The Change-o-Meter is now a widget. You can add it to your blog, Web site, or profile with just a few clicks. (Shortcut for Facebook here.)Each time we publish a new column, the widget will automatically update to reflect the latest score.
President Obama is currently one-for-three in his NCAA picks, meaning he’s even worse at choosing basketball teams than he is at picking Cabinet nominees. In real news, Obama continues a trip to California, where he is scheduled for two town halls, a factory visit, and a late-night-TV appearance. But a reversal of an odious plan to saddle insurers with veterans’ combat injuries and a shift in marijuana policy combine for 35 points on the Change-o-Meter.
During a town hall meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., last night, Obama continued to rally around the common anger over lush bonuses at bailed-out AIG. As Slate’s John Dickerson notes, however, playing off this anger may weaken Obama’s ability to sell future bailouts, and many economists and commentators believe further infusion of federal funds will be necessary. Polls show public opinion is against more government money for financial institutions by a margin of 16 points. The ‘Meter calls this a wash for now, with Obama managing the anger reasonably well at the possible expense of future political capital. (Meanwhile, the House rushed through legislation to levy huge taxes on the bonuses.)
While Obama is in California, the biggest news for the state today came out of Washington, where Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal agencies will no longer go after marijuana distributors who follow state guidelines for dispensing the drug for medicinal purposes, even though such a practice still violates federal law. California was the first of 13 states that now allow the drug for such purposes. The ‘Meter approves, for a variety of reasons, and awards 15 points for the reasonable application of federal anti-drug resources to more urgent matters.
Meanwhile, Obama dropped a proposal to make veterans’ health-insurance providers foot the bill for combat-related injuries and conditions, which would have saved the Department of Veterans Affairs an estimated $500 million a year. Veterans groups quickly condemned the plan, and yesterday Obama did, too. The ‘Meter sees two ways to read this: A flip-flopping president backs off his plan to screw veterans when the politics get hot, or a thoughtful president acknowledges the moral error in his plan and amends it. Today it’s going with the latter; all leaders produce half-baked ideas, like starting a war in Iraq, and the ‘Meter approves of those who know when to cut bait: 20 points.
There’s a lot to cover, so we want to hear your thoughts on what the Change-o-Meter should be taking into account. No detail is too small or wonky. E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.
