Why are some Obama '08 'blue' states turning 'red' again?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Everything blue is red again... well, sort of.
Politico reports that the electoral map - which Pres. Obama remade back in 2008 - is returning to its old patterns.
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During the presidential campaign, there was lots of talk about how Barack Obama had changed the playing field and put several so-called red states into play.
By winning in places like Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia and the Mountain West, Obama didn't need to rely on states that had decided previous elections, like Florida and Ohio.
Fast forward a year and a half... Democrats are facing some tough races for Congress and governorships in November in these very same states. No doubt Republicans are loving it, with one congressman saying: "One election doesn't make realignment."
But Democrats insist these states that used to be red will be competitive now, although some worry that without Pres. Obama on the ballot, young voters and African-Americans are more likely to sit this one out.
Meanwhile a new poll suggests trouble for any incumbent - red or blue - come the midterm election. And that's exactly as it should be. Vote them all out and start over.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows only 34 percent of voters think most members of Congress should be re-elected; that's the lowest number ever in this poll. 63 percent say send the incumbents home.
As for Pres. Obama, a majority - 52 percent - say he does not deserve a second term in office. The American people are angry.
Here’s my question to you: Why are some of Pres. Obama's 2008 "blue" states turning "red" again?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should euthanasia be legal?
This photo, taken in Brussels, Belgium shows a so-called euthanasia kit, which is available to doctors in some countries, but not in the U.S. The kits must be ordered, picked up, and administered by the doctors themselves. (PHOTO CREDIT: ETIENNE ANSOTTE/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Some Canadian doctors want their government to decriminalize euthanasia.
They say that euthanasia is already widely practiced in Quebec's hospitals; and the government should stop ignoring it. They say doctors know when death is "imminent and inevitable" and suggest there should be guidelines for medical professionals to follow in such circumstances.
Those who support what they call dying with dignity say it could apply to patients with a terminal disease like cancer, or babies born with serious medical conditions or seniors whose bodies are simply shutting down on them.
Euthanasia is legal in some countries - including the Netherlands and Belgium - while Switzerland allows doctor-assisted suicide.
Here in the U.S., Washington state and Oregon have laws that allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill patients. They must be at least 18 years old and mentally competent. There is some support in Montana for a similar rule.
Euthanasia has long been a controversial issue - much like abortion - especially among religious groups. Critics worry that doctor-assisted suicide will pressure people with terminal illnesses - who may be poor or disabled - to end their lives early. Supporters insist it is a dignified way for people who are suffering to go in peace.
One of the most well-known supporters of euthanasia is Jack Kevorkian - who was dubbed Dr. Death. The Michigan doctor served eight years in prison after saying he had assisted in at least 130 suicides.
Here’s my question to you: Should euthanasia be legal?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 6pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
How confident are you D.C. will address our skyrocketing debt?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The facts have been staring us in the face for some time now: our skyrocketing national debt will eventually take us down if Washington refuses to act.
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The president of the federal reserve bank of Kansas City warns of a new financial crisis if the U.S. doesn't address its growing debt problems. He says mounting deficits might lead to inflation. If that happens the federal reserve would be forced to raise interest rates which would make paying the interest on our more than $12 trillion debt next to impossible.
The government needs to either cut spending or raise taxes - or both. Those are the only ways to address the expected deficit of $1.6 trillion this year alone. Last Friday behind closed doors President Obama signed a bill raising the national debt ceiling to more than $14 trillion.
Another ominous sign that U.S. debt is unsustainable: foreign demand for U.S. treasuries fell by a record amount in December - with China selling off more than $32 billion in treasuries. China is saturated with U.S. treasuries, which will force us to look elsewhere to finance our debt. Japan; Great Britain? Maybe for awhile... but how long before they say no?
Pres. Obama is planning to sign an executive order tomorrow that would set up a debt panel. This bipartisan commission is meant to come up with ways to reduce the deficit. It's a nice idea... but in reality it's meaningless.
The Senate already rejected a stronger version of this panel which would have had the power to force Congress to act. The president's commission won't have the power to force congress to do anything. In other words - another empty political gesture that means absolutely nothing.
Here’s my question to you: How confident are you Washington will address our skyrocketing debt?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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