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(PHOTO CREDIT: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

If you buy the axiom that "You're only as strong as your weakest link," this country is in some serious trouble.

Consider this: 75 percent of America's young people between the ages of 17 and 24 are unfit for military duty. Army statistics show these youngsters are ineligible to enlist for lots of reasons: From lack of education to illegal drug use, being overweight or out of shape to having a criminal record. 75 percent.

This disturbing news comes just a month after the Pentagon met its annual recruiting goals for the first time since 1973. But military commanders point out that during economic downturns, recruitment numbers go up and "a weak economy is no formula for a strong military."

This is scary stuff. We continue to fight two wars and there are additional potential threats from places like Iran and North Korea.

And here is a very real sign our standard of living is declining: Research shows almost half of all U.S. children - and 90 percent of African-American children - will be on food stamps before they reach the age of 20. The current recession could push these numbers even higher.

This study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says many of these children could be at risk for malnutrition and other problems associated with poverty. What kind of future is that for half of our children… and by extension, for the country?

Here’s my question to you: How confident are you in the next generation of Americans?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Census takers in 2010 won't be allowed to ask people if they are U.S. citizens. That's because Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican attempt that would have required census forms to inquire about citizenship.

Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter had introduced the measure... meant to exclude illegal aliens from the population count. Vitter says including illegals in the census is "wrong" and goes against the idea of the Congress as an institution that represents citizens.

The Census carries a lot of weight - it's used both as the basis for apportioning congressional districts for the following 10 years; and it serves as a guide for distributing billions of dollars in federal aid.

Critics say the plan would discourage immigrants from participating in the Census... they insist the law states congressional seats are determined by the number of people living in each state - regardless of whether they're citizens.

The Census Director also opposes the proposal... he says asking about U.S. citizenship is "just not doable" and would mean delaying the census.

Not counting illegal aliens in the census could potentially hit states like California and Texas the hardest when it comes to apportioning Congressional districts. Those two states are where there's a high concentration of undocumented immigrants. It's estimated there are 12 million illegal aliens in the U.S.

Here’s my question to you: Should the U.S. Census Bureau be allowed to ask if you're a citizen?

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New Jersery Governor Jon Corzine casts his ballot at a polling station in Hoboken, New Jersey. Corzine faces Republican Chris Christie and Independent Chris Daggett in today's election. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

There's an adage that says "all politics is local," which is true - except when it's not. And today's a day when it's not.

Ordinarily a race for an obscure congressional seat in upstate New York would go by unnoticed - even by half the people who live there. But not this time. Same for the governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia.

Because of a growing disaffection with some of President Obama's policies, a lousy economy, two wars, and the failure of the Democratic Congress to do much of anything worthwhile... there's an abnormal amount of interest in how the people in those three races are likely to vote.

With congressional midterms coming a year from now - you can bet the spin doctors from both parties will be working late into the night to interpret the results in New Jersey, Virginia and New York in the best possible light for their party.

Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey is in a nail-biter with a former Republican prosecutor whom Corzine implied is fat. The fat guy might win.

In Virginia - President Obama has made a significant political investment in the Democrat candidate for governor - but all the polls leading up to today indicate the Republican is going to win.

And that obscure upstate congressional race in New York has become a contest between an ultra-conservative and a Democrat. The Republican dropped out. She wasn't conservative enough.

Here’s my question to you: What will today's races in New York, New Jersey and Virginia tell us about the national political landscape?

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A U.S. Marine points his rifle at Afghan men ordered to raise their arms to show they're not carrying explosives in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan. (PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID FURST/AFP/Getty Images)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Tomorrow marks eight years since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Eight years and 865 U.S. troops killed - and the Obama administration now says leaving is not an option. With both violence and troop deaths on the rise - this White House is caught up in a rather public discussion about what to do next.

They're playing down reports of divisions over strategy among members of the administration; but some of these disagreements seem hard to ignore. The top U.S. commander, Stanley McChrystal, has made no secret of his opinion that more troops are needed - perhaps as many as 40,000 - or else the mission will fail.

Others - like V.P. Joe BIden - want fewer U.S. troops targeting only al Qaeda, along with more training of Afghan troops and increasing Predator drone strikes.

McChrystal has said this approach would lead to "Chaos-istan" and that he wouldn't support it. So much for everyone being on the same page. It's no wonder Defense Sec. Robert Gates is calling on all military and civilian leaders to keep their advice to the president private...

Meanwhile, President Obama has said he needs time to meet with advisers to figure out the best way forward... and today he's talking with a group of bipartisan congressional leaders to get their opinions.

As for the American people - it doesn't seem like there's much of an appetite for this conflict. A recent poll shows support for the war in Afghanistan hit a new low of 39-percent.

Here’s my question to you: When it comes to the eight-year-old war in Afghanistan, the White House says leaving is not an option. What are America's options?

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President Obama addresses world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York City. (PHOTO CREDIT: JIM WATSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

"Everybody is saying no to the American president these days"... that's the start of a pretty scathing piece in the Jerusalem Post about where President Obama stands on the international stage - just as he addresses the UN and meets with world leaders.

Amir Mizroch has plenty of examples... like the Saudis twice saying no to the president's request for normalizing relations with Israel; or the North Koreans saying no to repeated attempts at talks by firing off test long-range missiles; to Russia and China continuing to say no to tougher sanctions against Iran; to Iran itself saying no - by agreeing to talks about everything except stopping its uranium enrichment.

Mizroch suggests the reason all these nations are saying no to President Obama is because the U.S. economy has made him a weak president. If the president manages to turn around the economy in the next two years - and then manages to get re-elected - at that point he might be able to focus on international trouble spots with more success. That's if Iran hasn't managed to blow up half the world by then.

Along the same lines, a piece in the British newspaper The Guardian titled "Obama the impotent" says many in the U.S. and abroad are impatient with the pace of progress under this president.

It points out Mr. Obama hasn't even been able to get health care reform passed in his own country and questions his ability to lead internationally on issues like climate change and regulating international financial systems:

"It appears that the wheels may be coming off the world's post-war leader, and not even Barack Obama can stop it happening."

Here’s my question to you: Why is everybody on the international stage saying no to President Obama?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

When the bomber of Pan Am flight 103 was released - Libya and its leader Moammar Gadhafi threw a huge celebration to welcome home this mass murderer. After the civilized world expressed collective outrage at Scottish authorities for releasing this mutant - there was Gadhafi, putting on a display of affection for someone who isn't fit to eat with your dog.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi delivered an address to the UN General Assembly earlier today.

Then Gadhafi had the stones to waltz into New York and share his warped views of the world with the rest of us in a ranting, raving, nonsensical diatribe on floor of U.N. General Assembly.

Turns out since no one would rent a hotel room to this creep - he's spent weeks trying to find a place to pitch his trademark tent - most recently settling on the town of Bedford, New York.

The problem was the land he was using is owned by Donald Trump. Trump explained he'd leased the property to some Middle Eastern associates who in turn allowed Gadhafi to camp out on the lawn.

When the Bedford authorities found out, Gadhafi was told to roll up his sleeping bag and hit the road.

All of which is to wonder what purpose is served by allowing these kinds of people to come here every year for the U.N. meetings.

In addition to creating traffic and security nightmares - a guy like Gadhafi manages to send everybody's temperature up a couple of degrees. And, quite frankly, in New York City we don't need his help.

Here’s my question to you: Should the rules be changed to keep people like Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi out of the U.S.?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

President Obama may not be leaving the country this week - but it's likely his global support will be put to the test during the meetings of the U.N. here in New York and the G-20 in Pittsburgh.

As Mr. Obama meets with world leaders and addresses issues like climate change, the global economy and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East - there's no question that this president is better liked overseas than his predecessor, George W. Bush.

A recent Pew survey finds significant support for President Obama still throughout Africa, Europe and Latin America. Attitudes toward the U.S. are also more favorable in some mostly Muslim countries.

The survey shows America's image has improved markedly in most parts of the world, reflecting global confidence in Barack Obama. In a lot of places - opinions of the U.S. are as high as they were before Bush took office.

But the question may be: Does it really matter? What's changed on the international stage as a result of President Obama's increase in popularity? The answer is - Not a whole lot...

North Korea, Iran, Russia, China, Afghanistan and Iraq all still present the same challenges to this country as they did before Mr. Obama won the election.

And - just because other countries may like our president - it doesn't always mean they're going to support his foreign policy decisions.

And the arrest of suspects in a terror plot this past week inside the U.S. indicates the terrorists haven't suddenly decided to lay down their arms and become our friends.

It's nice to be liked, but being president of the United States isn't necessarily about winning a popularity contest overseas.

Here’s my question to you: Is it more important for an American president to be liked or feared outside the country?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Ask the president and he'll tell you it's the news media's fault that the country has descended into a screeching, yelling, nasty batch of rudeness and lack of manners.

President Obama appeared on five Sunday morning talk shows - which is a lot even by this visible president's standards. The idea was for Mr. Obama to continue selling his health care plan to the American people, which by the way, some Republicans now say is dead.

But during several of these interviews - although President Obama insisted he wasn't doing media-bashing - he seemed to do media bashing.

Right here on CNN, the president called out the three cable news networks, and said the easiest way to get on any of them is to "say something rude and outrageous." He said if people are polite and sensible and don't exaggerate about their opponent, it's harder to get noticed by the press.

President Obama said that instead he'd like to see "all of us reward decency and civility in our political discourse."

The president went on to say news organizations can't get enough of the conflict, calling it "catnip to the media." He says in the 24-hour-news cycle, the extreme elements on both sides get the most attention. And he's right.

Just last week in the Cafferty File, we reported on celebrities from Kanye West to Serena Williams to Congressman Joe Wilson behaving badly; and about what their uncivilized behavior says about the rest of society.

Here’s my question to you: Are the news media responsible for the recent outbreak of rude behavior across America?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

One year ago the financial system of the United States came very close to collapsing. It began with the failure of Lehman Brothers and triggered the biggest government financial intervention in our history. That may have been what saved us.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says the bailouts and the other actions taken by the government were absolutely necessary to keep the economy from going over a cliff. And while the worst is over, Geithner warns the recovery ahead will be slow and painful. He expects continued high levels of unemployment and weak growth.

On Monday, President Obama will give what the White House is calling a "major" speech here in New York on the financial crisis. He will address what's been done so far, and what he thinks needs to be done going forward.

In the year since Lehman Brothers collapsed, the U.S. economy has taken quite a beating. The weeks and months that followed saw failures in the financial system and a government response that at one time seemed unimaginable:

- The bailout and subsequent takeover of the world's largest insurer, AIG
- A much larger than usual number of bank failures
- The government taking a stake in huge institutions like Citibank and Bank of America
- The government investing massive sums of money in two of the big three automakers
- And the huge $780 billion economic stimulus package that was rammed through Congress in the early days of the Obama administration

The stock market tanked - but for those with a strong enough stomach to stay in, a recent six month rally has recouped a lot of the losses. And many economists are now saying the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression is ending.

Here’s my question to you: How confident are you in the nation's financial system?

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Family members of victims stand in the rain near the reflecting pool placing flowers as people gather at Ground Zero during a 9/11 memorial ceremony. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Today marks eight years since the terror attacks of 9/11. 2,976 people died that day in the most devastating attack on the United States homeland since Pearl Harbor.

This country and the world will never be the same again since that fateful Tuesday in September. The U.S. has invaded two countries and remains involved in two wars. 4,346 U.S. troops have died in Iraq and another 822 in Afghanistan. And Afghanistan only seems to be getting worse these days.

Here at home - the debate now revolves around Islamic extremists, torture, etc. As for getting on airplanes… that's changed forever too. We're used to taking off our shoes and belts, placing liquids in separate bags, waiting in long lines with picture ID, and so on...

And for residents of New York and Washington - most people probably think twice every time they see a plane flying low overhead.

Meanwhile, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows 34 percent of those surveyed say an act of terrorism is likely somewhere in the U.S. over the next few weeks... but that's only half as many people who felt that way right after 9/11.

In that same poll, only seven percent of people say life in the U.S. is now completely back to normal. 32 percent say it eventually will be... but 60 percent say things will never be back to normal.

Here’s my question to you: How has the U.S. changed in the 8 years since the 9/11 attacks?

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