The BMW vs. the Buick

Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:05 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Republicans, Barack Obama

From NBC's Mark Murray
In the last few days, Republican aides have pounced on the results from three new national polls (NBC/WSJ, CBS/NYT, ABC/WashPo). President Obama's approval rating is down, they cheer. The public is worried about the deficit and the administration's spending, they add. It disapproves of the decision to shut down Guantanamo Bay. And it's not as optimistic about the stimulus.

All observations are true. But buried inside all three polls is this finding: Opinions about the Republican Party are at an all-time low. What's more, according to the ABC/WashPo survey, Americans trust Obama more than congressional Republicans on health care (55%-27%), the economy (55%-31%), the deficit (56%-30%), and combating terrorism (55%-34%).

To put it simply, the GOP's take on Obama's poll numbers is a lot like the owner of a 1987 Buick

pointing out the dents and potential engine trouble of a 2008 BMW sedan.

No doubt that Obama remains the dominant focus in American politics. No doubt that the president's numbers are down. And no doubt that Obama has entered a more challenging phase of his presidency (as he tackles health care, energy, and the stagnant economy).

Video: With the Republican Party still finding its footing in the current political landscape, is it now the time for a third party to triumph? A political panel debates.

But now more than five months since George W. Bush left office, the Republican Party finds itself confronting a more immediate problem with the American public than Obama or the Democratic Party currently faces.

Of course, the political climate can change in the blink of an eye (think of Bush before and after Hurricane Katrina), and Republicans are hoping that Obama's BMW breaks down.

But smart Republicans are asking themselves this question: Does their 80s-era Buick need a fixing first?

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Comments

Fiesty, you beat me to is with your "cash for clunkers". However, I think that "pennies for c**p" is a bit more accurate, lol,

Terry, I agree the drooling GOPer idiots are clearly unAmerican. Chris Hays on Countdown last night clearly pointed out the L. Graham and Bomber McCain are so egoecentric they see the world revoling around the US (the sun). Pityful!

Jody has it right!
"The GOP should be concerned about the numbers within the numbers because those tell a very different story and it is not in favor of republicans."

Beyond the headline hype, the polls do show that the GOPer insance drumbeat of criticism on all matters foreign and domestic is not helping them at all. Any points they score on issues like Gitmo will be erased shortly.

Jill Houston Wow. You got that one right, ma'am
"I'd vote for a cat turd before I'd vote for a republican - they have no intentions of moving this country forward, they're looking out for their best interests alone."

An so it goes. Third Party anyone?

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:55 PM)

Is Mark Murray a die-hard disguised Democratic reporter, just like most, if not all, other MSNBC "Journalists"? It looks just like that!

You don't have to post this message if you don't like it, as in most cases for MSNBC.

Jon (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:58 PM)

You can not teach old dogs new tricks. The conservatives are doomed, these guy are just showing their true colors. They opposed civil rights, women right to vote, social security, immigration reform, ending slavery and the inter state highway system. Eisenhower push the freeway way system against the objection of his own party. They opposed medicare and medicad now they are opposing healthcare for all Americans. They also opposed us entering WWII against the evil nazi. The conservatives has always been wrong and will always be wrong.

Ben Purser, Royal Oak, MI (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:06 PM)

Cicero - your privatizing ideas are downright scary. Privatize education (for profit) - and then our country's youth will slip even further in the education race that we are losing. One thing that Bush did provide evidence of, is that not all privatizatin is good. See Walter Reed and showers in the war zones that electrocuted troops and still aren't up to code.

Kelly (from Pittburgh) (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:09 PM)

I'd vote for a cat turd before I'd vote for a republican - they have no intentions of moving this country forward, they're looking out for their best interests alone.

They've earned every bit of that 25% approval rating. Jilli, houston, tx (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:23 PM)

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They tried that in Alaska, but unfortunately the cat turd switched to the republican party. 2 years later she became John McCains running mate.

The wasilla gorilla aint no thrilla (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:27 PM)

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