RUSH: CBS, New York Times, there’s a poll out there. It isn’t good. His approval number has dropped six points to 57%. Over at the Gallup poll: ‘More Americans may be getting impatient about the prospects for an economic recovery. The percentage saying economic conditions are getting better dropped four points from the prior week to 31%, now down seven points from a month ago. Consumer spending is down 32% from the same week one year ago.’ So let’s now go to the audio sound bites. CBS, the Early Show, cohost Harry Smith and Bob Schieffer of Face the Nation have this exchange about Obama’s approval numbers in the CBS poll.
SMITH: A new CBS News poll shows Mr. Obama’s approval rating has dropped six points in the last month to 57%. Approval for his handling of the economy is also down a lot, down to 48%. Can we blame this all on the economy?
SCHIEFFER: It’s the economy, uhhh, and the economy and the economy. He’s a long way from, uh, being unpopular, but he’s done the stimulus package. He’s embarked on all these different programs to improve the economy, but so far, apparently —
SMITH: Mmmph!
SCHIEFFER: — most people do not see the impact on that. They do not think —
SMITH: Right.
SCHIEFFER: — it’s affecting their lives.
RUSH: Well, are they right or wrong about that, Bob? When you say ‘so far apparently most people don’t see the impact’? Now, get this next bite. This next bite could be summarized: ‘Smith and Schieffer discussing with each other the possibility: Maybe the CBS poll got it wrong?’
SMITH: Is it early to say or is it possible that this administration just didn’t get this right?
SCHIEFFER: I kind of agree with Joe Biden in this sense. I think the economy was worse than they said it was but, uh, maybe they didn’t want to say how bad that it really was. I mean, maybe that’s the question here. What Barack Obama’s gotta see here he’s launched all these programs but people need to see that they’re having some impact.
RUSH: Bob, they’re not intended to have any impact. See, this is what drives me nuts, folks. These are supposedly start people but you’ve got the State-Run Media — the Drive-Bys, whatever you want to call them — and they are total slaves. They are just slaves, and they’re liberals, and they believe this is the kind of thing that will ignite an economy and make everything fair and equitable. And yet it isn’t happening, and so they want Obama to do something to make this effective. They want Obama to succeed more than they want this economy to revive. They want Barack Obama to succeed more than they care about the people of this country succeeding, and that’s why they look at the poll data and think, ‘Oh, no! Oh, no! Is it the economy? Is there anything we can do, anything we have done?’
If it’s Tuesday, it must be Let’s Spend Some More Money Day in Washington. From Jim Rutenberg at the New York Times: ‘Obama Plans News Funds for Colleges — President Obama plans to head to hard-hit Michigan on Tuesday afternoon…’ It was going to be a town hall. Now it’s just a speech. He’s going ‘to announce a $12 billion infusion for the nation’s community college system, part of his efforts to ease the considerable pain of the still-sagging economy,’ and if it’s Tuesday it must be Let’s Spend Some More Money Day in Washington. ‘President Barack Obama is mulling new ways to delay foreclosure for jobless homeowners who are unable to keep up with monthly payments, an administration official said [yesterday]. The official told Reuters it was reasonable for policymakers to consider options for loan forbearance — allowing borrowers to delay, defer or skip payments…’ The Obama administration is mulling mortgage aid for the unemployed, all to keep people from thinking that the economy as bad as it is, and also to get more and more people dependent and think, ‘Well, hell, if they’re going to spend for my health care, then they ought to pay. Of course they ought to pay for my house!’ A third story from ABC News: ‘In a meeting with President Obama [yesterday] at the White House, top labor leaders pushed for a second stimulus to create more jobs.’ Why in hell would anyone listen to the unions on economic issues? They’re the biggest failures in the country. So three brand-new spending proposals in one day.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: This is Mary Ellen in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. It’s great to have you. You’re up first today on the EIB Network.
CALLER: Oh, man, Rush. Thank you so much.
RUSH: Yes, ma’am.
CALLER: Well, welcome back, first of all. You look great. Boy, you’ve gotten very handsome lately. But I have to disagree with you.
RUSH: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What does that mean? Are you…? Lately, I’ve gotten very handsome?
CALLER: I don’t know what’s going on with you, Rush, but you look very happy and very handsome lately.
RUSH: Is that a comment about my age? You know, ‘men get better looking as they get older.’
CALLER: Well, you did, anyway. I can’t say that everyone does. You did.
RUSH: I know, you’re talking about my weight loss. You probably watch on the Dittocam, right, and you’ve noticed my weight loss.
CALLER: You have no idea what I do to watch the Dittocam during the day. I make sure that I’m at least listening. I’m listening all the time but watching part of the time. Thank you very much for being there.
RUSH: I appreciate that. By the way, the Dittocam is available to subscribers at RushLimbaugh.com. We televise the program. I mean, some days I don’t want to turn it on because I like my privacy here.
CALLER: (giggles)
RUSH: But it’s on for the most part every program. I’ve distracted you enough, Mary Ellen. What did you call about?
CALLER: Well, you know, you made a statement that it was good that Sotomayor was being questioned about her beliefs because it’s showing Barack Obama for who he is. And, you know what? I don’t think people care who he is. I think they care what he gives. I think they care that he’s black, that he’s a minority. I think that they care that he’s not George Bush. But other than that, they don’t care what he does in his real life.
RUSH: I agree.
CALLER: They don’t care.
RUSH: Right now that’s mostly true, but his numbers are starting to come down. The Rasmussen… I forget. I’m having a mental block on it.
CALLER: That’s okay.
RUSH: But it’s the approval index. No, the Rasmussen approval index, where he contrasts the strongly approve versus strongly disapprove, Obama is like minus eight. Fifty-seven approval down from 62 or 63 in the New York Times. I agree with you, but what Obama is going to do, he has failed. He’s not going to succeed in doing what he’s telling people he’s going to do, and at some point people are going to care who he is. Right now there’s still the glow of the first black president, and it’s not George W. Bush and all that. But give it time.
CALLER: I don’t think people are going to care until they realize they aren’t going to get the gold purse, and when that hits —
RUSH: Well —
CALLER: — and when the upper middle class — who voted for a minority president to prove that they were not prejudice start to get racked with taxes — that’s when people are going to sit up and take notice.
RUSH: Okay, you and I agree. There was actually no reason for you to call today because you and I agree.
CALLER: There was.
RUSH: I’m glad you did, but, I mean, there was no reason.
CALLER: I always need to speak to you, Rush, but, you know, if the Republicans in office don’t absolutely grill this woman — politely, respectfully, but if they don’t absolutely —
RUSH: Yeah, yeah.
CALLER: — grill her —
RUSH: I know.
CALLER: — there is nothing we can do about it.
RUSH: I know. I just said that. It’s like you and I are married.
CALLER: Oh, boy, you know, that would be the best thing to ever happen to you, Rush.
RUSH: (laughing)
CALLER: It would have been!
RUSH: Ha! Ha!
CALLER: My husband got to me first. I’m sorry.
RUSH: Yeah, right. Mary Ellen. Thank you. (laughing) I am, too. You know, there’s certain things you just miss out on life and you can’t do anything about, and I’ll regret this for the rest of the show. Joe in Farmingdale, New Jersey. Hi, Joe. Nice to have you on the EIB Network.
CALLER: Hi, Rush, how you doing? I’m in Farmingdale, New Jersey. Obama is going to be here in two days. Now, my question to you, Rush, is this. He’s doing a great job. Why you keep on attacking him? The Republican Party is in the doldrums. Do something to elevate your party. Attacking a man that is so popular, not just here but around the world. The impact he’s having with his policies. He’s having a positive effect on people’s faces. They’re smiling everywhere!
RUSH: Joe, I have to tell you, I disagree with you. I don’t think he’s doing a great job. He’s failing in reviving the US economy. He’s succeeding in destroying it. And I think people are laughing at him around the world. Did you see the video of the way he was disrespected over in Russia? If that had happened with George W. Bush, that’s all you would be seeing. Joe, honest to God, I’m going to tell you this: I feel like I’m watching the movie The Omen. Have you seen that? That fly almost flew into Obama’s mouth in that speech in Egypt, and everything that’s happened… The omens that are just — the teleprompter committing suicide or dying or whatever it did; and massive unemployment; Hillary Clinton getting mad now, wanting to reassert herself over things. It’s not smooth as glass out there, my friend, but if you want to continue to believe it is, and live in fantasy land, feel free. I, of course, El Rushbo, can’t afford to.