On Monday’s “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol and Democratic strategist James Carville debated President Barack Obama’s low opinion numbers and if there are any hopes Obama can rebound and do something with his presidency.
Kristol downplayed the historical significance of the sinking numbers and suggested this had more to do with Obama’s failed policies.
“Can I say that you guys are over thinking this?” Kristol said. “Deep, historical, systemic things — Obamacare is a total disaster. If Obamacare were working well and if we were respected around the world and people had the sense that Iranians were in retreat and our allies had confidence in us, don’t you think Obama’s points would be 10 points higher? I don’t think this is due to history. This is due to the fact that his actual policies are failing: Americans are losing health insurance and Iranians are keeping their nuclear program.”
Carville fired back by saying there are a lot of things looking good for Obama and room for improvement, which in his opinion is cause not to give up on the president.
“Can I make a point here?” Carville replied. “The deficit is dropping as a percentage of GDP faster thany anytime since World War II. He saved the auto industry. Health-care costs are flattening any time better in the last 20 years. Teenage pregnancy is at an all-time low. And the health care thing — who’s to say. I do not know. But on Nov. 30 suppose it’s working well. Then that story will fade somewhat in the background. I think we can stop putting the nails in the coffin here. We can admit that there’s some real, deep, fundamental problems with this president. But I think we’re throwing the dirt here too soon, guys, I really do.”
Kristol agreed a lot hinged on the success of Obama’s policies, but that success could be a tall order.
“I agree with James in the sense it all depends on policies. If Obamacare works, if it turns out, hey, they love that new health insurance they’re paying more for and the system works wonderfully, the central planning for 320 million people really works much better than one might think it might, that’ll be — then he’ll be in better shape. Indeed — and, indeed, if Iran starts dismantling its nuclear weapons and we’re stronger around the world and people stop dying in Syria and so forth, then Obama’s numbers will go up. I agree. It’s about substance.”
Carville added that Obama has kept the country out of wars, but said the self-imposed Nov. 30 deadline to see that the Obamacare website functions properly will play in huge for Obama’s public opinion numbers.
“First of all, he’s kept us out of war, all right?” Carville said. “We didn’t haul off and start any stupid wars, which is a big plus in this environment. Again, I don’t know. I know the health care’s working in Massachusetts, it’s popular. Maybe they can duplicate it here. He has a lot riding on this. And I don’t think the roll out has been a disaster. It’s been a joke. I’m hoping, but I have no idea how this thing is going to work on Nov. 30. But they got a lot riding on it.”