Recent polls indicate that Israelis want unity.
The most widely backed preference, at 36 percent, would be a coalition made up of Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s centrist Kadima and Defence Minister Ehud Barak’s left-of-centre Labour, the Tel Aviv University pollsters said. Another 16 percent favour a centre-right alliance of Likud, Kadima and the far-right Yisrael Beitenu, a party that emerged third largest in February 10 parliamentary elections. In contrast, 22 percent expressed a preference for a coalition of Likud, Yisrael Beitenu and other right-wing parties.
An Israeli Radio poll published today is even more specific: 85% of Kadima voters want their party to join Netanyahu’s government; only 11% of them prefer that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her political allies join the opposition.
Netanyahu, scheduled to meet Livni tomorrow for the second time this week, is willing to reach across the aisle — personally and ideologically — to make his coalition more palatable to her, and to allow her to save face. “Sources close to the Likud chairman said that while he is unlikely to accept guidelines pertaining to the two-state solution, he would be willing to continue the negotiations with the Palestinian [sic]“.
Yet Livni sounds quite adamant about maintaining her adversarial stance. There are three possible reasons behind this attitude:
1. Ego: many people, even within Kadima, are hinting that Livni can’t conceive of serving under Netanyahu. She can’t come to terms with the fact that even though she nominally won the election — she actually lost.
2. Ideology: Livni really believes that Netanyahu is too hawkish and she cannot countenance working with him.
3. Political calculation: Livni’s advisors tell her a right-wing government will not survive for long, and that by staying in the opposition she’ll be able to solidify her stance as the only center-left alternative leader.
The problem with all three reasons: it’s all about Livni and Kadima. The implicit assumption seems to be that what’s good for Kadima is also good for Israel. At least for the time being, Israeli voters don’t seem to agree.
Obama’s poll numbers continue to slip: Now only six points separate those who strongly approve with those who strongly disapprove of him, his lowest figures to date.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
The reality of halved 401k’s is trumping the dream of parting the seas.
1
Actually, the percentage who strongly approve of Obama’s performance has remained remarkably high and steady, which Rasmussen took pains to emphasize: “With just a few exceptions, that number has remained steady on a daily basis between 38% and 42% since Inauguration Day.”
Those who disapprove strongly has increased. But these are overwhelmingly Republicans, who never supported Obama and previously weakly disapproved of him. In short: No loss. If Obama is doing his job, which is to effect progressive change, his dissaproval number must go higher among conservatives. As long as they are climbing, America is getting its moneys worth.
Rubin ignores the fact that virtually every recent CEO who has entered govt. has failed spectacularly: George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Hank Paulson, Paul O’Neill, John Snow. How’d Lurita Doan work out for you?
Either this is just another instance of Rubin being clueless, or she knows that CEOs lack the skill set for public office and she is hoping that Obama will pick someone ineffective. Given Republicans’ recent calls for America to fail, it could be either one.
The deeper the crisis goes,the lower the dow drops, (etc etc) the support of Obama will grow because “everybody knows” he and his congressional support and they only,have the power. Ideas don’t matter to the threatened masses, only the power to act is considered. So Conservatives,get the power back,then act. And think present tense,very short term,even a year from now is long term to those without jobs/and losing their home.
do they know how to get anything done?
are you kidding me? the man’s president of the united states with huge margins in both the house & the senate…
…who cares if he has ‘governors’ or ‘executives’ in the cabinet…you really think rahm is someone who doesn’t or won’t ‘get things done’?!!
please, the more obama talks – the more chas freemans he chooses – the less i like and admire the man and the president…but you are kidding yourself if you think this administration isn’t going to get lots and lots and lots of things ‘done’…
…indeed, based on the choices being made, we should hope he continues to find people who find it harder – rather than easier – to accomplish what this administration is (apparently) trying to do…
It would be nice if the inner circle of people deciding how to sav the economy included at least one person who has ever had to meet a payroll.
TRADING ALERT: We advised aggressive poll-traders in our message yesterday to short OBAM after its second day at 8 on the Presidential Approval Index. The “ledge” formation has now broken down as predicted, with OBAM plunging to 6, a new all-time low (the “strongly disapprove” component is at an all-time high). Conservative traders will reduce here and/or move their stop-loss on whatever remains of their position to 9, locking in profits.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history
If the plunge in OBAM’s price continues, we’ll move our stop/loss down accordingly.
7
Don’t worry. There are several. David Axelrod, Obama’s closest advisor, until recently owned at least two PR and consulting businesses. He knows all about having to meet a small business payroll.
8
See comment 3.
#1: Yes, this looks like a significant development.
/1/ Not only is the 6% the “presidential approval index” the lowest number to date
(so was yesterday’s 8%), but it is a new record. A support level has been
breached.
/2/ The levels 8% or lower have now lasted 3 daya in a row; never before
has it been below 10% for even 2 days in a row.
/3/ That index is the difference between “strongly approve” and “strongly
disapprove”.
But his “total approve” number is also at record low, and his “total disapprove”
number is at record high.
…These are still high levels of popularity.
But the trend is not good for Obama.
——————
Now, an MBA and an executive history is no guarantee of excellent management skills, as more than one president has shown.
——————
Only one U.S. president has had an MBA.