Even though Americans are more upbeat about the direction in which the country is headed than most were four years ago, voters are less confident that the government can help them.
The first inauguration of President Obama was a time of hope for bipartisanship as 50% of people in the U.S. predicted at that time both major political parties would try to work better together.
However, four years have passed and the same balance of power in Washington remains, but this time the public is less optimistic with only 23% expecting Congress to work together to solve problems.
Even though Obama was able to accomplish many things during his first term, much of it came without help from Republicans. The stimulus package for the economy won no Republican support in the House and only three Republican senators voted in favor of the package. One of those Senators, Arlen Specter left the Republican Party due to backlash from his vote to support the package.
The healthcare initiative Obama presented during the first term passed without any Republicans from either of the chambers voting in favor. However, in 2010, the control of the House changed to Republican and Obama’s last two years of his first term could only be defined as being bruising fights over the budget.
Obama now enters his second and last term with the same job rating George Bush had in 2005. In Bush’s second term, he accomplished next to nothing domestically and the last two years of his second term, he fought against a Congress controlled by Democrats.
The same thing is taking place now, as Obama will fight against a House that is run by Republicans
