Looking back on 2013, many of the economic and political themes seemed familiar: a weak economy. Growing income inequality. Gridlock in Washington. Partisan wrangling over fiscal policy. But others, like the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act HealthCare.gov website and the government shutdown, were new or at least revivals. […] Read more »
Obama, Clinton Continue Reign as Most Admired
For the sixth consecutive year, Barack Obama ranks as the Most Admired Man among Americans, and Hillary Clinton is again the Most Admired Woman. Both won by comfortable margins. Sixteen percent named Obama, compared with 4% each for former President George W. Bush and Pope Francis; Clinton (15%) finished ahead […] Read more »
GOP has edge in early midterm indicator
Democrats have lost their advantage and Republicans now have a slight edge in the battle for control of Congress, according to a new national poll. A CNN/ORC International survey released Thursday also indicates that President Barack Obama may be dragging down Democratic congressional candidates, and that the 2014 midterm elections […] Read more »
Health Law Seen as Obama’s Biggest Achievement, Failure
Americans see the 2010 Affordable Care Act as President Barack Obama’s greatest achievement to date as well as his biggest failure, underscoring the controversial nature of the law that is likely to define his legacy. On balance, more Americans name the healthcare law as his biggest failure (36%) than as […] Read more »
2014: Another election about Obamacare
Here we go again. 2014 will be the third election in a row in which Obamacare is the central issue. The Affordable Care Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law in March 2010, contributed to a fierce voter backlash against Democrats in November 2010. After the Supreme Court upheld […] Read more »
For official Washington, a truly horrible year
Who had the worst year in Washington? The answer is easy: official Washington. … Official Washington, with the media as active participants, has become obsessed with winners and losers — the question of how much one side gains from the other side’s losses — and with the maneuvering and calculations […] Read more »