Obama out of touch on his performance

During the Christmas at the White House with Oprah Winfrey show that aired Dec. 13, she asked the president how he would rate his performance this year. He graded himself a B+, a concerning self-assessment, to say the least, that shows how disconnected the president is from his constituents and his effectiveness.

As of Nov. 24, 2009, President Obama's approval ratings hit their lowest ranking yet in the Rasmussen Reports daily tracking poll, with 27 percent strongly approving of the president's job performance and 42 percent strongly disapproving.

Fifty-three percent of likely voters polled said they are worried the federal government is overmanaging the economy.

The same poll showed only 34 percent of seniors approve of the health care proposals now on the table while 60 percent disapprove. A majority of people under 30 approve, though majorities in every other age group disapprove. Overall, support for the Democratic plan backed by the president has dropped to just 38 percent of voters, the lowest level of support since June polling on the issue.

The unemployment rate stands at 10.2 percent, with predictions going to 13 percent. Additionally, the so-called underemployment rate, which includes part-time workers who'd prefer a full-time position and people who want work and have given up looking reached 17.5 percent last month, the highest level since records began in 1994.

As of Dec. 9, 2009, the national debt was over $12 trillion. The estimated population of the United States is 307,463,166 so each citizen's share is $39,371.22. The national debt has continued to increase an average of $3.84 billion per day since Sept. 28, 2007!

Concerned? Mr. President, if I were your teacher I would be hard pressed to give you a D, but if you asked, I would give you an Incomplete until June.

Gary Sarkesian

Lake Zurich