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June 30, 2009
Polls don't make a president
Posted: 10:29 AM ET
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President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama entertain Monday in the White House's East Room.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama entertain Monday in the White House's East Room.

Julian E. Zelizer
Special to CNN

PRINCETON, New Jersey (CNN) - President Obama continues to enjoy high approval ratings.

Despite spending months navigating through one of the most treacherous economic crises in recent history and struggling with a Congress that is as partisan as ever, the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, released Monday, found that his approval rating stands at 61 percent.

But approval ratings have rarely been a good predictor of presidential success. Some presidents have exited Washington with the public loving them but without the legislative record of success they wanted. At other times, presidents have watched their high approval ratings plummet within weeks.

John F. Kennedy had a tough time with Congress. Kennedy's approval ratings could not have been better, hovering somewhere between 70 to 75 percent for much of his time in the White House (climbing as high as 83 percent). But a conservative coalition of southern Democrats and Republicans allied to defeat most of the president's domestic agenda, including Medicare, income-tax cuts, and civil rights.

President Bill Clinton saw his approval ratings rise to 68 percent at the exact time when congressional Republicans were trying to impeach him in 1998.

Yet in some ways Republicans got the last laugh, because Clinton could barely move anything through the House and Senate in his final years as president.

Keep reading...

14 Comments
More about: 360° Radar •  Raw Politics
14 Comments
Vincent   June 30th, 2009 10:49 am ET

"Yet in some ways Republicans got the last laugh, because Clinton could barely move anything through the House and Senate in his final years as president."

Does it really come down to who gets the last laugh?
This is the country my pappy defended in WWII...have we regressed?

F. the self-serving people that sit in office.
Time to figure it out and get back on track.

Judy Azevedo   June 30th, 2009 10:49 am ET

that is so true it is what they do during

Judy Azevedo   June 30th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Well I guess I don't know what I'm doing Ok That is so true polls don't make the president it is what they can do

Tammy   June 30th, 2009 11:01 am ET

Most people will support Obama because they see the racist antics covered by fake concern over any move that he makes.

John Lipshield   June 30th, 2009 11:02 am ET

i sent this to you 2 weeks ago
I'm so mad i don't know how to put it into print Lol GAS PRICE got this world in this depression We started to come out of it But now the gas price are out of control maybe Anderson Cooper can look into this because the price needs to go down soon it looks like there is some speculates that still have
some 80 to 100.00 a barrel and are driving the price up it is out of control i thought we got rid of them some went to jail , If the gas keeps going up it will disrupt all the progress we have made after sending this to the white house prices went down here from 2.59.9 to as of 6/30/09 to 237.9 for how long i have no idea but some one needs to watch very close

Tammy   June 30th, 2009 11:09 am ET

Should Obama save a dog/buy puppy, should he have a garden,should he smoke, you want him to walk on water too. How about turn water into wine

earle,florida   June 30th, 2009 11:38 am ET

First,I'd like to know why you referenced Kennedy,and Clinton as ,"fallen-poll-vaulters",with a subtle sound-byte regarding President Obama? President Kennedy got over-zealous with Cuba,and the failed "Bay-of-Pig's"debacle,along with the near-nuclear war with Russian Missle's hidden in bunkers on Cuba! He never negotiated privately,or used his diplomatic resources from around the world to stymie the event. Rather,he openly declared War on Russia if the missles weren't removed creating unimaginable fear amongst the american public,not to forget mentioning his inept promiscuity that nick-named him,"JacK-the-Zipper",by his secret service agents! As far as President Clinton's self-inflicted wound's?His promiscuity did him in ,period! When the opposition gets a wiff of "Honey-Pot's",your their fresh meat, and let us not forget the Lincoln Bedroom, turned in a "Brothel" for the highest bidder? Also,I'd be remiss,not to mention the controversial high-tehnology declassification of documents/scientific papers, regarding our countries security,being sold to the (or highest bidder) Chinese?The impeachment hearings,and all the dirty laundry being aired was to much! Now,let's finish up with President Obama whom you say is ready for a fall (maybe,I read to much into your blog?) like his predecessors,not! Obama is focused,and pragmatic,not to mention a very wise,and deliberate thinker,a rarity (impulsive,and spontaneous impetuous he is not!) in politics today,fully in charge. Lastly,from (vantage point on high?) my,"imperical foresight" of the man's modus-operanda is of the, greatest integrity! Go President Obama,...

Barasha   June 30th, 2009 12:06 pm ET

We simply can not veiw the president as good or bad in accordance to how Congress is behaving. Congress is at best a bunch of whiney brats who only want things for themselves. ( individually) The back biting and what can you do for me back room deals that are halmarks of congress makes them unreliable as far as a presidents success with the people. Even with a majority in the congress they are still fighting him tooth and nail because that is all they know how to do.

meenas17   June 30th, 2009 12:08 pm ET

A beautiful caption, Polls do not make a President. It is performance that works up for the popularity. It is the attempt to relieve the nation from the economic crisis maximixes the rating. It is the effort to reform the attitude that go up to make a President. Obama is trying to do it.

JC- Los Angeles   June 30th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

As an Independent who voted for Barack Obama due to deplorable alternatives, it's not surprising to see that his poll numbers are still not an accurate reflection of his true lack of accomplishments.

America today is getting taken to the cleaners in every possible way whether it be OPEC, China, Iran, Israel, Wall Street or Capitol Hill.

Does anyone seriously think the hacks in the House or Senate are leaders? does anyone really believe a Jr. Senator who couldn't clean up Chicago is going to change the world?

Outside of negotiating book advances, where are the accomplishments?

President Obama and America will surely mirror one pole and it's South.

Lisa in CA   June 30th, 2009 2:01 pm ET

I'm glad the Republicans are laughing ... their "last laugh" has gotten us to where we are ... not to mention an attack on 9/11. They were so concerned about hogtying anything Clinton tried to do they forgot about doing what was right for the country.

And the Dems were no better. They were more concerned about themselves and getting back a majority, they too paid little attention to what was best for the country.

Polls don't really reflect anything. All they reflect is confirmation for whomever requested it. If you are ever polled, listen to the phrasing of the question and your options for response. They are designed to get a specific "yes" or "no" with no room for "possibly" or "some of both". Additionally, you can conduct the same exact poll a few days apart and get a different result. Finally, I don't think a poll of 1,000 people out of a few million is really reflective of how the "country" feels.

Melissa   June 30th, 2009 2:08 pm ET

Neither does a constant battle with an American populace who voted the President in based on change but then doesn't want to actually change anything because they're more concerned with their greed than they are whats better for everyone.

Its time to stop voting on ideals, and start voting on needs.

Tim Gibson   June 30th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

Personally I am amazed at the delicate hand which feeds into the hands of Obama via the media. Yet, we must keep in mind, that if a particular network does not approve of Obama, then they get no personal one on one time from him. All details to a careful campaign that just keeps going forward.

I do not have to agree with a person to listen to them or try to understand what they stand for or how they do their job. Personally I am often confused by the lack of personal attention people pay to their jobs much less to events of our nation or the world as a whole.

Yet, I do not know Obama on a personal level only as our President, and as the person he said he was when he flooded the nation with great promise of change, change from knowledge and insite that has yet to arrive.

I personally am awaiting the Great Obama Apology Tour.

Teresa Proctor   June 30th, 2009 8:30 pm ET

As a Dem I was skeptical of BO because of the lack of scrutiny by the media. While CNN boasts about its' Keeping the Honest segment–not once did I see them mention the big money behind Obama. Penny Pritzker, from the 7th richest family in the country, bundled over half a billion dollars for BO. She now sits on his economic board. She swindeled taxpayers out of millions when her family took over a bank in Hinsdale, IL and ran it in the ground. No mention of this anywhere.

And the 20 or so czars BO has in his administration managed to contribute around $250,000 to his campaign. No mention of this.

The only way to get elected is to steal the election and get the big money behind you.

When the roof comes crashing in, then maybe mainstream media will
tell the story.....

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