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Is Obama Winning the Battles but Losing the War?
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Is Obama Winning the Battles but Losing the War?

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President Obama has made good on more campaign promises than political veterans ever thought possible, but his public opinion ratings continue to fall. We ask why and what it could mean in November and beyond.  Also, the Senate Judiciary Committee approves Supreme Court Justice nominee Elena Kagan, and Britain’s new prime minister visits the Obama White House against the background of the Gulf Oil Spill.

Banner image: President Barack Obama points out landmarks as he shows Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom the view from the Truman Balcony of the White House, July 20, 2010. Official White House Photo: Chuck Kennedy

Making News

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Elena Kagan ()

The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved Elena Kagan as the next justice of the US Supreme Court. The vote was 13 to 6 with Lindsay Graham of South Carolina the only Republican to vote "yes." Now it's up to the full Senate. Adam Liptak reports on the court for the New York Times.

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Main Topic

Is Obama Winning the Battles but Losing the War? ()

Barack Obama has scored more substantive legislative victories than any Democratic President since Lyndon Johnson back in the 1960's, including healthcare and finance reform. But some Washington pundits say he is "still widely perceived as flirting with a failed presidency." How can this be? Why have Independents and even prominent Liberals turned against a politician who's delivered on so many promises? Is he better at politics than he is at communication after all? Is it "the economy, stupid," or is the political class drawing too many conclusions too soon?

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Reporter's Notebook

BP Overshadows Prime Minister Cameron's US Visit ()

President Obama and Britain's new Prime Minister David Cameron met last month at the G-20 summit in Canada. Today, Cameron made his first visit to the Obama White House. Can their personal rapport survive BP's role in the Gulf oil spill? David Rothkopf, a former senior official in the Clinton Administration, is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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  • David Rothkopf: Visiting Scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

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