Stung by Polls, Obama Plans Health Care Offensive

But Axelrod says Obama will veto any health care threat

(NEWSER) - Any Republican attempt to repeal health care reform legislation won't make it past President Obama's veto pen, top adviser David Axelrod tells the Huffington Post. The president is willing to give ground in other areas and is prepared to accept an across-the-board continuation of Bush-era tax cuts even for the wealthiest taxpayers, according to Axelrod. "We have to deal with the world as we find it—the world of what it takes to get this done," he said. More»

President 'outsourced' leadership to Congress

(NEWSER) - Never a fan of change you can believe in, Karl Rove lit into Barack Obama today, calling the president's lead on health reform "outsourced to Congress," making him appear "aloof and disengaged." And not to put too fine a point on it, but asking the House "to vote on a placeholder" bill "is a pretty remarkable way to go and pass some big piece of legislation, without bipartisan support." But, Politico reports, as for Palin 2012? "This is her year to get ready for the hot spotlight." Elsewhere on the Sunday dial: More»

His gimmicky idea to cut spending doesn't bode well for the nation

(NEWSER) - President Obama's gimmicky idea to keep the budget in check by freezing non-defense spending shows he's fallen into the "deficit peacock" camp, writes Paul Krugman. The camp abounds with politicians who support superficial—but politically popular—methods to present the illusion of fiscal discipline. It won't work, and "the fact that anyone thought such a dumb policy idea was politically smart is bad news because it’s an indication of the extent to which we’re failing to come to grips with our economic and fiscal problems." More»

Terrorism trumped health care over vacation, and there's more

(NEWSER) - President Obama is back at the White House after an 11-day vacation in Hawaii, and he has his work cut out for him. USA Today runs down the most pressing issues awaiting the president in 2010.

• Terrorism: The attempted bombing of Flight 253 returned security to the top of the list. Some heads may roll after the near-catastrophe.

President calls liberal congressman to carp about criticism

(NEWSER) - John Conyers hasn't been shy about what he sees as the president's failings, and his remarks seem to have struck a nerve. “I’ve been saying I don’t agree with him on Afghanistan, I think he screwed up on health care reform, on Guantánamo," said the long-serving liberal congressman. “Obama called me and told me that he heard that I was demeaning him, and I had to explain to him that it wasn't anything personal, it was an honest difference on the issues." More»