Geithner Won't Rule Out Middle Class Tax Hike

The economy should be Obama's top priority: Henninger

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama makes health care sound like the most pressing issue in American life, but with unemployment at 10% and the country still officially in recession, Daniel Henninger wonders why he's "draining a dwindling reservoir of presidential capital." The cost of health care may be a problem for many, but government's job of fixing wrecked markets is not nearly over—and voters agree, with 87% dissatisfied with the economy. For the Wall Street Journal columnist, "even more so now than way back in 1992: It's still the economy, stupid." More»

(NEWSER) - The public is rapidly losing faith in President Obama, new polls show. His overall approval rating is below 60%—a USA Today/Gallup poll gives him 55%, putting him 10th among the 12 post-World War II presidents after six months in office. A Public Trust Monitor/Politico survey finds 54% trust Obama, down from 66% in March. Only 42% trust the Democratic Party. More»

His team lacks common touch

(NEWSER) - The White House economic team is great on policy, but when it comes to reassuring the public, President Obama is on his own, Peter Nicholas and Peter Wallsten write in the LA Times. "The ability to communicate with average people was not what these people were chosen for," Clinton's ex-budget director said. And that means it's up to Obama to sell the administration's complex economic plans. More»

Why aren't you in the administration?

(NEWSER) - The latest video to shake up YouTube is a song plea that critical columnist Paul Krugman join the Obama administration and fix the economy. "Hey Paul Krugman, where the hell are you, man? Why aren't you in the administration?" sings songwriter Jonathan Mann. "When I listen to you things seem to make sense," but when that "little weasel" Tim Geithner opens his mouth, "all I hear is 'blah, blah, blah.'" More»

President has to stop bouncing around

(NEWSER) - There are two crises facing the new president, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal: the economy and the threat of terrorism. Either one would warrant near-obsessive focus, but President Obama can’t seem to zero in. “What strikes one is the weightlessness of the Obama administration, the jumping from issue to issue and venue to venue from day to day.” More»