Pendulum Voters and Obama

[Steel2Velvet]

Politics is nothing if not a dramatic spectacle. Better than the best show written for TV. Uniting, dividing, sifting, mixing and churning, it is a never ending series of complex maneuvering, meant to produce a consumable meal.

Just curious; have any of you heard from friends, work acquaintances, family, etc. of those who voted for President Obama in 2008 that will not be voting for him (could mean they are not voting for any presidential candidate) this upcoming election?

I think of these people as "Pendulum Voters," these whose allegiance falls in direct proportion to expectations not met during a presidential term. I observed a lot of this during the 2004 campaign of President Bush. His policies in Iraq cost him much of the support he had gained during his initial election and during the subsequent nightmare of 9/11, as Americans rallied around their leader during at that time.

Does anyone know of those who have mentioned a swing away from their initial assessment of the current president? I have two American friends who have, thus far, changed their opinions of President Obama and will not be voting for him, though did so in 2008.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Guest

[Shawna]

I try to stay away from discussing political views with my friends and family as much as possible. However, on those occasions when things get said within earshot that I can't avoid, I must say that anyone I've heard who voted for Obama will be voting for him again.

And those who voted otherwise, will again be voting otherwise. Mostly through sheer stubbornness, I think.

[Uncle Joe]

Ask that same question about congress.

[Steel2Velvet]

Ask that same question about congress.

It would be an equally interesting test of the Pendulum vote reaction to any particular congress member, but, by definition, those races do not have the sheer numbers to poll, nor the national "cache" as it were. So, harder to gauge.

[TheLizard]

I can think of a couple who voted for Obama and won't be voting for him, or anyone, this time, but I certainly can't think of anybody who voted for him last time and will be voting Romney in this election. But for the most part, everyone I know who voted for Obama last time will be voting for him again. Including myself.

[pinkstones]

If you're a rich, white, straight, Christian male....by all means, vote for Romney. You're exactly the kind of person the GOP wants and needs. If you're poor, gay, a woman, a minority, or not Christian and you vote for Romney....something's wrong with you. You're voting against your interests. The GOP doesn't give a damn about anyone that couldn't be a stand-in for Gordon Gekko clutching a Bible.

As a very, very, very liberal person (damn near socialist) Obama hasn't been as liberal as I'd wanted, or as I'd anticipated. That being said, Obama's got my vote from here until the end of time. I don't know anyone who voted for him four years ago who won't be voting for him in November.

[Ombre Vivante]

Most of my friends, colleagues, and classmates are Republicans, as far as I know. The few who voted for Obama the last time will probably vote for him this time around. Both groups are all pretty much supporting their own cause(s). Those who will vote for Romney are further subseparated into social and fiscal conservatives. I'd like to think I'm a little of both in spite of the on-line, ill-tempered persona I may put off here.

For me, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan (and pretty much all of the Middle East policy) are a huge point of contention with me, the pointless deaths of Americans it produced as well as the immense waste of money tied to those ill-fated ventures. I'd rather be called a "pacifist" or an "appeaser" rather than agree with American war criminals. I'm liable to not vote for Romney on that alone or just write in "Ron Paul"

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/08/27/ron-paul-supporters-assail-romney-and-gop-for-alienating-latinos/

[Lucky]

while I'm not happy with where we are as a country now, I voted for Obama the first time around, and will do so again. Part of the reason has nothing at all to do with Obama, and more to do with the horrible shape the country was in, both then and now. It took us a long time to get ourselves in this position. I think it will take more than 4 years and more than a few fixes to get us out of our situation. Jumping willy nilly from man to man, and from one idea/plan to another isn't going to get us anywhere. I'll stick it out with Obama.

[Uncle Joe]

To go back to domestic economic polices that have burried us so deeply would be sheer madness. Reelect Obama and clean out congress so that things that need doing get done. Sounds like a plan to me.