Obama in one word, depicted graphically
The folks at Pew Research tried something pretty cool and interesting. Back in September, they did a poll asking voters to volunteer a one-word description of Barack Obama. They did the same in late February.
Then, using the neat little application at Wordle, they created “word clouds” of the two responses, depicting impressions of Obama in graphic terms. The results are below:
The changes are pretty interesting. It’ll be even more interesting a year or two from now.
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84 comments Add your comment
G
March 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
That is so cool, Jay. And so is President Obama.
PJ
March 12th, 2009
3:20 pm
Oh Jay. Not name calling again! Commie is somewhere sick that he can’t get in on this one.
Goldie
March 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
I like that “Intelligent” is most prominent now, but I also think that “Fantastic” should be next in prominence. Great visual, Jay!
Taxpayer
March 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
Jay,
Are you sure those are not simply representations of Republican vs. Democrat opinions with a splash of Moderate thrown on both.
DB, Gwinnettian
March 12th, 2009
3:28 pm
“It’ll be even more interesting a year or two from now.”
I beg to differ. Wordle will be, like, so 2009 by then.
Buzzkiller
March 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
Here is one possibility for next year’s word:
“Incompetent”
And this from Howard Fineman at Newsweek commenting on the turning opinion of Washington insiders…not sure how to post a hyperlink, but here is the address…
http://www.newsweek.com/id/188565
BDAtlanta
March 12th, 2009
3:34 pm
Socialist is mighty prominent there….
hehehe
Sam
March 12th, 2009
3:34 pm
Of course those are the “word clouds” you get when you poll a bunch of self indulgent former hippies and brain dead gen nexters after they share a bong with “Cool Prez Barry” and “Not Proud of America Michelle” at the nightly social hour in the White House. Barry’s the one handing out the appetizers and passing the bong….
Sam
March 12th, 2009
3:36 pm
Typical liberal exercise, “How does he make you FEEL?……..
Paul
March 12th, 2009
3:39 pm
That was neat. I would’ve responded ‘cool’ with images of a club with subdued lighting and some sublime jazz in the background.
Anyway – from inexperienced to intelligent in a few months. We’ll see what comes next.
Remember, the guys at GM and Wall Street were experienced AND intelligent.
Buzzkiller. Sorry.
Paul
March 12th, 2009
3:40 pm
buzzkiller 3:31 – just saw your moniker. Sorry – nothing personal -
david wayne osedach
March 12th, 2009
3:44 pm
Just check out the Change-o-meter over @ Slate Magazine. Obama is consistently scoring in the same old – same old range. Merely two days of his total is in the low change we can believe in category.
DB, Gwinnettian
March 12th, 2009
3:50 pm
dwo @ 3.44, without a linkee we can’t really see what you’re on about at Slate… but I’m thinking this is one of those online poll deals?
You do understand the difference between a scientifically sampled Pew poll and some trashy stuff-the-ballot kinda deal, yes?
DB, Gwinnettian
March 12th, 2009
3:53 pm
Sam, really. You really think a significant number of Americans look at this clean-cut American Dad in the impeccable threads and thinks “Stoner dood?”
What are you on?
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
March 12th, 2009
3:57 pm
Intelligent #1!
(Absolutely the last word to describe the last Prez…)
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
March 12th, 2009
4:00 pm
They should do one for Limbaugh
Top Three:
Fat
Creepy
Loud
Paul
March 12th, 2009
4:01 pm
Hey DB
I caught up on your earlier questions a few threads down but I think you’d taken off for the day.
Paul
March 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
Amended 3:39
The word was ’smooth’ not ‘cool”
getalife
March 12th, 2009
4:08 pm
Vitter misses his flight and has airport rage screaming:
“Don’t you know who I am!”
The airport worker calmly replies:
“Sure, you’re that senator who likes to wear diapers with hookers, right?”
Mrs. Godzilla
March 12th, 2009
4:13 pm
Hot Damn! That’s neat.
I sure do like President Obama and darn near all of what he does.
I feel sad for folks who can’t feel the audacity of hope and don’t want to be part of the huge change we are bringing to this country.
TnGelding
March 12th, 2009
4:15 pm
If taken today after the close on Wall Street among small investors genius and miracle worker would be prevalent.
Come on conservatives, get happy and join us as we lower Bush’s drawbridge to the 21st century:
http://new.music.yahoo.com/singleVideo/?vid=2163207
@@
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
A perfect column for Victor Davis Hanson’s “What If”.
What if the voters who supported Barack Obama had known in advance that he would be everything they hated about Bush and more — deficit creator and supporter.
De fault is his.
What we have in Obama are the unintended consequences of a media coup. They refused to ask the pertinent questions and deemed those who did as engaging in trivialities.
“Sweet Charity”
The minute you walked in the joint,
I could see you were a man of distinction,
A real big spender.
Good looking, so refined.
Say wouldn’t you like to know
What’s going on in my mind?
So, let me get right to the point,
I don’t pop my cork for every guy I see.
Hey, big spender
.
GodHatesTrash, Superstar
March 12th, 2009
4:19 pm
I hate Dumbya because he is arrogant, vicious, and stupid.
Obama is none of those.
TW
March 12th, 2009
4:21 pm
Please tell me they have one these for ‘w?’
Paul
March 12th, 2009
4:21 pm
getalife 4:08
Funniest post of the day. Thanks.
I bought my son’s new father in law a bottle of Stoli Elit as a thank-you. Sure wish he would’ve opened it while I was there -
@@
Wasn’t Pres Bush a deficit spender because he wanted to be one (in good economic times), while Pres Obama is a deficit spender because he thinks he has to be to overcome the recession?
radiowxman
March 12th, 2009
4:25 pm
As someone who attended the inauguration, I’m not surprised. I was impressed that so many people were able to come together in celebration of a historic event. This was an election that was unprecedented in my (admittedly short) lifetime, and likely one that won’t be repeated.
Which is why it’s not surprising that there is still so much glowing adulation for Obama. It takes a long time (or a catastrophic event) to change opinion, since most people aren’t paying attention.
Most people aren’t really concerned with all the earmarks in new legislation, the ridiculous amount of spending, the inability to find a full cabinet/staff, foreign policy gaffes, the unwillingess to substantially change Bush’s policy, etc. Instead, they’re still “hoping” that things will “change” while the White House distracts them with strawmen like Rush Limbaugh.
I agree with you Jay. I’ll be very interested to see the change over the year in that word chart. My guess is that you’ll see a lot more negatives if this economy isn’t tuned around and the “it’s Bush’s fault!” repetitions fall on deaf ears.
@@
March 12th, 2009
4:27 pm
BS Paul! Obama is a deficit spender because he doesn’t want to let a crisis go to “waste”.
I support those who are saying that he needs to focus on the economy before he applies his socialistic policies. My daughter will NEVER be able to enjoy the simple things in life. She’ll be working too hard to find the time.
TnGelding
March 12th, 2009
4:28 pm
@@
March 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
He was head and shoulders above what we had to choose from, except for Hillary.
Spend a little time with me!
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=%5EDJI&t=5d
Has the Wall Street bear been slain? Let’s hope so!
radiowxman
March 12th, 2009
4:30 pm
Obama certainly isn’t stupid. Of course, W wasn’t stupid either, despite what Oliver Stone wants you to believe.
Vicious? I guess it depends on whom you ask. The people Obama walked over to get the Illinois Senate seat, for example.
Arrogant? I’m not sure what you’d call someone who returns an important statue to our most important foreign ally. And then shortly after, give the PM of said country a basket of DVDs. I’m assuming he’s not stupid or oafish. In that case, I’d rather take arrogant.
Dusty
March 12th, 2009
4:31 pm
Sam and Buzzkiller,
Better watch your wording. You might be giving the wrong kind of “insults”. Personal insults are anything aimed at liberals who are calling you names. “Dissing” a lib is grounds for blog dismissal. “General” insults are OK as used by liberals against President Bush, the Iraq War, Afghanistan,any Republican official such as Palin, Cheney, Jindal, Steele and ALL conservative bloggers. That’s OK.
So, watch out fellows. Be sure and use the OK insults. Bookman is down to only a couple of conservative bloggers and that is more than he desires.
As to today’s “subject”, cute! I saw some more cute words on a boxcar today while waiting at a crossing. They were cool! Super!. Just like today’s subject. Don’t you just love cute journalism? It beats the real thing as we see here today. For some reason, it reminds me of Bookman dancing around in a tutu. Cute!
Paul
March 12th, 2009
4:32 pm
@@
Consider this: he brought all war costs into the regular budget process. The bulk of his stimulus package was for job creation. Sure, pork was there, but this is, after all, Washington, where they can’t pass one bill without pork. Right off the bat he announces he’s reengaging where Pres Bush wasn’t able to complete: addressing Social Security/Medicare future shortfalls.
But the point is, Pres Bush was a deficit spender without a crisis. Or if one counts the war, he was a deficit spender who kept the larger deficit off the books. Interesting points, no?
TnGelding
March 12th, 2009
4:33 pm
@@
March 12th, 2009
4:27 pm
Women aren’t supposed to work. She’ll be fine staying home and taking care of the family. Just make sure she majors in home economics and economics.
Seriously, she should be fine. Let’s see what the budget proposal for FY2011 looks like. I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised and we libs are going to be shocked.
Buzzkiller
March 12th, 2009
4:37 pm
Mrs. God- good luck with that hope thing. Let me know how many groceries it will buy…nothing wrong with hope- it is just not a strategy. A strategic plan to get the economy back on its feet rather than just more spending (Bush could have done that!)on non job-creating activities (just look really busy) is not giving me much hope. I do HOPE I am wrong and if so I will be glad to admit it.
jon
March 12th, 2009
4:38 pm
Obama is a deficit spender because he’s a Democrat. As stated by Rom E., this economic “crisis” is a good opportunity to implement a far left agenda.
Mrs. Godzilla: I haven’t seen any change yet, much less positive change. Looks like Washington politics as usual to me. So far your man has just been dancing on the strings held by Reid, Pelosi, Carville, and Begala.
RW-(the original)
March 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
OVERRATED comes to mind. It makes a nice chant too.
TnGelding
March 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
jon
March 12th, 2009
4:38 pm
It’s been 50 days for goodness sakes! Get happy! Be patient.
Got to run. Will check back later.
TnGelding
March 12th, 2009
4:44 pm
RW-(the original)
March 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
Time for one more:
And over-achieving.
RW-(the original)
March 12th, 2009
4:52 pm
Gelding,
If the plan was to spend us into oblivion then you’ve come up with a good word.
Taxpayer
March 12th, 2009
4:52 pm
I didn’t see that Republican favorite on the first graphic — Terrorist. I also see that RW’s favorite was missing from the second graphic — Teleprompted.
Dusty
March 12th, 2009
4:56 pm
Good grief, Paul. You said that Bush was a deficit spender without a crisis. What do you call a “crisis”? The end of the world?
Bush had 9/11, the great Pacific tsunami, Katrina and military actions in two countries with jittery “items” like Tiawain. North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan(Darfur), Somalia and even Ethiopia.
The military budget was announced as separate many times. Bush did not want to sign TARP but he did. He should have cut corners SOMEWHERE but to say he did not have a “crisis” is pure obfuscation.
I Report/ You Whine
March 12th, 2009
4:59 pm
Clueless.
I Report/ You Whine
March 12th, 2009
5:03 pm
Watch how quickly “inherited” becomes “I’m so great.”
March 12 (Bloomberg) — Bank of America Corp., the biggest U.S. bank, expects to make money for the full year after posting a profit for January and February, Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lewis said.
Bank of America took $15 billion in November under the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP.
At least now OneTerm will quit whining so much.
RW-(the original)
March 12th, 2009
5:04 pm
Taxpayer,
For once you have a good point. Since our President is a talking teleprompter the Wordle change makes sense.
Did I read that Jay B said he (Jay B, not PresTP) was a Twit now?
AmVet
March 12th, 2009
5:15 pm
Sorry, JB. To me it looks like a scrabble game with no rules.
Actually I’ll shock everyone by agreeing with Dusty. (Partially).
BushCo took it on the chin several times — 9/11, Katrina and the economic meltdown at the end of his second term — all come to mind.
But…how he mismanaged/exacerbated those crises is why he will go down in history as one of the very worst to ever sit in the White House. No he did not do a heckuva job.
Should similar or worse events happen while BHO is in the West Wing, they will challenge him just as much. Pray to whatever superstition you believe in that he does not botch things as badly.
It seems very unlikely, but time will tell…
Paul
March 12th, 2009
5:24 pm
Hi Dusty
I’ve said before that Pres Bush’s and the Republican Congress’s free-spending ways alienated many Republicans and was a significant factor in their losing Congress and the White House.
By ‘crisis’ I meant something so extraordinary that spending to cover it could not realistically be met by revising taxes. We responded to 9-11 without significant cost. The ongoing muddled NATO op is another story. So was Iraq (crisis of our own doing or not, it was still frakkin’ expensive). Much of those costs were kept off the books. The other crises mentioned did not come with a significant cost to us.
The military expenditures were announced – but they were, even years in, categorized as ‘emergency spending’ and kept ‘off budget.’ Pres Obama brought them on line, which, at a time he was criticized for deficit spending, actually increased the perceived deficit. For that I give him candor points.
So as I see it the only crisis of any magnitude that caused years of deficit spending was Iraq – and most of those costs were excluded from the budget. It’s not about party affiliation, it’s just the record.
Paul
March 12th, 2009
5:27 pm
Dusty
And much of the deficit spending was the result for increases in regular ’social’ spending – not defense. Strangely, that’s something Democrats won’t give him credit for. So you and Democrats have something in common!
Ha!
Joe Matarotz
March 12th, 2009
5:27 pm
Jay,
What is this tripe? Is this your idea of compelling journalism? Is this supposed to be cutting edge reporting? I guess you had lots of fun with the pretty colors and making all the words look nice.
You started the day off well but you’re right back in the commode again. I will hope for better tomorrow.
Taxpayer
March 12th, 2009
5:29 pm
Actually, I think Jay said that people can be twits now.
Midori
March 12th, 2009
5:29 pm
It’s so nice to be missed.
This is the first post I’ve made today, yet I’ve seen my name tossed around all over previous threads.
Ain’t I special?
And I don’t even have a specialized degree.
AmVet
March 12th, 2009
5:31 pm
He’s no Manteats in Black, but Rush’s little bro is another corker!
He has this very odd penchant for referencing The Heartland Institute in regards to denying man-induced global warming. As though they are some sort of scientific gargantuan with vast credentials among the world’s elite scientific bodies.
You may remember these knuckle-draggers as publishing a “list” of “500 Scientists with Documented Doubts of Man-Made Global Warming Scares”.
It included at least 45 scientists who neither knew of their inclusion as “coauthors” of the article, nor agreed with its claims regarding global warming. Dozens of the scientists asked the Heartland Institute to remove their names from the list; but take a teensy weensy little guess what happened?
Yep, the Heartland Institute refused to remove any names from the list, writing that “They [the scientists] have no right—legally or ethically—to demand that their names be removed from a bibliography.”
Desperation time at the loons in lieu of science club.
What a laugh…