Obama's 'Spell is Broken'

Talk of systemic problems is whining because Obama failed: Krauthammer

(NEWSER) - There’s been a lot of crowing from liberals that the US is “ungovernable” because President Obama has not been able to enact key parts of his domestic agenda. Charles Krauthammer has heard the “usual litany of systemic explanations" before—this moment in history smacks of the Carter administration—cries of “special interests are too powerful” and “the Senate filibuster stymies social progress.” Chill out—the system is fine. It just has a bad leader. More»

President slides by on half-truths on health care: Krauthammer

(NEWSER) - Joe Wilson wasn’t quite right. President Obama doesn’t lie, exactly, writes Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post, but he still has an odd “relationship to the truth.” For example, Obama promised to veto any bill that grew the deficit, then with his very next sentence promised to require more cuts “if the savings we promised don’t materialize.” But Congress can’t be forced to do anything. "Every year since 2003, Congress has waived the cuts." More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s failure to get health-care reform on a faster track, despite early legislative victories, is a personal one, Sam Youngman writes in the Hill. “While it is shocking to consider that Obama is anything less than one of the best communicators in modern political history,” Youngman writes, “when it comes to health care, he simply has not been able to make the sell to people who do have health insurance.” More»

Long arguments will require 'enormous endurance'

(NEWSER) - It's a big day in Washington as the Supreme Court prepares for the opening arguments over President Obama's health care law . Teams of lawyers on both sides have been deep in preparation, staging mock arguments that have nearly drained the city of attorneys up for playing the role of justices, the New York Times reports. The case will be an "enormous endurance challenge" for the two lawyers at the heart of the case, says a former acting solicitor general. More»

New preventive health rules require insurers to cover cost

(NEWSER) - Women can say goodbye to co-pays on birth control: Health insurance companies will soon have to cover the cost themselves, the Obama administration says. It’s part of expanded preventive care for women , including coverage of breast pumps, “well woman” physicals, and STD counseling, the AP reports. Insurance firms will likely raise premiums a small amount to handle the cost. Religious institutions may opt out of birth control coverage under the new rules, many of which won't take effect until Jan. 1, 2013. More»