Why Obama is Wearing a Frown These Days, and What Monica Might Wear to Her Wedding

Imus attributed guest Monica Crowley looking great this morning to her recent engagement. Or, as Imus romantically put it, “You’ve got this guy on the dotted line.”
 
Less stable these days is President Obama’s standing with the American people, which, according to recent polls by people like Scott Rasmussen, is on the decline. 
 
“I think his numbers are more reliable than most of the other pollsters,” Crowley, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, said. More reliable than Frank Luntz? “Frank Luntz does outstanding work.”
 
Asked why she avoided the question, Crowley explained that Rasmussen polls “likely voters,” while others, like Luntz, poll “all adults” or “registered voters,” which can be slightly less accurate.
 
“So, fugly Frank’s got some fuzzy numbers?” Imus concluded. Before his guest could respond, Imus asked her why Trump has been the only Republican to bring any excitement to the Party over the last few weeks.
 
“Even if he doesn’t run, he’s done some political blocking for the Republican candidates who will ultimately run,” Crowley said. “He’s out there, he’s fearless on a lot of the issues, he is picking a fight with the other side, which I think the American people are parched for.”
 
Though Obama’s job approval numbers have been slipping, his personal likeability numbers have remained relatively constant. Imus thinks the President seems like he’d be “fun to hang out with—if he likes you.” On the other hand…
 
“There certainly is a palpable arrogance about him, but it only emerges with people he’s not comfortable with,” Imus said. A recent example: Brad Waston, a television reporter from Dallas, annoyed Obama with his line of questioning. So, with cameras still rolling, Obama ripped off his microphone and instructed Watson to let him finish his answers.
 
“This is a guy who has a very thin skin,” Crowley said. “Remember, he’s never been in an executive position until the Presidency, so he’s not really used to getting bombarded with criticism or even tough questions. He’s been insulated by his team.”
 
The irritation Obama displayed in the interview is, in Crowley’s opinion, the result of not being able to implement his agenda as effectively as he had hoped. To Imus’s remark that it’s probably not very fun for Obama to be criticized all the time, Crowley snapped, “Then don’t run for the job.”
 
A job that, as she sees it, Obama isn’t terribly invested in anyway. “I think he likes the power, I think he likes the perks,” she said. “I think he likes what he’s been able to do to transform this country into a sort of European socialist model.”
 
Two particular Europeans have been garnering much attention lately, leading up to their big wedding next Friday. Crowley isn’t interested in watching Prince William and Kate Middleton get married, but confessed she’s looking forward to seeing Kate’s dress, which she believes will be “a lovely cream confection.”
 
 “As opposed to, say, black, which you’ll be wearing,” Imus joked, with love.
 
-Julie Kanfer