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From The Cafferty File:

The increasingly bitter battle over health care reform is making some people question President Obama’s leadership.

Critics suggest that when it comes to governing on issues like health care, the president is missing the smooth confidence and “Yes we can” charisma that got him elected.

New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd writes of this debate that seems to be spinning out of control:

“President Obama has proven quicksilver instincts, but not in this case. You would think that a politician schooled in community organizing and the foul balls of a presidential campaign would be ready to squash this kind of nuttiness.” Dowd adds that Mr. Obama knows how to rise to the occasion, but he may be running out of time to do so.

On Salon.com, Camille Paglia criticizes the president for proposing only “vague and slippery promises” when it comes to health care. Paglia, who supports the president, faults him for handing over much of the debate to congressional leaders and also seeming to be in an unexplained rush to get something – anything – passed.
She compares it to the “massive boondoggle” of the economic stimulus package, which the president pretty much gave Congress free rein to turn into one big pork project.

And it’s not just health care. The list of issues this president faces is mind-boggling and probably unprecedented: from the economy and healthcare to immigration reform (which Mr. Obama now says won’t happen until next year) on the home front… to Afghanistan, Iran, and North Korea overseas.

Critics say on a lot of this stuff, the president is talking, not leading.

So here's the question: Is Barack Obama meeting your expectations as president?

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April 13, 2009 CNN

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From The Cafferty File March 23, 2009. I would like to know when Jack ever asked this about George Bush?

President Obama’s budget could bankrupt the U.S.; so says Republican Judd Gregg. The New Hampshire senator, who was almost a cabinet member, says if we maintain the proposals in the budget over a 10 year period, the country will go bankrupt.

“People will not buy our debt, our dollar will become devalued. It is a very severe situation,” said Gregg, who’s known as one of the top fiscal minds on Capitol Hill, calls the planned spending “almost unconscionable.”

A report by the Congressional Budget Office shows President Obama’s budget would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade. That’s more than four times the deficits of President Bush; and it’s $2.3 trillion worse than what the Obama administration had predicted.

And Gregg’s not the only one — Republican Senator Susan Collins, who was one of the few in her party to work with Democrats on the stimulus bill, says the planned deficit spending “poses a threat to the basic health of our economy.” And Democratic Senator Kent Conrad calls the projected deficits “a stunning amount of money,” and says the administration will need to make some adjustments.

But the head of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, Christina Romer, is not backing down from the budget proposals — saying the estimates by the Congressional Budget Office may not be accurate.

Here’s my question to you: Will President Obama’s budget bankrupt the country?

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December 17, 2008 CNN

From The Cafferty File:

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Baghdad went before a judge last night. A source at the Iraqi Central Criminal Court told CNN he will likely be charged with assaulting a foreign head of state.

According to wire reports, Iraqi law dictates that he could face seven years in prison. And whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not, it probably saved this man’s life. If he had thrown his shoes while Saddam was in power he likely would have been executed on the spot.

Instead he was arrested and promptly put in jail. Thousands of Iraqis are calling him a hero and are rallying for his release.

When asked by CNN’s Candy Crowley yesterday what should happen to the man, President Bush said authorities shouldn’t overact. He called the incident an interesting form of expression and added that it’s part of the free society emerging in Iraq.

The man will stand trial, perhaps as early as next week, and reportedly be represented by a lawyer who said he will file a request to have his client released on bail.

Here’s my question to you: What’s the appropriate punishment for the man who threw his shoes at President Bush?