o'who? -- Obama poll ratings (Sa.20Mar10)

Obama's Approval Disapproval from Real Clear Politics example: Rassmussen: Date: Sa.20Mar10 Presidential Approval Index -21 Strongly Approve 23% Strongly Disapprove 44% Total Approve 43% Total Disapprove 56% also see: Rasmussen Reports' Daily Presidential Tracking Poll also see: Rasmussens' Detailed Tracking of: Obama, economy, employment, America's political mood, War on Terror, partisan politics, taxes, importance of issues, trust on issues, energy, Congress Members Favorables & Unfavorables

What does 'Rats desert a sinking ship' mean?

When there were wooden ships in common use, there would always be rats on board.  If the ship were to sink the rats would jump off and swim away because they knew the ship was sinking and that they needed to swim to safety/shelter.

The phrase is now used to refer to people who ditch a lost cause because they weren't committed to it. Unlike the captain and men on the ship who would have tried to save it the rats just fled.  Unlike the creators of a cause would try and keep the cause afloat (if you'll excuse the pun) whereas the tag along followers just there for the ride (again an interesting pun - thus why this phrase fits so nicely) would just ditch it.

source:  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_'Rats_desert_a_sinking_ship'_mean

How do I say it in ...?
French	Les rats quittent le navire qui coule.
German	Die Ratten verlassen das sinkende Schiff.
Italian	I topi abbandonano la nave che affonda.
Lithuanian	Žiurkės pirmos palieka skęstantį laivą.
Russian	Крысы бегут с тонущего корабля.
Spanish	Las ratas abandonan el barco que se hunde.

translation source: http://www.wikiproverbs.com/index.php/Rats_desert_a_sinking_ship.

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