Obama believes Poll Numbers down due to Racism – Yet, other factors may be driving decline in approval.

From Bloomberg.com, comes an article where the President, Barack Obama, suggests that racism is playing a factor in him decline in approval. Gallup currently has his approval rating at 39%. (Bloomberg).

One might suggest that it is not racism, rather the economy, political ideology differences, and numerous “scandals”, that have brought his poll numbers to a new low. If one is to compare the vote in both 2008 and 2012, one gains some insight into the “race card” being played out on every conceivable scenario. Preface that by the fact that yes, racism exists, in all forms, whether one is African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or white (both in terms of African American racism (Cracker), and in terms of inter-demographic socio-economic (White Trash). Go figure. Although prior to the arrival of the first African American to run for the Presidency, let alone get elected, one might have thought that yes, pockets of racism existed, however, that was past and the past was behind us.

This is speaking from the experience of a young blond child, being held by her Spanish father, at a Union event in the 1950’s, where epitaphs of “Colored” were bandied about in relationship to a “dark man” holding a “blonde baby”. One was either white, or not. It was one of those memories that always puzzled, as one would not think color of the skin would enter into the scheme of things. It was always a question of competence of the individual.

Fast forward through the 1960’s through 1990’s and with laws in place, diversified workplaces, and schools and colleges, and one would think nothing of anyone other than by their own merit. Then in 2007 and 2008, the world was, once again, made aware that there was “racism” in this nation. Who knew? If one said something negative about an individual running for office, such as pertaining to experience, they were racist. Oddly enough, some were thinking that with the experience, and then Candidate Barack Obama had, was hauntingly similar to one Jimmy Carter (White Southern Baptist), which made many leery of voting for then Candidate Obama.

Fast forward 4 years, again, after 4 years of a stagnant economy, and for many differences in political ideology – that same Barack Obama was reelected. Nothing has changed for the better, in fact, with the roll-out of Obama Care, and the rank incompetence displayed by those who were hired to do the job; the President is surprised that his poll numbers have dropped. It must be racism.

The problem lays in the fact that fewer people today believe that race plays a factor, in hiring, or otherwise (gender, different story), therefore, when one is say a boss, and things go wrong, the boss is to blame, the further up the rung one sits, the proverbial flake falls upward. Since the President if visible, then he is the target of angst for all things economic and political that may go wrong with his administration.

To point out demographically speaking, the elections of 2008 and 2012, one finds that everyone who voted as “categorized” – (as in every election)

In 2008, the Republican’s ran John McCain (no confidence) against the rising star of the Democrat Party, Barack Obama: who won a majority of the women, African American, Asian, Other, Youth, etc. in all categories except for “white”. In that instance he lost 12 points to McCain, one might wish to scream racism, but is it even entirely possible that those 12 points were Republican Brand Votes, or fear of Jimmy Carter returning votes? (Roper Center UCONN) (Note the same differential between John Kerry & George Bush)

In 2012, the Republican’s ran Mitt Romney (a slightly younger version of John McCain, but not by much), Oddly enough, the Democrat, although winning, lost across points across all demographics, yet still won the election. (National Journal On line). One might suggest that had Evangelical and Tea Party prejudices not hampered Romney, the political scene would be different.

The problem with assuming Race as a factor is that one truly does not know. Unless one is polling every voting station in the country – and asking if racism played a part, one does not know that vote were cast based on a) political affiliation) or b) political ideal logy) or c)someone just wants somebody new.

Therefore, one might conclude, that Racism, is playing a very minor factor (admitting it exists), and to the larger extent, it is a condemnation of the job performance.

Up next, gender – Women, who are a majority (minority in pay equity), may see a woman run for President in 2016. One might suggest that this woman would succeed if that woman can connect to the majority of the voters on competence. One might also think that the vote will not go to a woman who has little to no experience in government, based on the fact that the public has “been down that road”. With more individuals identifying themselves as no party affiliatin (or independent) – at a staggering 42%, one might see a totally different schematic play out. However, having a brand, in this opinion, a strong brand,(as in Party Leadership), one might as well save their campaign cash or run for another office. Assuming 42% of the voter, identify with someone running as a Democrat or Republican who is more Libertarian, green party, or even disantace themselves from the major brand, that individual should, it follows, be elected. A doctor, perhaps, or someone who runs a business, and one, who has not been in office for decades, but a decent length of time, say at least one full term. Icing on the cake, someone disliked by both parties “leadership”. There are several that fit this mold, but, as it is too soon to tell who will or will not run (next year – during the midterms the process should begin). Now, whether that individual is a man, a woman, African American, Hispanic, what have you, will not matter, it will be their personal ideology that counts, no matter how wacky – or perhaps because how wacky the Party power brokers believe the to be.

As to the President, it matters not what race he is, it matters only that he is being seen as fixing the problem. Additionally, historically few if any incumbents have fabulous approval ratings in their 2nd term.

Ted Cruz Battle for Self Gain – Doubtful – The Big What if – He Is the Rare Sincere Politico? – The Real Risk-Takers of the GOP are the McCain’s and the Reid’s.

Ted Cruz, the newsworthy Senator from the State of Texas is coming under fire this week from certain arenas – specially the GOP Leadership, the Democrat Leadership and the Media. His crime is his attempt to defund the Obama Care legislation – by any means he can find. Does anyone really want this bill to continue as it was written? Yes, those on the extreme left, the politicians who signed onto the bill to appease the Administration, and the Administration – the rest of the nation, not so much – and that includes union groups such as the AFLCIO, better known as a bunch of Democrats, who termed the legislation as “disruptive” to their health care plans. Kaiser Health Foundation is screaming from the rooftops the fact that the plan, meant to cover the poor and middle class, is going to leave up to 500,000 children without coverage due to a snippet in the legislation that notes the employee must be covered, but not the family – who will also not be eligible for the exchanges – and will also most likely be eligible for the fines, as they will not be covered as mandated. That will mean each family that must be insured and find insurance – if they can – as private insurance companies are no longer offering health care plans that are remotely affordable. USA Today

Even the exchanges are pricey – take the State of Massachusetts for example – if one is earning a mean salary of $40,000 per year, after deductions they are living off more than the average SNAP recipient in the state. If they are seeking coverage though the States Health Portal, for a family or individual plan, they must be inside the open enrollment period(MA Health Connector), and if they do qualify the lowest level plans for families are not cheap. A family of 3 seeking coverage has a choice of 8 plans, the Bronze Plan being the least expensive at $609 per month for a family of 3, or unaffordable to most average working Massachusetts families.(Mass Health Care)

Therefore it should be deemed the “unaffordable health care Act” – yet, Cruz is taking heat for wanting to defund the program, thereby delaying its start – and shockingly the ones that are most against his attempt are the “Greybeards (Cruz term) of the Senate –or those most comfortable with their positions of power – for now.

So what’s a bunch of irate GOP insiders to do? Hammer Senator Cruz as a over-reaching smart guy, who knows he’s lost the battle before it began, and is in the fight for his own gain – i.e. the popularity of the base. (Washington Times)

Although that might just be a side effect, this popularity, it is most doubtful that this is the root cause. It appears that Senator Cruz is one of those rare birds who arrives in Washington, stays a year, and continues to have their integrity intact. If he wishes to debate and use procedural means against Harry Reid, the most likely to be the next Ted Daschle, and holder of the key to the Senate, so be it. It is the job that Cruz was sent there to accomplish. It is going to pay dividends. Although Cruz might not be popular with the media (including those Fox News personalities and their counterparts on MSNBC and CNN), he is with the people who sent him – which is all that count. He is also popular with those that have read the constitution and understand that Mr. Smiths in Washington, are now to be found only in a select group of Conservatives and Libertarians, the rest of those holding office appear to be there for personal gain.

How important is the Tea Party? One might want to ask Lois Lerner the IRS official who “resigned” after targeting Tea Party Groups through 2010 and 2012 - some believe at the behest of the administration. (ABC News). The Tea Party, much maligned as it is, has a value that is more viable than the Republican Party or the Democrat Party – one might just want to ask the members who are former members of both parties, as well as libertarians, Green Party, etc. This targeting began after the strumping taken by both parties in 2010 - and one would hazard to guess, Lois got her directives from the both Political Parties.

What they all have in common is their desire to return to a more constitutionally based government where one’s self-reliance is applauded not derided and the federal government is less wieldy.

Cruz, although associated with the Tea Party, has a pedigree that is suitable to appoint to the Supremes (as in Court), while John McCain and the rest of the Rank and File GOP are suitable for the country clubs, and not a great deal more. There are those political animals, one sees them at the local and state level, that just reek of self-serving platitudes – constantly on stage, and not a wee bit humble about it, then there are the public servants – who are a tad more humble, yet fight battles as if they were in a fight for the very freedom of the nation.

That’s Cruz, whether he enters the 2016 presidential sweepstakes (otherwise known as the primaries) is not at issue, what one might want to watch for, is Cruz building blocks of integrity, and kicking that leadership that is so out of touch with the people and the Constitution to the curb, by grass roots measures - becoming elevated to a loftier position in the Senate.

Remember Ted Daschle – the untouchable?

It is time, historically, for a shift in the political power base, specifically in the political party power base, which has not occurred since the formation of the Republican Party in the 1800’s – Now is the time, and as more people shift away from the regular party politics – they may find three or four, or five Republicans and Democrats whoa aren’t acting like the “rest of them” – those are the leaders that deserve a second look.

This is why, those in the media and the power brokers in Washington are seething – the upstarts with integrity just might upend their lofty positions and just might win. Those who vote against defunding Obama Care or attempt to block Cruz within his own Party – will still be popular with the media and may even become pundits after they are no longer in the position to call themselves peers. – The do, after all, hold elected positions. It might behoove those who are political animals to smell the changing winds and understand that there very political lives for which they worked so hard to protect, are now hanging on a balance – it won’t be Senators Cruz, or Paul or Lee, it will be their constituents and the most Cruz/Lee/Paul like candidate that challenges them in their home states that sends the reeling into retirement.

Meanwhile, Cruz will be in the Cat Seat in the Senate, or wherever he chose to be.

Just a thought - should one be of a mind to truly fight the battle - one might consider defunding their national party, until and unless it brings their senior players in line with principals. Putting the extra $5.00 or $10 into "trust" for those who are most likely to fight for one's rights.