Our Own Partisanship Assessment Poll

[katmai]

In Canadian terms I am right.  In American terms I am likely a looney lefty.  Jury is still out.  Not yet disappointed but nothing worthy of approval either.

this I can attest to!

[Admiral Yi]

Not counted...again, damn whitey!

[Jacob]

Slightly nuanced version is that I don't particularly identify with Obama politically and, as CC put it, he while hasn't done anything disastrous or repugnant nor has he done anything amazing.  The jury's still out but given I'm generally a positive person that's "approve".  So within the context of this board I'm Left and approve.

[FunkMonk]

I can't bring myself to declare being a Democrat, but the GOP tent has left me to stand out in the rain. I cannot vote in this poll. 

[Sheilbh]

I voted Jaron, because I'm foreign.

Generally I approve.  My major problem with him remains some of his appointments and the slowness on that front.  While I understand the politics of Clinton's appointment I don't understand what she really brings to the role (apart from the neutering of a potential threat) and I don't like what I've read of Holder.  Daschle was a mistake that really should have been picked up on far earlier.  I think the Treasury Department should be far more staffed than it is.  On policy I don't like cap and trade.  My understanding is that it doesn't work and they'd be far better, though far more unpopular, to levy a carbon tax.

I think the stimulus is as good as could be expected, the Af-Pak policy seems right (but Pakistan's an issue where you can see all the problems but none of the solutions, so I'm only really judging the Af bit of that because I've absolutely no idea when it comes to Pakistan), the bank plan makes sense to me, I think Gates's plans for the Defence Department also sounds good.

My other problems with what's happened so far have been presentational which I'm surprised by given that his was a terrifically slick campaign and I would have expected them to get style better a lot more often.

But I think what needs to happen now is the tougher bit.  The shine will have come off slightly (although I believe his approval ratings are now as high as ever) and I think the goodwill won't come so easily.  What I'd like to see is that the banks stabilise, that there's possibly some international element to buying up bad debt (all over the world) and some degree of regulatory reform.  I think those are far more difficult issues.

I also think Iraq's going to get a lot more difficult.  The Sons of Iraq are getting flighty again because the government isn't keeping their promise to hire the appropriate number of them (and has, again, cracked down on certain leaders).  This could be inevitable, I believe tax receipts have declined in Iraq by 40% due to the fall in the price of oil so it could be that they just can't afford it.  I wonder if the US/West should offer to pay for a while longer to sort-of force the government to integrate Sunnis to some degree, but I don't know.

Iran's still a worry.  Russia's in for an interesting time.  I can't think of anything I've missed.

[schaksen]

I voted Jaron, because I'm foreign.

Ditto

[saskganesh]

left/ approve.

I'm warm to the stimulus, but unhappy with the bailouts, much of which will likely shape up to be a corrupt boondoggle if it is not already. but I do know not what is unescapable political reality and what is just following bad advice from ivy league peeps who should know better.

I really really like his environmental track. Harper is rolling over already and we'll see if it works in Copenhagen.

but weak farm/food policy so far. maybe Peanut Corp will change that. and I read they will split up both F and D from FDA, which should help reframe the issues.

[saskganesh]

On policy I don't like cap and trade.  My understanding is that it doesn't work and they'd be far better, though far more unpopular, to levy a carbon tax.

the big plus to a carbon tax is that it takes immediate effect, while cap and trade effects trickle down.

but cap and trade also allows for fortunes to be made buying and selling. so the money/power guys like the latter and the consumer just feels price effects, but does not feel directly, so its an easier political sell overall.

[derspiess]

hey! Where is the center? I've been marginalized.

What do you mean?  You're a Demoncrat

edit: who are the other GOP/Righties that disapprove, besides me?

[Barrister]

Me.  Mostly on the unfocused stimulus spending, the vacillations on auto and bank bailouts, but I'm not wildly angry or anything and I still hope he does well.

[Ed Anger]

hey! Where is the center? I've been marginalized.

What do you mean?  You're a Demoncrat

edit: who are the other GOP/Righties that disapprove, besides me?

Democrat until I can change it back to independent, as I no longer need to vote in Democrat primaries.

[Sheilbh]

Oh actually I hated his handling of the AIG thing.  But, I think that seemed far more Congress than the White House but I thought it was despicable and the sort of leaping on an issue (by Congress and the media) that makes people think politics is easy, so when it's wrong it's corrupt.  In fact the choices that led to that decision were difficult and to try and simplify it the way that happened is something that really pisses me off.

[Norgy]

I don't know where to place myself politically. I am estranged. Socially liberal, fiscal agnostic and foreign policy chickenhawk, but with a rather romantic notion of anarchism as the humanity's goal, and Scandinavian social democracy as the best government possible in the real world. 

As for Obama, I think it's hard to say I approve or disapprove. The perceived cozying up to Russia is a pet peeve of mine, and I disapprove of that, needless to say. His focus on Afghanistan/Pakistan is mildly positive. The stimulus bill and bail-out of big business is a very evil necessity rather than a necessary evil. Unfortunately, a lot of people work for evil corporations.

I am mildly unenthused by Obama on most issues, so I am Obama neutral.

[derspiess]

Democrat until I can change it back to independent, as I no longer need to vote in Democrat primaries.

Until then I will continue to give you crap over it

[saskganesh]

I am mildly unenthused by Obama on most issues, so I am Obama neutral.

I hope you are third party certified for that claim. self certification is very problematic.