Obama’s Approval Ratings Slide: By the Numbers
In April, 62% of the public approved of Barack Obama’s performance as president, but in August, just four months later, 52% approved. Obama’s approval rating has declined across nearly all major demographic and political groups.
Recession Turns a Graying Office Grayer
Older adults are staying in the labor force longer, and younger adults are staying out of it longer. Both trends intensified with the recession and are expected to continue after the economy recovers. One reason: Older workers value not just a paycheck, but the psychological and social rewards.
Kennedy Condolences Dominate Blogs
Posts on Kennedy were predominantly about sharing emotions and memories, creating a sense of collective tribute.
Public Worried, Informed About H1N1
Most Americans are confident in the government’s ability to deal with the swine flue, less trust the media to accurately report on it.
Congressional Favorability Falls to 24-Year Low; Dems Lose Midterm Advantage
Americans’ opinion of Congress is at a 24-year low, and as a result the party in power has lost its electoral edge. Voters split between the Democrats and GOP in a 2010 matchup, but Democrats are still favored on most issues.
Kennedy Gets Spotlight One Last Time
The media took a break from health care and other stories to pay tribute and to debate the legacy of Teddy Kennedy.
Civic Engagement Online: Politics as Usual
The internet is not changing the character of civic engagement, as participation remains the domain of those with high levels of income and education. However, there are hints that forms of civic engagement anchored in blogs and social networking sites could alter long-standing patterns.
Few in NATO Support Call For Additional Forces in Afghanistan
Proposals to increase troop levels may face considerable opposition in many NATO countries, which were opposed to Obama’s original call for more forces.
Faith Healing on Trial
Two of government’s obligations — enforcing child welfare laws and protecting religious freedom — can clash when a parent chooses to rely on faith healing instead of standard medical care for a sick child. Robert W. Tuttle, a church-state scholar, explains.
Offbeat: Zombies and Cocaine on Blogs
Health care couldn’t compete online with research studies about a zombie attack and cocaine on U.S. currency.
