Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s Approval at 36%, Obama Approval Drops below 50% - Tales of Dukakis and Carter.

News of "Stimulus" Signs - Massachusetts residents Not Impressed - photo: Springfield Republican

A new poll conducted by the Boston Globe last week showed Deval Patrick’s approval among state residents has remained low at 36%. In a match-up with both Republican gubernatorial candidates, Christy Mihos and Charles Baker, Patrick is at a “dead heat” – he does no better should Democrat turned Independent Timothy Cahill, enter the race. Regardless of who the Governor faces, 16 months prior to the election, he is faced with poll numbers similar to Dukakis in 1983 (35%), which made headlines suggesting that then Presidential Candidate Walter Mondale, was afraid of Massachusetts voters.

Deval Patrick’s “political cousin”, Barak Obama (both under the mentoring of David Axelrod), is now under 50% for job approval, with just 6 months into his administration. The Rasmussen Daily tracking poll for Sunday, July 26th, showed the strongly disapproves now at 40% with the strongly approves falling to 29 %.

Of particular interest is the fact that both men used the same “slogan’s” and made the same campaign promises (hope, change, tax cuts for the middle-class), pre-election, with the results, upon election, quickly showing little change, and tax cuts (in Massachusetts) to be non-existent. It would appear, at this point, that Patrick is clearly not electable, regardless of who runs against him. Although, Patrick has made the case that it is not “his fault” that the economy is in its present state, it is a stretch, to say the least – bad management is simply bad management – Massachusetts voters were told in 2008 that to repeal the state income tax (which would have been a tax cut) would result in loss of jobs statewide, are now experiencing loss of jobs statewide, even with the Federal Stimulus funds apportioned to Massachusetts.

Evidence of the Stimulus at work, came in the form of signs touting the Stimulus at work, placed along Massachusetts Roadways - comments on the article are decidedly negative. It is a known fact, in Massachusetts, that Barack Obama and Deval Patrick have a better relationship (given their similar backgrounds as well as ties to Axelrod), which led some to believe that Massachusetts would fare better in any bailout (or Stimulus) program. As Massachusetts residents (and retailers), rush to stock shelves prior to the 25% sales tax increase effective August 1st, the comments under the article (here) are pointing to the “liberal” tax and spend legislature and Governor (Patrick).

The “liberal” label has been firmly attached to Obama who is now viewed with that “tag” by 76% of registered voters.(Note: Rasmussen polling uses registered voters, rather than "adults" (most survey's taken use "adults" - allowing non-voters to be factored into the results)

Although, given the timing, Obama will, in all likelihood, not have to worry about Patrick’s popularity, in 2012 when it comes to the state of Massachusetts - he will have to worry about his own. Patrick is to Dukakis (Mondale) as Obama is to Carter.

Iran Update 07-26-09 - Large Protest Planned August 8

A large protest is being planned for August 8, the fortieth day of Iranian Martyrdom – There are 5 areas of Tehran that will be targeted, and understanding that this protest is being planned to succeed. The source, a Farsi website, has been withheld due to details regarding the areas and activities. Suffice it to say, the translation of the date and the notation of Bloody Sunday, do not coincide, this may be due to the limitations of the on-line translator. One must admire the determination of the Iranian People, with an almost complete communications blackout by the Regime, they continue to plan, and execute demonstrations while finding ways to communicate with the world.

Obama’s Health Care ACT HR 3200 Stalled in the House – Blue Dogs - Not Alone – Other Democrats ready to Nix Health Care Program - Analysis

Obama’s Health Care Vision for America has been “temporarily” put on hold – the House left for recess with Blue Dog Democrats insisting the Bill stay in Committee.
From The Hill:

The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting with their committee chairman, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), saying Waxman had been negotiating in bad faith over a number of provisions Blue Dogs demanded be changed in the stalled healthcare bill.

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday. “We have not had legitimate negotiations.

“Mr. Waxman has decided to sever discussions with the Blue Dogs who are trying to make this bill work for America,” Melancon said.

Although those Blue Dogs were supposed to be headed back into another meeting of the Energy and Commerce Democrats, their anger was visible.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, the only hope for passage of the bill in the House will be to go straight to the floor, an option leaders shied away from endorsing but said was an option.

But the Blue Dogs issued dire warnings to leaders contemplating that approach.

"Waxman simply does not have votes in committee and process should not be bypassed to bring the bill straight to floor,” Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), the lead Blue Dog negotiator, said on Friday. “We are trying to save this bill and trying to save this party.”

Additionally, Blue Dog Democrats are not the only Democrats who would not pass the bill in its current state (if at all), according to Melconian, if the Bill were brought to the floor – there are other “Democrats” who are willing to vote “nay”. The President’s pit-bull, Rham Emanuel may be in for a surprise as he promised NRP that a vote would indeed take place next week. There has been some speculation regarding Emanuel’s powers of persuasion (backhanded tactics), that said, there is little he can promise lawmakers who must face a growing number of angry constituents, to make them change their vote. The worst case scenario is a failure to push this vote through the House, and/or an open revolt among the Democrats, will further damage Obama’s and the Party’s credibility.

What concerns American’s most about Government Run Health Care is not necessary the cost, but, more to the point, the idea that should this plan be similar to Canada’s plan, where the individual enjoys full coverage, but higher taxes as well as long waits for routine health care. It is not uncommon to wait 3 to 6 months for a routine health care visit, longer if one needs tests. As of July 22nd a Rasmussen Poll showed that only 20% of the American Public considers Health Care a priority, while, 53% of American’s polled clearly oppose the Health Care Act now in Congress.
Add that to the Presidents Daily Tracking Polls, which are clearly in a downward spiral, and one can understand what is motivating the Blue Dog and other Democrats from backing away from Universal Health Care.
2010
Understanding that most, if not all, politician’s live by polls, the fact that they see their party losing ground in record time (six months into the Obama administration and 3 years of Democrat control of the Legislature), if they do not move the party clearly to the right, they stand to lose both the House and the Senate in 2010 – Obama is to Incumbent Democrats in 2010 as Bush was to Incumbent Republicans in 2006 and 2008. It would not be surprising therefore, to see those swing states where the Democrats won by narrow margins Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio (5 points and under) in 2008 flipping in 2010.
To read the full text of the HR3200 – go here