We're Sorry, Carl Jeffers

Carl Jeffers, a political analyst and Huffington Post contributor woke up early on the West Coast to talk to Imus today. Yet, it was Imus who dozed off during their discussion.

Before the insulting behavior began, Jeffers explained why President Obama should pay heed to Tuesday's election results, in which Republicans won governorships in New Jersey and Virginia.

"A week before the election there was a new poll showing that for the first time since Barack Obama took office, a slight majority of the American people now felt the country was again on the wrong track, going in the wrong direction," said Jeffers. That's bad news, he added, "for whoever is in office, and whoever the incumbents are."

Even more significant were the exit polls around the country. "The exit polls were consistent," said Jeffers. "The number one issue was the economy."

Jeffers believes the economic collapse last September won Obama the presidency, and it's where his energy should now be focused. "The President can take all the time he wants deciding whether he's going to send troops to Afghanistan," said Jeffers. "But the reality is if we can't get these unemployment numbers down, he might have to send some troops to Detroit."

Obama's goal, he went on, should be to get more of the stimulus package money onto Main Street, jack up the job level, and get people into a better groove psychologically.

At which point, Charles interrupted. "Mr. Jeffers, Imus is now lying down on the floor taking a nap," he said. "I'm sorry, sir."

Imus apologized and tried to concentrate, but discerning Obama's health care plan is no easy task.

"A lot of Americans don't understand what the President's health care plan is," Jeffers said. "He's got to be more proactive in making it clear."

A Senate vote on the bill is unlikely before the end of the year, in which case Jeffers predicts that moderate Democrats will bolt because of the off-year elections in 2010.

"That is a harbinger of bad signs, politically," he added.

If Obama really wants the government option in the health care bill, he should say so, and until he does, Jeffers said nobody on the ground is going to mobilize.

"He might be able to get what he wants if he tells the people what he wants!" said Imus, feeling the power.

Oh good, he's awake.

-Julie Kanfer