"President Clinton left a $237 billion surplus; President Obama received a $1.3 trillion deficit"

[ProSense]

DAVID AXELROD, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER: Good morning, Terry.

MORAN: That was the week that was. The upset in Massachusetts has Republicans stoked, Democrats shocked and in near panic mode. And polls in general are showing that the public is rapidly losing confidence in the president's policies and his leadership. Just by way of illustration, Time and Newsweek this week, their covers, Newsweek, "The Inspiration Gap." It says, "How the trailblazer of 2008 became the stymied president of 2010." Time, "Now What? Obama Starts Over."

So is it that the president failed to connect with ordinary Americans? Or is this all a sign that the country's rejecting his approach in his first year?

AXELROD: Well, first of all, let's understand that we are governing in the worst economy since the Great Depression. When the president walked in the door, he was handed the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, a financial crisis that held out the prospect of the collapse of the financial system and a fiscal crisis. President Clinton left a $237 billion surplus; President Obama received a $1.3 trillion deficit.

<...>

AXELROD: Terry, again, I think you're misreading the Massachusetts poll. I think people want action on health care. In fact, the bill that the House and the Senate passed, which are largely the same in the main, were patterned in many ways on the Massachusetts health care plan, which is a unique plan in that state. And 68 percent of the people who voted last week said they liked the Massachusetts plan. Senator Brown said he wouldn't change it.

So I think you're misreading the results out of Massachusetts. The president will not walk away from the American people, will not hand them over to the tender mercies of health insurance companies who -- who take advantage. He will not walk away from people with pre-existing conditions. He will not walk away from senior citizens in Medicare. He's just not going to do that.

And let me tell you, as a political matter, the foolish thing to do would be for anybody else who supported this to walk away from it, because what's happened is, this thing's been defined by insurance company -- insurance industry propaganda, the propaganda of the opponents, and an admittedly messy process leading up to it.

But the underlying elements of it are popular and important. And people will never know what's in that bill until we pass it, the president signs it, and they have a whole range of new protections they never had before.

more

[ShortnFiery]

1. We can't live OFF THAT forever POLITICALLY. What has Obama done for THE PEOPLE?!? eom

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. he's trying - could you turn the country round from a $3 trillion deficit?

[ShortnFiery]

16. "Trying" don't cut it. All this pensiveness and huddling with the GOP is serving the Status Quo.

:thumbsdown:

[Clio the Leo]

14. What are your thoughts on the deficit commission?

The Paygo rule?

[jwirr]

2. Unfortunately that is a truth that is ignored most of the time.

[impik]

4. The truth does not matter anymore

It's a waste of time to even try.

[chelsea0011]

3. The great myth is that republicants a fiscally responsible

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. the GOP and the MSM kept quiet when Bush was eating away our money

No one spoke of Bush's debt.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. You know that and I know that, but to Joe Sixpack, we own this now.

And if people keep seeing business as usual (with the banks!) they are going to blame Democrats for not doing anything about it.

[FrenchieCat]

6. But when it is emphasized, the media asks....."How long can this Prez blame Bush".....

Because in fact, the corporation media is not interested in allowing Joe Sixpack to remember this....ever. And that's the part, the fucked up media, that we as Dem have to recognize and do something about....as well, this Administration is going to have to figure out a way to deal with this media, and to date, it is a very difficult thing; nearly impossible.

[whatchamacallit]

7. True, but continuing Bush's class war at home (and empire wars abroad) *is* Obama's choice

and problem.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. that is changing

[whatchamacallit]

13. I hope so... (n/t)

[treestar]

8. If Brown would not change their plan

then he'd better vote for the federal one or at least not filibuster it!

[firedupdem]

9. Worst economy, two wars, and record unemployment....

a sad hand to be dealt. He's up to the job and I will give him time to work it out. Thanks

[Beacool]

15. NOW, the Chicago crew finds something to praise Clinton about?

I thought that he wasn't transcendental enough for their taste, unlike the great Reagan. Ahhhhhh, politics.......

:eyes:

[Cha]

17. This goes right over the heads of those

who complain the loudest.