When he became President, Mr. Obama had a 65% approval rating and 30% disapproval rating from the American people. By July 24 a majority of Americans disapproved of President Obama. Six months to end the honeymoon. That may be the largest and quickest presidential popularity drop in United States history. All those smart, sophisticated people in the main street media were right when they told us his presidency was historic.

The reason for this historic event is simple. Mr. Obama did not understand his mandate from the American people. He did not understand why they elected him President. He thought they voted for his transformative policies. Wrong. Some may have, but many also voted for him because he was not George Bush and he was the first black nominated by a major political party. Therefore, to fulfill his mandate, President Obama only needed to not change his name to George Bush and not change his skin color (as did Michael Jackson).

Since he has not changed his name or skin color why the historic drop in approval? All these other things he has done (spend, spend, spend) and said (dissing America overseas and continually preaching to us at home) were not part of the mandate.

If only he would have stopped at being black and not George Bush his approval would still be high. Too late now.

August 19th, 2009 | Obama '09