Polls are suggesting a degree of weakness in some areas for Obama, and common sense alerts us to ongoing problem areas. To be expected? Sure; all administrations so suffer. But by my diagnosis Obama's weakness is not where expected just now.
In all reasonableness I think Obama's handling of the Federal health insurance problem and it's very turbulent current status is not so bad -- not as bad as so many commentators and some of the polls might suggest. He inherited a mess....he turned it over to Congress, and they made a bigger mess; well he has three and one-half years to work it through, yes? It does not really have to be resolved this year, though that is desirable.
My point is that Obama has by no means yet failed in the matter of health insurance. He probably tried to do it too quickly and without the clarity needed, and maybe with too much trust of Congress's good will. Congress has little good will, Sen. Baucus none at all. But do not fret -- and let's just wait and see if matters don't improve after August and after the Obama team gets a better hold on the plans. I expect that to happen.
NOW, here is where Obama & Co. have badly screwed up and continue to do so: money and banking, the Federal Reserve, regulation and control of Wall Street and general insurance. Those are areas that are so key to ongoing success I would put them ahead of health insurance in order of priority.
Several big NY/Wall Street banks are right back where they were pre2008 -- the most select and privileged members of the business community, the kings of Capitalism who can do damn near anything they want to and are. Mr Geithner frets and fusses and fumes and takes no meaningful measures.
Obama & Co. act like they are AFRAID of the banking community. Why? What's the worst that could happen? Maybe call in the loan on Geithner's unsalable house? Gee whiz, do we have boys sent to do men's work in the financial area? I gotta wonder.
I can kind of guess where health matters will end -- there will be Federal health insurance. But I am afraid to guess where regulation of banks and money traders will end -- I just hope they don't end up driving the ship as they did under Bush. I want to see some blood in Wall Street, Fed Reserve and Treas.
Obama's got a hot, hot, hot problem in the FedReserv/financial area, maybe much worse than he knows, and it's about to bite him (and us) in the ass!
Anyone agree?