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November 6, 2009

UPDATE: The jobless rate hit 10.2 percent for the month of October, the highest since 1983. Jackie Calmes of The New York Times will take us behind the numbers, with a look at the recently enacted extension of unemployment benefits and new tax credits for homebuyers.

President Barack Obama’s push to overhaul health care will take him to Capitol Hill tomorrow where he will have a “House call” with Democratic lawmakers. On Saturday the House is expected to vote on a sweeping $1.2 trillion dollar bill that would extend coverage to millions of uninsured and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage. AARP and American Medical Association (AMA) have endorsed the House bill, but strong opposition from Republicans and some conservative Democrats persists. Ceci Connolly of The Washington Post will explain where there may be room for compromise and how abortion, immigration, and a so-called “millionaire tax” are factoring into the debate.

This week Democrats lost two key gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia while picking up a historically Republican congressional seat in New York. Democrats insist the results were more about local issues; Republicans argue the Democratic defeats signal voters’ dissatisfaction with the Obama presidency. We go beyond the partisan “spin” to get analysis from James Barnes of National Journal on what the results really reveal about incumbents, independent voters, and Americans concerns about the economy and jobs as well as the impact on President Obama’s standing and political capital just one year after he was elected.

The flawed Afghan presidential election that began in August finally concluded this week with Hamid Karzai being declared the winner after his challenger withdrew from the run-off election. Now the question is how will the re-election of President Karzai and on-going concern about corruption within his government factor into the Obama administration’s decision about U.S. engagement in Afghanistan? Martha Raddatz of ABC News will report on how Karzai’s victory and the recent surge in violence may change the U.S. mission in the region.

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By the Panelists
"Health bills too timid on cutting costs, experts say"
Ceci Connolly, The Washington Post

"The O Team Stayed Home "
James Barnes, National Journal

"U.S. Readies Jobless Aid and Help on Homes"
Jackie Calmes, The New York Times

"Matthew Hoh, a Senior Civilian Official in Afghanistan, Resigns Over U.S. Strategy"
Martha Raddatz, ABC News

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