Tom Shales:
Most of the facets of President Obama's personality that have made him intensely popular were on display last night during his second prime-time news conference, and so he emerged from it still every inch "President Wonderful," as it were, untouched and intact.
David Ignatius:
So what will the demonic hedge fund manager be thinking tonight, after hearing the president deliver his solid, persistent explanation of economic policy? He’ll be wondering whether he can make a buck, of course. And whether, if he makes that buck, the government will let him keep it.
Jonathan Capehart:
Ok, I'm a little disappointed. There was no laser pointer. There were no charts or graphs. Yes, yes, President Obama did a fine job at the second press conference of his 64-day-old presidency. But still, I wanted more.
Charles Franklin:
The Zogby internet polls have a considerable history that I won't repeat here. The point is not to condemn them but to put them in perspective. That done, I don't think much more comment is required.
WSJ:
The health-insurance industry said Tuesday that it would be willing to stop charging sick people more for their coverage if all Americans were required to buy insurance.
The proposal, included in a letter sent to Senate leaders by the industry's two main trade groups, is the latest move by health insurers to portray themselves as constructive participants, rather than obstacles, in the debate over how to overhaul the U.S. health-care system.
Anything to avoid a public-private option.
Joe Klein:
But most of the anger we see and hear comes from people who are paid to be angry, on cue, on cable television--as opposed to people with actual grievances. Suddenly, the White House press corps goes barking mad over the AIG Bonuses. It is said that the bonuses are an aspect of the bust that the "public" can understand; in truth, the bonuses are an aspect of the bust that reporters can understand. Suddenly, the Obama Administration has a "crisis."
"News" is what happened to your editor on the way to work.
Michael Hirsh:
This feels a little like one of those bold election-night calls. The returns are barely in. All sorts of things could still go wrong. But barring something completely unforeseen—a big "but," granted—I think it might be just about time to call the American economy for Tim Geithner.
Who knew?
Politico:
Seeking to rebound from his widely-panned rebuttal of Obama's address to Congress last month, Jindal took repeated aim at the new president. Conservatives have embraced Jindal as a 2012 GOP hopeful, but his stiff delivery in his TV address last month made many wonder whether he's ready for prime time.