch of lawyers and academics.
President Obama hasn't lost his touch, Jack , You have! Your "touch" of being objective. What the heck is he supposed to do, get angry so..people who think like you can see that he really, sincerely CARES about the spill, the loss of thousands of fishing industry jobs, etc.? He can only do so much. What's he going to do tell BP? .. to get the HELL out of the gulf.. NOW!? Com'ON, Jack.. Obama's expressed his sincerity in that those responsible will not only pay, but would be prosecuted for any wrong-doing to the fullest extent of the law. LOST his "touch? Don't THINK so! Youi or I have seen a more sincere, articulate, intelligent President in our lifetime! What else do you want him to do Jack!? j
Obama never had a touch...he just simply wasn't George Bush. That's what you get when your vote is primarily cast against someone. No one really voted for Obama, they didn't even know who he was or what he represented. They only knew he wasn't George W.
PS: you and your friends at CNN are partially responsible for this syndrome.
He has not lost his touch. The media has lost its touch because it is so negative. CNN use to be a station that you could receive the news now it is all based on speculation. I am also sick of Cafferty File because he is a big grouch! CNN get some news and lay off my President.
Lost touch...?? You people in the media have lost your touch of responsible dissemination of news. You are now poll salesmen and women. Live Obama alone he is doing a fine job under very difficult circumstances.
Ricky
President Obama has consistently went against what the people want. For example, health care bill, immigration law in AZ, cap and trade, etc
This is the first administration I have seen that does not listen or read polls. Eventually, after ignoring the polls, naturally, Americans lose respect and their admiration for any politician.
He is beyond arrogant and is pushing his own agenda without regards to what the people want. He is out of touch when it comes to the disaster of illegal immigration and cares more about the people coming into this country illegally than he does american citizens. We are just something to be stepped on and seen as a big ATM. This country is going to hell in a handbasket and he is pushing us farther down the path each day.
It's not a question of whether or not the President has lost his touch; it's a question of the American people finally discovering that the emperor has no clothes. It would seem that he never had any "touch" to begin with. We voted for him because he was supposed to be "calm, cool and collected". Turns out he's really just aloof. Turns out Hilary Clinton my well be cackling her substantial rear end off. Be careful what you wish for . . .
Also, If it wasn't for the wise American people having elected President Obama, we would now be at war with Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea due to McCain's / Palin's ignorance and extreme militant attitudes. At that point, if a country like Mexico, for example, wanted to attack the United States, they would have a great chance of succeeding.
President Obama has a lot on his plate. He has lost his touch because during his campaign, he promised change, but when up to bat he did not know it would be like this. In addition to Iraq and Afghanistan, he has had several obstacles such as the attempted Times Square bombing, the oil spill, and the "aid" flotilla conflict. He has lost his touch because personally I think he is just feeding us attractive words. He SAID he would not rest until the oil spill was cleaned up, but I certainly count five hours of golfing after touring the oil spill rest. I understand that he is not Superman, and I understand that neither he or BP has Tony Stark- Iron Man technology and he can't do everything, but if you are going golfing, don't tell the people of the nation you will not rest until the spill is cleaned up. I also fully agree Mark's comment about Obama's concern over his image, good job Mark!
I do not know ANYONE outside of the "talking heads" who feel Obama has lost touch - Democrat or Republican! One can only wonder what your agenda is. Obama has been a wonderful president so far, heads above Bush or Clinton, and I admire not only his demeanor in the face of so many problems, almost all of which were inherited, but his determination to do the right thing regardless of the pundits' endless blathering. He has got the toughest job in the world, and he deserves our support.
No, Jack... Obama hasn't lost his touch... he isn't having problems "connecting with voters" or "emoting and showing anger."
It's just that you journalists and pundits have lost your minds. You've determined that playing dumb and dumbing down news and complex issues is a lot more fun for you than the heavy lift of really reporting. (Not to worry, come next week you'll all be on a different page, singing a new tune.)
You prefer the simplicity of pre-constructing a meme and forcefitting Obama into it. None of you can remember the striking image of the guy who said he could "feel your pain," at a funeral, first feigning tears, then yukking it up before realizing he was still on camera and returning to the lip-biting, eye-daubing, crocodile tears. Is this what we want in President? Not this voter.
Try this mantra: Let Obama be Obama.
Quite simple Jack,
(like other candidates) He was not qualified in the first place. Now he is inundated and seriously overwhelmed by the job. Domestic and International, monetary and the military, terrorism and his own progressivism, he struggles greatly with all of today's big issues.
The sad fact is that Mr. Obama has only one gift: public speaking. He can speak with tremendous eloquence on virtually any subject at hand. Unfortunately, the American people mistook this gift for an ability to solve problems and get things done. If he does ever become a problem solver, it will be because he learned on the job, not because of any skill he possesses currently. Talking and rhyming one's way into public office is one thing; having to produce results when the chips are down is another. So far, Obama does not appear up to the task.
I do not think that President Obama has lost his touch. In fact, I think we should be grateful that we have as competent and energetic a President and team to deal with the oil spill, the financial crisis, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran and numerous other current issues. Can you just imagine if this stuff had been left in the hands of McCain/Plain? The only reason there is any talk at all about Obama's seeming lack of emotion is the press' neverending quest for a sound bite. If he had expressed rage in the manner sought, you would have been all over him for being too emotional. Remember Edmund Muskie? Leave him alone and let him do his quietly competent job his way and stop trying to compare him with Reagan (who was vastly less qualified) and other emoticons.
Why does Pres. Obama seem to have lost his touch? thats easy Jack because of the media people like u that promote that he has a 48% rating. whose helping the situation... going against the problem ain't gonna help it ... tell everybody who bloggin to run for office... or ask them how many of them prayed for the United States and Mr. President. good job Mr. Obama yes we still can
I'm a republican who voted for Obama and I still like him better than I came to dislike Bush. Ignore the polls and ignore th yammering press
Jack the answer about Obama's slipping in the poles is simple: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!
You and Wolf have one, I don't.
Rick, Miami
He hasn't lost his touch, Jack, and if you keep hammering, maybe Lou Dobbs will let you join him. During the campaign, I wondered why anyone would want to be President because of the mess being left behind by the Bush administration, which was obviously going to take at least two terms to fix, in an era of instantaneous expectations. Given a reasonable amount of time he will be just fine. Thank you.
Jack,
The president is doing fantastic job. He is handling multiples of problems created and left behind by the previous administration. President Obama deserves credit than criticism from the pundits who watched President Bush (43) destroyed the fabric and dignity of this great country.
POTUS is winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and at the same time restoring the tarnished image of this under Bush/Cheney. Obama is gradually turning the economy around from near depression. This president has shown that you can chew gum and walk at the same time. He is not one dimensional – he is overseeing the rebuilding of our beloved country. Kudos, Mr. President.
Jack give me a break please, if you say Obama lost his touch during this oil spilling, what are you going to say Bush lost after Katrina disaster?
Give me a break plz.
Jack, the question presupposes that Obama actually HAD his touch! He has the most important job in the U.S., and is the least qualified for that job. He has never run a business, nor have most of his Administration. And yet he sits in the seat where Harry Truman realized that "the buck stops here!" Obama never misses the opportunity to pass the buck, and as long as he continues down that road, he risks defeat for himself and Democrats not smart enough to "cut their losses" and renounce Obama.
All he ever had was the gift of gab. Once you become President your actions speak louder than your words. Hence, the historical drop in his poll numbers.
Its very simple. The president is the leader of our nations government and most Americans dont know how the American government works. So when something goes wrong, everyone points their finger at the president. And as we all know, a lot has gone wrong. The oil spill is just the most recent. Everyone i talk to seems to think that the President is some dictator who has the power to change everything and when they see that he isn't doing that (simply cause this is Democracy and he cant), they think he's a bad president and that effects the polls.
He has not lost his touch at all–we voted for the calm cool thoughtful thinker–not the emotive showboater that may satiate our immediate needs. And get your comparisons right–campaigning and "ruling" are two different things. And get a grip Jack, do you really not think that he worked every day of his supposed vacation? Of course he did–and every human needs a break. The problem in the Guld–science and technology are so out of their depth–this is just one of the off-the-charts situation this president has had to deal with that few have before. And let's be honest, many Americans do not want the smart black guy to be their father figure. Can you begin to imagine how he has to gauge his responses every day? Americas "want it now" society and the raging of the media is not helping a terrible situation. Stop reporting the horserace and making amateur comparisons, we are smart enough to make our own decisions based on the facts. Which I appreciate hearing more of. It is sad that in the country that leads the free world, perception–often badly distorted and colored–is reality.
President Obama has not lost his touch, the problems and corruption he has faced in a short period of time would make anyone overwhelmed, he has courageously taken on the vile corrupt results of the Bush administraqtion and the media continues to expect him to perform at a above human manner, while you all pick at him, criticise him, and never ever say a good word or congratulate him, or thank him and his family for the sacrifices he is making. Criticise is all you guys do,
You let Bush ruin the country, you helped him by ignoring him, now you expect Obama to perform miracles. Just Shut Up, and let the man do his job, and once in a while say Thank you.
Because while campaigns are all about poetry and idealism , Washington – on the few days that Congress is in session – is a live action cartoon.We need less a President and more a kindergarden teacher.
Jack,
I've met many businessmen over the years who were great entrepreneurs ... they had vision and the ability to create something great out of nothing. But, once built, they were terrible managers. I wonder if the same scenario can apply to politics. Perhaps that is the President's problem.
Rick,
Medina,OH
Joshua, did you ever stop to think that Obama is not handling many problems, but creating them? I don't know if this country can hold on for another 2 years under his inexperience.
It is amazing to me that the media continues to bash the President–he has a war in the middle east-a failed economy, that frankly is going to get worse before better and now this horrific oil spill-but what is he really supposed to do? Can he plug the hole himself? Does he need to be standing on the beach everyday until the leak is stopped? He man has many responsibilities-some of which are being dealt with better than others and after hearing his press conference, he is, in my opinion doing what he can.
Spend your time chastising BP–after all it is there responsibility. Put the pressure on them to clean it up and compensate all those affected.
I understand that this gulf situation is a devastating tragedy but what do you want him to do in Louisiana for more than three days? He went there weeks after it happened because BP did not tell anyone about it. Why does a huge mistake of an energy company have to be blamed on the president? Think about all of the problems going on in the world and how Obama got thrown into office to have to deal with. Ronald Reagan also had a lower approval rating at this point of his presidency and he had nothing to worry about compared to the times we are in now.
He never had the touch it was an illusion. Change, Change he promised. People were upset with the state of the country and wanted the change. The only change we got was he stopped dying his hair and everyone thinks he looks older and more taxes.
No, he hasn't LOST his touch,...he never had it. The Nation is finallying seeing who he has always been. Crisis doesn't develop character, it reveals it.
Its a true shame that this president with no federal experience is our commander in cheif at a time when a REAL MAN is needed to handle the situation. Blaming bush can only last so long Barry Obama.
This country took over two hundred years to aquire the first trillion in debt. It took Barry Husseian Obabma just 18 months to reach the 13 trillion threshhold in debt in his record time. Good going Barry, you and Rohm are doing what you want. Like your mottoe goes ..." never let a disaster go wasted"....thanks Barry for destroying our county one step at a time.
The basic fundamental skill of any junior executive is to be astute enough to prioritize properly. Obama prioritized health care over jobs. A real dumb move and it's been down hill ever since. Now, as unexpected emergencies arise he's spewing words rather than action. He appears to be a nice guy, truely bright with a lot of energy. However, his presidency is in a very deep FUNK and he's quickly sinking to a point of no return.
You are so far off, Jack. How many past presidents have had 2 wars, a complete meltdown of the financial system, a depression (YES–look at jobs, economy, etc), outbursts from Korea, the Israelis, topped off by the largest disaster in U.S. History. It's easy for you and those like you to sit there and criticize. Have you got the answers for these situations?
You operate under the assumption that he ever had a touch.
He's got a lot on his plate.... and probably not on his Blackberry as much as he once was. He doesn't seem as in sync with the pulse of the nation.
However, we need to keep on everyone's butt to get through this...and we need to do more than complain.
I wonder how many other industries we have that have the potential devastation of this magnitude, or worse, and also do not have a back-up plan. Hmmmmmm..... Wonder how many wolves are watching the chicken coop?
Problem is he of course couldn't stop the oil from leaking but what he COULD HAVE DONE is get his boots on the ground and organize the efforts to mitigate the effects of the oil once it reached the surface. There is absolutely no excuse for fouled shorelines. Obama needs LEAD and stop delegating.
Pres. Obama has lost touch with nothing. Could you imagine the alternative – McCain,Palin. It seems like the Americans would like Obama to don a wet suit and go down and fix this darn leak himself. If that's the case, they better send Bush and Cheney down with him. I am sick to death of people saying he is not doing enough. All these questions do is stir up the public and bring you better ratings. I thought you were better than that. I guess I was wrong because lately it seem to be all 'put down Obama'.
President Obama hasn't lost his touch. Every day he has something new added to his plate from the 'Run America into the Ground Bush Era' that he has to deal with! I don't think there is anyone out there that could handle this mess better then him.
The guy is a self-centered buffoon who's never been a leader at anything or anyone. It's not surprising.
– The economy is improving every month. Jobs are being created.
– Health care Refom passed, and has already helped millions of people, and will continue to help millions of Americans.
– Financial reform will pass in a few weeks.
– An Energy bill will pass before the end of the year.
– Don't Ask, Don't tell will be repealed.
– President Obama has accomplished more in his first year, and 1/2 that either Bush, or Clinton did – and he DID NOT start an illegal war, like Bush did, and he DID NOT sleep with any interns like Clinton Did.
_ President Obama is doing just fine, he is getting work done, solving problems that were left by previouys Presidents.
This is such a trumped issue.
Check the Gallup website. Reagan at this time in his presidency had a 45% approval rating, and look where he ended up. Obama will endure.
Hi Jack,
You never have any thing good so say about our president. he is not God. we just left eight year of lis, and hell. was your rage when black people have , and still suffer. the problem is white people cannot except a black man leading this country(whie men)have ran this country for years were is you sucess for running this country. give his a break. God is not please'
ARE YOU KIDDING?? Your question couldn't be more misleading. Obama has NOT lost his touch. The trouble is if he is anything less than a superhero, people start complaining. Humans are such fair weathered, judgemental creatures. Hey, I've got an idea...how about everyone try to help SOLVE the problems instead of being arm-chair quarterbacks and waiting to point fingers.
signed: hoping people will grow up!
the reason it SEEMS as though President Obama has lost his touch is because EVERYTHING he does [especially the good] is reported in a negative light. Yes, Jack Cafferty, you are guilty of this as well as CNN. Wolfe...plsease don't try to deny it with an open ended query, it makes you look desparate.
Jack, I don't think he has lost his touch. What has changed is your attitude about him – and Anderson Cooper's has changed to. You both are going negative toward him even when there's no basis. I used to think you were a Democrat but I now know you're with the Party of No.
President Obama has not lost his touch. I just viewed his news conference in LA. I was so proud to see a leader who exhibits intelligence, knowledge, strength, commitment, conviction and compassion, all wrapped in his response to the oil spill. He is not God, but a leader of a very fluid, evolving and changing nation and he is responding superbly. He is truly a leader "For such a Time as this.'
Obama hasn't lost his touch. He can't stop the leak and can only clean up afterward–sounds like most of the challenges we are all facing today. CNN and other constant instant news outlets have lost their focus, perspective and priorities.
Jobs not coming back as fast as we need, war in Iraq, in Afghanistan, possible at any moment in Korea, and between Israel and Iran.... Focus.
Obama has not lost his touch; The country has lost touch with reality. "If you can keep your head, when all around you are losing theirs, you will be a man, my son", is the rough Kipling quote that comes to mind. What we need right now is a little tough love, not babying. These are tough economic, political, social, environmental and engineering disasters surrounding us right now. We need to "Man-up", work on problems intelligently and methodically. Thank God we have an intelligent and methodical person as our President (God help us if we had ended up with Palin... Close call for the Country)!
Jack What other president has come into office with such problems? Since most are your blobbers seems to be critical of him, why don't you guys run for president and see if it is as easy as you may think. The man is not superman and running for office is a different ballgame. I'm sure he wanted and still want to change things, but you must remember that other people are involved(Congress, Senate) and most of all the party of no.. I still fell that I voted for the right person and if he runs in 2012, I will vote for him again. Are most of your blobbers republicans? Also why don't you mention the man that Cheney frighten out of running for whatever position he wanted?
Jack, it rather simple, you and many people are expecting a magic touch as in wand. When one thinks about it, all the big issues you mentioned are not of his making, yet we expect him to emote passionately and act like a typical phony politician and make promises that will quote " make us feel good temporarily". Perhaps he is the most realistic President who actually thinks out the situation as he did with the Afghanistan situation before he makes a decision. I suspect George W could have used such discretion before he made his fatal decisions.
the president has been in office for but a short time and we cannot expect any appreciative results because the gop will not work with him for the benefit of the country.the party of no!!!! the only thing i disagree is his stance on the immigration issue. if he doesnt know that the majority of americans favor an immigration reform and if he doesnt change, come election time he will be a one term president. the bp oil disaster is not his fault but he should have come on very strong on all parties concerned with the spill. it would have sent a message that he was on top of it immediately. i dont know if he has that in himself to be a tough president when things go bad for the counyry.. we shall see!!
One top Democrat says, it's baffling "how one group of people can be so good at campaigning and so bad at politics."
Isn't this what Republicans have been saying since the election started?
President Obama hasn't lost his touch, it's simply the perception of our so called "American public". How fast do we really expect of a turnaround when the previous regime took almost a decade with personal agenda chasing, to weaken this country. Let's be honest, it's not that he's not working hard or even showing the results we want. Really it's still difficult for some of us to deal with a black man running this country. When George Bush was in office he was always addressed as "President Bush", but it seems common to address our current president as just Obama. If you want miracles, pray for your president and look to your faith, otherwise sit back, stay alert and support him, as you would expect if you were so blessed to be in that position.
He certainly has. And there is only one reason for that: He seems to be more concerned with not upsetting the republicans than keeping to his campaign promises which were overwhelmingly supported by the democrats.
I voted for him in 2008 , but i'm questionning myself if i should vote for him in 2012!!!
I have a couple of educated guesses.
1) Leadership
2) Jobs
If our President improves on thes two issues he may re gain Americas confidence in him.
I voted for Obama thinking he wasn't politics as usual. This is the greatest environmental disaster in the history of the United States. To think that our government, our President is bound by political correctness is sickening. This is not a natural disaster, it is the greatest disaster in our history and was caused by a criminally negligent foreign corporation. President Obama, use the full power of the U.S. government to take action now, before it is too late.
Look what he walked into. An economy in the dumps, the world against us, a party that only knows how to say No and the people critizing his every move. I don't think he's lost his touch, I think people expect him to fix everything and he's just a man. Though I do wish he would step it up a little with this oil spill. The country is scared.
Too many people up in his business, if the amount of people that sit around pointing fingers, finding blame and "what-if-ing" everything changed their attention to finding solutions to help with our problems, we wouldn't be so jacked up. Stop crying about the spilt milk and help clean it up.
I think if you watched the President today in Louisiana he was very firm and stated in no uncertain terms what BP would have to do. And that he knew about BP's television campaigning and dividends to share holders and that BP wasn't getting away with anything. I think he is realizing he needed to show more emotion and he is doing that. He has always been a gentleman and not the type to jump up and down and throw a fit. I think he is getting his groove back.
The President has not lost his touch. It is people like you that expect him to be Superman . He did not just visit the Gulf for 3 hours and go on vacation. That was his seond visit to the Gulf after weeks of meetings and allocating resouces to the area. He has staff such as Admiral Allen of the Coast Guard and the EPA administrator doing their job by providing daily oversight and management. This question as well as others you offer did not provide an accurate representation of the facts. Your ommissions of fact are so annoying.
We had 8 years with low expectations and they were not met. Now we have very high expectations and we are being disappointed. But let's face it, things are finally going in the right direction.
President Obama is a wonderful speaker but he simply lacks experience running a business as large as the United States. More important I think the people he has advising him are more interested in "changing" the country than finding out what we the people really want our country to be.
It started with his total disregard for the millions of unemployed Americans, and has just gone downhill from there.
My blood boils every time I think
how this administration just carries on, placing no significance on a huge percentage of unemployed. How can you have a economy when so
many people don't have jobs and when all income is leaving the country.
Rena
Brooklyn, NY
President Obama's touch isn't gone, it's his energy. He tried to party, conduct business, and take traveling vacations the first year in office and now he's tired. Now the tough stuff has hit and he needs to catch his second wind. It's not easy being the President of the United States and he's getting a real look at what it means to be the Chief.
He needs to rest when he can so he is ready to handle the crises as they arise.
He has not lost his touch! It is you and people like you who did not support him from the beginning that are out of touch. Anyone can criticize with a bunch of empty words ....but that is how you make your living! He did not create this mess he inherited. I and a lot of the people who still support and believe in him and America are not swayed by your rhetoric. We see him doing what he was elected to do. Keep up the good work, Mr. President!
The conservatives hate him.
The liberals hate him.
The independents can't stand him.
And yet his approval rating approaches 50%.
That tells me he's got it just about right...
C'mon, Jack. If the president had come out beating the podium, his critics would has charged he's too emotional and maybe not up to the job–which the media would dutifully report as if it were news.
Doug, Beltsville, MD
Jack I don't think the President has lost his touch he is still the same ”man” we elected into office. He is doing the best job possible. Would you like for him to come on air and say something ridiculous like ”you have to just get on that horse and ride it” give him a break and allow him to do his job. Please you should read all the comments on this blog not just the ones that bash ”our” president
A large part of the the problem is that the media, so eager to get him elected, have mostly turned on him. Nobody dared criticize Bush. So why the double standard? It seems that everytime I look on CNN there is another article about the "Tea Bag Party" or Sarah Palin. As if their ideas haven't already been discredited and rejected.
Obama has had several of the infamous 3:00 AM calls, and his actions and reactions are now more than clear. This is what happens when you put an ameteur un the White House. Hang on America, we are in for a bumby ride until we get someone in the White House with the experience to run this great country.
Lana
The disaster in the Gulf is the result of lack of oversight and regulation by Bush and Cheney.
Obama has had 500 days to correct any oversight on their part. This is just calling the kettle black.
Oh please! The president has an unbelieveabe number of crisis to think about. Do you really think John and Sara would do a better job?As for taking a vacation, he's taken less time than most of his predesesors. Don't blame the president , blame BP and there greedy selves. I think Obama is doing a fine job considering the huge problems. Genie Downers Grove, Ill.
Obama is not in touch because he is working very hard
for the people of america not for corporate america.
Dear Jack'
The President has not lost his touch, he has done more in 500 days then any other President has done. Because the President happens to be a black sitting President you people want him to perform miracles stand on his head and everything else. I thank God he has a brain, self respect and guts to stand up for what he thinks he should do. He is not your daddy, if you people can do a better job then what he is doing then by all means do it. When your President Bush came into office you could not find him for several months. But this President came in working and when he takes a brether you complain. It does not matter what this President do, you and all who is against him, it will not be enough. Not only will I continue to pray for President Obama I will continue to pray for these United States of America, because what America is showing the rest of the world is how prejudice we are. If you are not white God help us.
I support President Obama as strongly as I did when I voted for him. Look what the man has had to confront; look what was waiting for him in the Oval Office left by that horrible Bush-Cheney bunch-throw in all the lies, hate, references to Nazis and Germans, Socialists, etc. plus those who spread fear and lies saying he wasn't born in the U.S.; say they don't what "him" talking to their children and on and on and on. I so respect President Obama. I am so proud of him and everytime he smiles I feel better. Great Job President Obama. We didn't vote you in to office to see you get angry-we voted you in to make a difference-and you continue to do so!
I do not feel the President has lost touch. I still have great respect for him and think he communicates in a way that makes sense to most of us. What he can't do is fix the almost constant stream of catastrophes that are being hurled at him in a way that will please everyone.
I am confused by the right's critisism of his lack of involvement in the BP leak. BP has the money and resources to fix this mess and they should be held accountable. Where is all the Republican concern about government spending and intervention?
I don't think Obama has lost his touch. I also do not agree with some people who feel he has been absent in the Oil spill or all the other problems going on in this nation and the World. His responibilities have him dealing with several different problems at once. The media plays a role in the negativity and while the White House can update us, like they have, on advancements on the Oil crisis, the ultimate responsibility is with BP. Where is the scorn toward the "Drill Baby Drill" rhetoric coming from the right during the election and their close and cozy relationship with oil companies. One minute the media stirs up the pot playing to the right's cry for lack of government intervention and now the same media outlets are screaming at the lack of the governments ability to stop an oil leak. Idea..Get Congress to get off their butts and tell the Republicans to start legislating and stop sitting on their butts voting to do nothing til the next election..Give the President a bill he can sign to help the government regulate the oil companies and start to support companies who will get us off this toxic independence of oil. The problem is not Obama, it is we let private industry to run around and destroy many sectors in our economy because of pure greed and their failures are not Obama's, it is ours for letting our Congress to give them that kind of power and thus weaken the power of the President