While the anger, preference for scorched earth tactics, fantasies about Electoral College last minute interventions, and beliefs of Trump’s latest actions and Cabinet appointments being incredibly unpopular abound on Daily Kos — these are all mostly detached from reality. Well aside from the anger part. Nothing wrong with anger, but it is just not reflected in the nation as a whole.
A new Bloomberg poll (link) shows that Trump’s approval rating is up to 50% favorability (while still historically quite low compared to previous presidents) and the other poll findings are quite illuminating on where the country is right now (not Daily Kos). Other poll highlights below.
Poll Highlights
|
Positive |
Negative |
P-E Trump
|
50% |
43% |
Republican Party |
44% |
44% |
Democratic Party |
42% |
49% |
Hillary Clinton |
41% |
55% |
Ryan |
47% |
31% |
Pence |
48% |
36% |
Trump changed positions (ok or not) |
73% |
20% |
Should Trump sell all businesses |
26% |
69% |
Approve of most cabinet picks |
51% |
37%
|
Confidence in putting nation’s best interests
first in dealing with foreign leaders
|
51% |
47% |
Will Trump Repeal Obamacare? |
69% |
28% |
Will Trump build a wall? |
32% |
65% |
Will Trump deport illegal immigrants? |
38% |
57% |
Will Trump make life better for people in inner cities? |
45% |
51% |
Will Trump invest one Trillion in infrastructure? |
50% |
44% |
Will Trump create more beneficial trade deals? |
66% |
30% |
As you look at these numbers, you can see that the GOP has rebounded along with Trump in favorability and a vast majority (73%) think it’s ok for Trump to change what he will do vs what he said on the campaign trail (including a staggering 87% of Trump voters).
Some other quotes:
A plurality of 47 percent want congressional Democrats to mostly go along with the agenda Trump and Republicans put forward during his first year in office, while 28 percent say they should mostly oppose and 25 percent are unsure.
A 48-percent plurality don’t want to see Obamacare repealed until there’s a replacement ready, while 19 percent say repealing first is fine and 27 percent want the program left alone.
And critically:
Asked who should be the leading voice for the new minority party, Obama is the choice for 25 percent of Democrats and those who lean that way, followed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont at 24 percent, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 17 percent, Vice President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton both at 11 percent and former President Bill Clinton at 7 percent.
Update: What the above also means is that Trump is still continuing to be the master of the messaging, timing, media and public manipulation. What the Daily Kos perceives to be critical mistakes actually go over quite fine out there in the real world. This is exactly the same pattern as what it was during the campaign. Perhaps an adjustment in strategies of how to fight him is in order.
Something something about those who do not learn from history.