How should Obama deal with Iran?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President-elect Barack Obama is inheriting a lot of problems from the Bush Administration including an economic crisis, two wars, and a whole list of international challenges, the most urgent of which is Iran.
According to a new International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is continuing to increase its stockpile of uranium and now has enough nuclear fuel to make a single atom bomb.
Watch: Cafferty: Obama deal with Iran?
Iran insists it only wants nuclear energy to fuel power plants, but the United Nations Security Council isn't so sure. It has passed three sanctions resolutions demanding Iran suspend its nuclear program. The Tehran government has ignored them all.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the United Nations in September, "As far as we are concerned, the nuclear issue is resolved."
The Bush Administration joined European-led negotiations late in the game and actually sent some representatives to Tehran to meet with the Iranians, but to no avail.
Two months from today, it will be Barack Obama's turn. He has indicated a willingness to negotiate with Tehran, but this IAEA report could complicate matters considerably.
Here’s my question to you: How should Barack Obama deal with Iran when he takes office?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Just 34% have favorable view of GOP: Why?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/20/art.repub.pop.gallup.jpg caption="Only 34 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's no secret the Republican Party has an image problem. The last eight years of the Bush Administration have been enough to take the shine off just about anything.
But a new Gallup Poll shows just how bad things have gotten. Only 34 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party. At the same time, 61 percent have an unfavorable view. That's the highest number since Gallup started tracking this back in 1992. What's more: Only 78 percent of registered Republicans like what they see from the GOP. In other words, almost a quarter of Republicans aren't happy with their own party.
And no one seems quite sure what to do about it. About 37 percent of Americans want the Republican party to become more conservative, but another 37 percent think the party should be less conservative. About 20 percent say it should stay the same.
Here’s my question to you: What does it mean that only 34% of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Why Is Obama Picking Fmr. Clinton Admin. Members?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President-elect Barack Obama won the White House on a message of change. Fifty-three percent of Americans said they wanted something new and different in Washington. Well, Obama is certainly new and different, but the same cannot be said for some of his early appointments. It's like that song title, "Everything Old Is New Again."
As Obama prepares to take over, he's asking a bunch of former Clinton Administration members to come on board. John Podesta, who is overseeing the Obama transition team, is a former Clinton White House Chief of Staff. Rahm Emmanuel, who will serve as Obama's Chief of Staff, is a former Clinton aide. The president-elect's choice for Attorney General, Eric Holder, served in the Clinton administration as deputy attorney general under Janet Reno. And Peter Orszag, who has been picked to head Obama's Office of Management and Budget, worked at the Clinton White House as a special assistant to the president at the National Economic Council.
Watch: Cafferty: Former Clinton Admin?
And then, of course, there's Hillary. The former first lady and current junior senator from New York has been asked about the Secretary of State position. And if she gets the job, we get Bill back by association.
More than half of those named to Obama's transition or staff posts so far have ties to the Clinton administration
Here’s my question to you: What message is Barack Obama sending by surrounding himself with so many former members of the Clinton Administration?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Public or Private School for Obama kids?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/19/art.obama.family.b.gi.jpg caption=" Should the Obama children attend public or private school?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The nation's president-elect will be confronting arguably the toughest set of problems this country has been faced with in a very long time. The economy is in crisis, the treasury is broke, Americans are losing their jobs and we're fighting two wars. It's heady stuff but at the end of the day, one of the biggest decisions Barack and Michelle Obama are going to have to make is where to send those two delightful little girls to school.
It's a decision many parents wrestle with all the time: Public or private? Public schools tend to more closely resemble the real world, while private schools provide a more insulated and, in most cases, intellectually-challenging environment. But Sasha and Malia aren't just any two kids moving to Washington from Chicago and trying to find a new school. When they head off for their first day of class, the world will be watching and the Secret Service will go with them. Michelle Obama says she wants to be the nation's "first mom." Where to send these two kids to school will be one of the biggest decisions she has to make. And no matter what the Obamas decide, the nation will be watching and clucking like a bunch of hens no matter where they go to school.
Here’s my question to you: Should the Obama children attend public or private school?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Proper role for Sen. Clinton in Obama’s Admin.?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President-elect Barack Obama met with Senator Hillary Clinton last week, and since then, a lot has been made about the possibility of Obama's former rival becoming his secretary of state.
The big question this week is what sort of problems Bill Clinton could cause in the vetting process of his wife. Since he left office, President Clinton has started a new career which involves some "complicated international business dealings." He also has a global foundation with a long list of donors who may not all agree with incoming President Obama's policies.
But the Clintons have been here before. If Hillary gets the "all clear" and is offered the job, the next question is: Should she take it?
After losing the democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama, Clinton returned to her old job as the junior senator from New York. She's very popular with her constituents and could likely remain in the senate as long as she wants to, perhaps even becoming a senate leader. But if she takes the Secretary of State job, she will tie her career to the successes and failures of the Obama administration. If Obama stumbles, she likely would have an easier time making another run for the White House from the Senate.
Here’s my question to you: What is the proper role for Hillary Clinton in President Obama's administration?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
If Stevens wins, should the Senate expel him?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Election Day 2008 may be a distant memory for most of us, but in three states - Georgia, Alaska and Minnesota - Senate races remain undecided. Georgia has a runoff scheduled for December 2nd. Alaska and Minnesota are both near resolution.
The Alaska race is of particular interest because it involves a convicted felon, Senator Ted Stevens. Stevens, you may recall, was found guilty in October of seven counts of concealing more than $250,000 in personal gifts. He was the first sitting senator to go on trial in more than 20 years...And just the fifth in history to be convicted of a crime.
Watch: Cafferty: Senate expel Stevens?
But the arrogant Mr. Stevens ran for re-election anyway, sending the message that a convicted felon's place is in the United States Senate. And in the days following November 4th, Stevens held a slight lead over his opponent, the Democratic mayor of Anchorage. He appears now to have lost that lead and is slightly behind. About 24,000 absentee ballots are expected to be counted today, but a few more may come in tomorrow.
Until that's all sorted out, Stevens remains a member of the Senate. Republican Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina is among those who want Stevens out. But some of his buddies in the Senate want to see whether he actually wins another term before voting on whether or not to expel him. They don't want to be on the record voting to expel a criminal unless they are forced to.
Isn't that nice?
Here’s my question to you: If Ted Stevens of Alaska is re-elected in spite of seven felony convictions, should the Senate expel him?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
State Budget Crunch: cut services or raise taxes?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/18/art.garbage.ca.gi.jpg caption="Would you rather your state cut services or raise taxes?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Americans are feeling pretty cash-strapped these days and as a result, state budgets are feeling squeezed too. Many states are watching tax revenues simply melt away from sales taxes to corporate and capital gains taxes. People aren't shopping like they used to, or traveling, and the stock market's killing everybody - all of which is hurting local governments. And those states with high foreclosure rates? They're getting hit hard too.
According to the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, at least 37 states have faced or are facing budget gaps in the 2009 fiscal year totaling $66 billion.
Take California for example. Two months ago, the state faced a $15 billion deficit. Suddenly that number has shot up to $26 billion, and California may not be able to pay its bills this spring.
New York state isn't much better. It faces a $12.5 billion deficit in 2009. Cuts here are expected to include health care and education.
The governors of both states have called special legislative sessions to deal with this financial crisis. As the economy continues to deteriorate, states are facing increasingly difficult choices.
Here’s my question to you: Would you rather your state cut services or raise taxes to cover its budget shortfall?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How concerned are you about a terrorist attack?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President-Elect Barack Obama has been warned of a "huge threat" from al Qaeda by intelligence leaders in the U.S. and abroad. He told 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft last night that since terrorists could try to attack the U.S. during his White House transition, putting together his national security team is a top priority.
And it should be. The presidential transition period is prime time for terrorists. In 1993, just a little more than a month after President Bill Clinton took office, there was the first attack by al Qaeda on the World Trade Center. In 2001, during President George W. Bush's first year, we had 9/11.
The director of the CIA, Michael Hayden, said last week that al Qaeda is strengthening its hub in the Pakistani mountains and building ties with militant groups in Europe and Africa.
The president-elect told 60 Minutes that stamping out al Qaeda was also atop his to-do list and capturing or killing Osama bin Laden is a critical aspect of that plan.
Here’s my question to you: How concerned are you about another terrorist attack?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Congress freeze remaining bailout money?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Republican Senator Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma wants to put a "freeze" on the remaining cash in the big government bailout of the financial industry. In this week's lame duck session, Inhofe plans to push for legislation that will require Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan for the remaining $350 billion in the bailout package to be voted on in Congress.
Watch: Cafferty: Bailout freeze?
Despite promises from Congressional leaders that there would be both, there is absolutely no transparency or congressional oversight on where the first $290 billion has gone. Senator Inhofe suggests Paulson "may have given the money to his friends."
Inhofe, who voted against the bailout package when it was originally passed, said in a letter to fellow lawmakers this weekend, "It is Congress's duty to have a say in what happens with the remaining authorized amount of $350 billion. It is clear that it was a mistake to sign a blank check to one man for such a tremendous amount of money."
Here’s my question to you: Should Congress freeze the remaining bailout money?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Plunging gas prices changing driving habits?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/17/art.traffic.2.gi.jpg caption=" How have plunging gas prices changed your habits?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Oil prices continue to slide, closing below $55 a barrel today. That's a pretty far fall from the July record high of $147 a barrel. Iran is calling for OPEC to cut production by at least 1 million barrels a day to try to shore up prices. That's on top of the 1.5 million OPEC cut last month. But the head of the cartel says it's not going to happen...not this month anyway. They're still trying to figure out what impact the last cut had. OPEC, which produces about 40 percent of the crude oil in the world, had hoped the move in October would slow the fall in prices. It hasn't.
And that's made drivers here pretty happy.
Gasoline prices have fallen for the last 61 days in a row to a national average of about $2.09 a gallon. According to AAA, the last time the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline dropped below the current price was on March 31, 2005.
This is good news for cash-strapped Americans, but not-so-great news for the whole alternative-energy, let's-wean-ourselves-off-foreign-oil movement. But Americans will take what they can get, and for now filling up is like getting a tax cut.
Here’s my question to you: How have plunging gas prices changed your driving habits?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Recent Comments