Would Pres. Obama win a 2nd term if election held today?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Tonight has the potential to be one of "those" moments for a president - a defining slice in time for Mr. Obama that could determine his relevancy from here on out.
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Nearly 60 days since the worst environmental catastrophe in U.S. history - Pres. Obama will address the American people from the Oval Office for the first time since he was elected.
And the pressure is definitely on. The Gulf Coast oil spill could carry a tremendous political price for Pres. Obama - perhaps putting re-election in 2012 out of his reach.
Lots of people - and we're not just talking Republicans here - are disappointed with the president's response to the oil spill. According to a U.S.A. Today/Gallup poll, seven out of 10 Americans say Mr. Obama has not been tough enough on oil giant BP and a majority rate his response as "poor" or "very poor." An Associated Press poll shows 52 percent disapprove of the way the president is handling the spill.
That means when it comes to tonight's speech - there better be some real meat on that bone and not just more fancy rhetoric delivered with the aid of a teleprompter.
And it's not just about the oil spill. Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post about Pres. Obama's shrinking popularity. The president's 2008 rival, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is now more popular than Pres. Obama by any measure - favorability ratings or job approval.
Of course, Clinton is on much safer ground than the president - as she tends to stick to relatively low-profile issues.
But it's still not a good sign for Pres. Obama when the polarizing former First Lady is beating him in the polls... one more reason why all eyes will be on the president tonight.
Here’s my question to you: If the election were held today, would President Obama win a second term?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
If GOP wins Congress in Nov., repeal health care reform?
(PHOTO CREDIT: THINKSTOCK)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Remember how health care reform was supposed to make health care affordable for all Americans? Well that's not what's happening.
A new report says employer health care costs will jump another nine percent in 2011 - and you can bet that companies will pass along those higher costs to their workers.
The Price Waterhouse Coopers survey of 700 employers shows they plan to offset costs by raising deductibles. By 2011 - more than 50 percent of employees will have a deductible of $400 or more... that's compared to only 25 percent who paid that much in 2008.
Also, 13 percent of companies say their primary plans in 2010 had deductibles of more than $1,100... that's more than double the level in 2008.
If these troubling trends continue, health care will become less affordable for those people who actually have insurance.
And, in the end, the health care law will be another gift to the insurance and pharmaceutical companies... and another burden on taxpayers.
Republicans are trying to seize on this.
More than 70 incumbent lawmakers and more than 330 GOP candidates have signed a pledge to support legislation that would repeal the health care law - and replace it with something less costly - if they win in November.
Meanwhile - Democrats are hoping that as more parts of the law take effect and the public feels the benefits, they'll get behind it.
But, for now, polls still show that majorities of Americans oppose health care reform... months after it was shoved down our throats.
Here’s my question to you: If the Republicans win control of Congress in November, should they repeal health care reform?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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