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Bob Cusack of ‘The Hill’ takes a look at the President’s style of governing over the last four years
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I'm Bob Cusack is managing editor of the hill joining us now from DC one of the why is this man in the financing on politics anyway.
Great to see Obama happy inauguration day.
Happy inauguration day big day very good big crowds here not as big as four years -- -- -- but still pretty big in DC yeah.
About half -- what what we -- for years ago bubble which still makes it a big guy inauguration day I cried as -- -- about half.
Yet that's that's the early estimates is that it's in the range of 50% maybe a little bit more than that.
But but certainly -- I second the transportation -- some.
It's the crowds were so big four years ago that they were nightmares all around -- priced at getting around and people not being able to go to the event.
We're not hearing that this time around -- you know it's a different kind of mood.
Is not is uplifting as four years ago but but people pretty fired up here.
-- had a decent guy.
But talking about now and then we have a president.
Who is a much changed man and lead -- all little changed.
You know I think he's changed somewhat in dealing with Washington.
You know he said he was gonna change -- this.
This city works and and and change -- post partisan president.
That did not happen you can you can -- -- that it this city is more partisan -- it ever has been.
Even under George W.
Bush which he came obviously afterward so I think he you know he gave me a big.
Picture address as far as that the details of of what he's gonna push yet he alluded to it.
Gun control transportation.
Certainly a gay rights was also mentioning that this is a big picture America.
That you would get an -- -- union on the on the details about immigration reform.
But this was one basically his message was -- What this country is getting better we must always strive.
To get better and that's what he's doing but this this speech anti dumping is getting rave reviews from the left you know aggressive you're saying it's this -- -- -- must progresses speeches.
I mention Medicare Medicaid not cutting them.
So you know this is say this is a big deal and it and certainly I think the right is gonna view this as as him moving the left in his second term right and then.
That's certainly so he -- -- -- I guess more in this speech rather than.
Didn't vote will get a lot of detail one imagined Zain what is it three weeks on every -- we get the state of the union.
Yes that's right that's when I think you'll get down in the nitty gritty.
You know Republicans say they are divided right now -- that fiscal cliff kind of debacle.
They're trying to regroup come up with a new strategy -- taking this present off this president riding a high.
Right now but he's got to move very quickly because we saw that in 2009 his approval ratings were seven he said he 5% than Republicans back than anyone criticize him.
And then you know -- -- a year later.
Republicans were the ones on top so you know politics can change very quickly.
Well how com do you think it is going to be.
-- President Obama.
To get through -- a -- -- -- All the legislation given that the balance of power I in congress remains as it walls.
Pit -- November's election and I -- to take on me about gun control immigration the -- was talking about to hear how tough is it going to make.
I think when you talk about big things went about comprehensive bills.
That's going to be very difficult I think gun control -- something could happen on gun control.
I think house Republicans want to move narrow legislation to keep guns.
Out of that at hand as severely mentally ill -- as well as criminals but as far as you know the assault weapon ban big stuff may be background checks could be part of that.
I don't think you gonna see big legislation move now that's the danger for Democrats is that they're gonna push for a comprehensive immigration reform policy.
That's going to be tough it's gonna be challenging I don't think it's a done -- a lot of people saying well Republicans want to Obama wants it it's gonna happen at some point.
I'm not so sure because Republicans are talking about.
And more narrow bills on immigration Obama saying.
Pathway to citizenship so that's always a tough debate and you know it hasn't been done now George W.
Bush tried to do it.
We came very close but failed so I I don't see the optimism that this is there's going to be a lot tried this time -- but I'm not so sure that would SE extremely busy -- Interest that they bring -- -- back into the conversation ball -- -- This is one of those days.
As we look at the crabs that.
A very big crowds again -- -- in normal standards known as -- as Bob was saying not as big as.
Come 2009 but would this is a day when we all sort of how the hope on the optimism and we celebrate the peaceful transition that we -- so used to.
Here in the United States and is such.
A wonderful part of our democracy.
But really tomorrow very even this afternoon we all back we -- do the American people should all expect there will be back to exact same fights and bickering that we heard the forces with.
Yet you know and that that's what I think is interesting about this speech as Bob mentioned you know it was a progressive speech and and I can see people.
On the left being very excited about what President Obama had to say and with good reason it supports things that they've long been fighting for.
By the same token I wonder how historians read this speech when they look back on it.
You know as you mentioned this is a -- -- day of celebration it's -- time to book partisan politics aside and to look at the future and to look at uniting the country.
And to a certain extent listening to that speech.
I didn't feel like Barack Obama was putting that in the forefront as much as he was his agenda and the agenda of the last now you know -- is riding high and he has every right to do that but I wonder for his legacy what kind of impact that has and I.
I don't not Bob feels that way but I also think it raises questions about how much he's able to -- -- In the next few months which I think are going to be basically -- only window of opportunity to achieve much before 2014 and and certainly his lame duck status -- sent the ball -- A ball that's that's a good point does -- have just a few months really -- To make any real achievements before everybody stops focusing on the mid terms.
Yeah I think he's got six months a minute when we get into this summer break when congress goes away in August.
After that you know you -- here that that term of of lame duck and remember senate Republicans think they can win back the senate and Tony 1004 at 2014.
The map looks good for them so that's what's on their minds of course what's on Obama's mind is winning back the house for Democrat so he could have.
Once again control of the house and senate for his last two years to push -- very best agenda but no doubt about it.
-- you know the next six months -- are so important to present a mountain.
And that is up -- speaks that we're looking in the the corner of the screen segment of state Hillary Clinton -- -- at stake.
Just to her left.
That is almost certainly the future second of state senator -- -- and the head of -- -- President Bill Clinton some of our viewers weighing in here.
Mister hostetler says President Obama moved the mall to the left Raymond says he looked a lot more relaxed this time -- -- -- the Chief Justice failed on Iraq.
-- Kayla Williams says he does have the upper hand people need to get over that difference -- Obama is still president at the end of the day up -- as we just look at the current and almost certainly the next.
Secretary of state that.
And we were talking about the nomination has been earlier in the show how do you see those looking at John Kerry looks to have a pretty easy pop but -- on some of the others.
Yeah Brent is going to be.
He's gonna get some tough questions I think the toughest one is and the most dramatic is gonna be -- Eagles hearings I mean he's going to be pressed.
On the left and the right he got in trouble with gay rights group -- he's obviously in trouble with with friends of Israel and his stance on Iran.
Do I think all of these nominations are gonna get through yes -- at least it -- some Republicans who vote no on on paid off but I don't think they're gonna filibuster him.
And -- -- you know you look back at that.
Controversial nominees in the past.
Timothy Geithner had some tax problems nine -- still got -- some -- votes so do I think it's going to be entertaining hearings four with -- and hagel and I think these guys are gonna have to give.
Com answers not be angry.
Because that's nothing Republicans -- said the temperament of hagel is gonna be on the table so they're gonna try to touch -- buttons but ultimately I think these guys -- -- Clinton yet and you didn't you do that all of them get confirmed idea thinking yeah I do agree with that I think it's going to be a little tougher haggling Brennan but I think ultimately they will all get concerned and again they are all guys say just wanna keep saying that T town -- -- this.
What is the he had that.
Did she brought this up in passionate tell mr.
-- that frighten me somewhat.
Thought they did -- and the alleged gender gap and and president Obama's.
Cabinet what -- the -- he was making was yes a fairly good record cold in terms of women around him but not to the most senior -- set there's already all -- -- secular state Hillary Clinton right now.
Now.
With the isn't -- fact criticism.
I think it is I mean that this is something that meant that he can we need clearly won the women's vote in 2012.
Is also something that I think his campaign.
Hill -- very well remember in 20020092010.
There are complaints within the white house of an old boy network that the women were not giving a lot of say in the White House Obama actually had to have a meeting about this to address it.
That kind of storyline went away and we did talk about a lot in the campaign but now it's back and I think there's a lot of pressure.
On him to appoint a woman be Jennifer grand home to be secretary of labor -- or energy post EPA possibly so.
I think there is pressure but clearly -- that the president is irritated by this talk.
But do it it's fair criticism that he has a lot of white men around -- absolutely.
All right Bob Cusack managing editor of the hill and a man who is going to be very busy the next four years hopefully you'll keep busy like coming back to us as well -- always glad to see it.
Thanks so much help -- -- all right.
