If abracadabra didn't work, try shazam. President Obama keeps talking and talking in favor of his version of health care reform seeming to believe that if he just stumbles onto the right word or gesture he will magically convince the American people (and enough Democrats in Congress) that the legislation they have opposed for a year is suddenly a good thing.

Read more »

Along with remaking America, President Obama is also evidently redefining civility - at least the kind he himself is practicing. Just days ago while speaking at a town hall meeting in Florida, the president called for more civil discourse in politics saying, "Nothing that human beings do will be perfect, but we shouldn't sort of assume that the other side is either heartless or doesn't care about sick people or is some socialist/communist who's trying to take over the health care system. We start getting into these caricatures. They're so damaging." (source)

Read more »

The Associated Press is reporting that the message President Obama wants to convey in his upcoming State of the Union Address is "Yes, I get it." This in response to the repeated message sent by voters in recent New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts elections not to mention the dismal poll numbers for Mr. Obama's proposed policies and his plummeting job approval rating. But actions speak louder than words and while his speech writers diligently work on a way to make it sound like the president is listening to the American people, David Plouffe will be taking on an expanded role as an outside adviser to the White House, according to sources familiar with the plan. (source)

Read more »

Remember that news story about the cat who could tell which nursing home patient was going to die soon? The animal would jump onto the patient's bed and stay there, alerting employees who would then call the family so they could come say one last good-bye. It's just been announced that President Obama will be going to Las Vegas next month to appear with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) at a campaign event. (source) This has me thinking about that cat and, in light of the recent Deeds, Corzine and Coakley losses, wondering if a joint campaign appearance with the president signals the imminent political death of a candidate.

Read more »

If anyone still hoped the Kennedy mystique might help Democratic Candidate Martha Coakley win Ted Kennedy's Senate seat , that hope was washed away when the late Senator's son, Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), kept calling her Marcia instead of Martha while telling reporters what a great Senator she'd be.

Read more »