by Mark Silva
The American public remains "doggedly downbeat about the condition of the national economy,'' despite any signs of recovery emerging, a new Pew Research Center poll finds.
About nine in 10 of those surveyed -- 88 percent -- rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor. That's the way people have seen it for two years now. And over the past year, Pew reports today, there has been no decline in the percentage saying the economy will stay the same (36 percent) or get worse (19 percent) a year from now.
Only one third say the economic stimulus enacted by Congress last year has helped the job situation, and few more (42 percent) say the loans that the federal government gave to troubled financial institutions averted a more severe financial crisis.
In the survey of 1,546 adults conducted by the Pew Research Center April 21-26 , President Barack Obama's overall job rating also is unmoved -- at 47 percent, this is the fifth month in Pew surveys in which Obama has polled below 50 percent.
Only 38 percent of those surveyed approve of the president's handling of the economy. As the debate in Washington turns to other matters, such as immigration reform, only 29 percent say they approve of Obama's handling of immigration policy.
As Obama considers his second nominee for the Supreme Court, public perceptions of the court have shifted. Today, as many Americans think the current court is liberal as say it is conservative (24 percent hold both views). Three years ago, 36 percent said the court was conservative and just 14 percent saw it as liberal.
See the full Pew report.
Comments
Most economists believe the $800 billion Obama Stimulus had no effect on the economy.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/26/news/economy/NABE_survey/
How did the Stimulus perform as compared to BO expectations?
http://michaelscomments.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/october-job-losses-accelerate-again-10-2/
Posted by: Terry | April 28, 2010 3:07 PM
"Only 38 percent of those surveyed approve of the president's handling of the economy. "
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Ding Dong! Here comes the HHH & Fitz lefty slant AKA it's all Bush's fault.
Hmmm 62%, since the economy is the #1 issue with the voters where is all this going to end up?
Things that make you say hmmmmm.
Posted by: wingnut master | April 28, 2010 3:37 PM
What? "You'd think they would say thank you." How dare those peons not be ecstatic about the bone that King BO threw them. Don't they know that all good things flow from government?
Sorry, I just about threw up typing that. But, I thought that the emergency Obamacare bill, that followed the emergency stimulus, that followed the emergency spending, that followed the emergency bailout of GM and Chrysler, that followed the emergency bailout of Citi, that followed the TARP, "fixed" the economy. It's those darn Tea Partiers, they just don't know when they have been "saved." The messiah has saved you and you are downbeat.
We need a lot more TEA.
OK, cue the typical nutjob rants on here about how great Obama is and Bush is bad, blah, blah, blah...The American people, 88% realize this guy has done nothing for the economy. He is an idealogue that has his own agenda and the hell with the rest of you, well except for those of you that get by with holding out you hand so that big bro government can throw you a bone.
Posted by: Free to Watch Liberals Tax and Spend | April 28, 2010 4:18 PM
I do not think you will see any upbeat public opinion on the economy until the job market starts making a marked improvement. Unfortunately job growth has been only in the public sector or in areas that are near public sector centers such as military bases and government centers according to a recent article in FORBES. Historically there is really no good recovery until you have strong hiring in the private sector which has not occurred yet. Until that does happen the majority of the public will probably remain downbeat on the economy.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | April 28, 2010 4:20 PM
Let's see since Obama pass the stimulus in the national unemployment rate went from the low 6% range to over 10% and in Illinois is gone from 8% to over 12%. With the real unemployment rate hovering at 18%. What was his promise if he got the stimulus passed something about unemployment not going above 8%.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | April 28, 2010 5:10 PM
I'm no *expert*, and I don't spend my time tallying up the decisions before or handed down by the USSC. However, from the little bit I do come across, the USSC *seams" to be the only "conservative" part about our govt. I mean the USSC decision atmosphere visibly contrasts with the rest of the political atmosphere; like, two different time periods (or headed into different time periods.). Again, the economic/ financial state of affairs for Main Street have been frozen in the dumps for quite some time, so this is no surprise. There is room to point out that reform in any form will drive the numbers low because everyone likes the idea of change but no one wants to be the one to change ( because the problem is always other people). Ground needs to be gained here over the coming summer in what seems to be leaps and bounds to change public opinion because at this rate the party of tea will only get bigger. This will not be a good thing for the Obama administration down the line. This "past" way of thinking has to be heard and integrated into these changes.
Posted by: chikenwings | April 28, 2010 5:37 PM
Where are all the loons? Shouldn't they be bragging about the Obama Regime's economic success?
Posted by: Terry | April 28, 2010 10:53 PM
Why should we, " Terry ", you seem to be doing that for us !! Go, President Obama. Keep on, keeping on !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | April 29, 2010 9:01 AM
FITZ,
I'm bragging about the Obama Regime's economic successes? Who taught you how to read?
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2010 10:37 AM