King: One year after Obama's victory

This is a week that, in more ways than one, will bring lessons of how much has changed since President Obama's historic election victory one year ago.

In Washington, key tests remain for Democratic health care plans in the House and Senate. This week will also give us a better sense of just how detailed Republicans are willing to be in offering an alternative plan.

From the government and Wall Street, fresh earnings and other data will test this cautiously optimistic assessment from Vice President Biden: "I'm confident we have hit bottom."

And Election Day 2009 will be compared with Election Day 2008. Democrats have had the upper hand in New Jersey and Virginia in recent years. In gubernatorial and other elections, Republicans see a chance to make a statement about their party and perhaps about the president's standing as well.
Video: NJ test of independence
Video: GOP working on health care bill
Video: Barbour gets 'The Last Word'
RELATED TOPICS

* Barack Obama
* Democratic Party
* Republican Party
* National Economy
* Afghanistan

"I think it's a great overstatement to say this a referendum on President Obama," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a former Republican National Committee chairman. "But his policies have had a lot of effect on people's thinking."

This week, watch for book releases from former Vice President Al Gore and Obama campaign guru David Plouffe, new orders from the Supreme Court and an "Odd Trio" education tour featuring Education Secretary Arne Duncan, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

And with challenger Abdullah Abdullah bowing out of the Afghan presidential runoff, look for increased calls for Obama to make his decision on U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan.

"The longer the decision hangs, the more jeopardy and the more danger our troops on the ground there are in the middle of," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, told us Sunday on "State of the Union."

"We've had the highest casualty troops in years over the last month or two. Why? Because of all the uncertainty around what the president is going to decide."

Strong words. But the White House says there is no connection between the troops debate and the recent increase in casualties, and it also insists the president will not be rushed into making his decision.

A closer look at the week's highlights:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's hybrid health care plan is awaiting scorings from the Congressional Budget Office, and those numbers will shape his effort to round up the 60 votes he needs to command the debate. Floor action could begin in the House, too. As Democrats proceed, Republicans are working to combine several GOP proposals into one comprehensive health care alternative.

Boehner said the GOP plan would not raise taxes or increase the deficit. He could not, however, say how much it would cost or what percentage of Americans would gain health coverage if it were enacted. He did say those numbers would be forthcoming.

• Economic data: Ford and Cooper Tire earnings reports will test the auto industry's condition. Earnings from Humana, Marathon Oil, Viacom, Time Warner, News Corp., Allstate, Sunoco and Starbucks offer a broad cross-section of economic activity. The government will mix in new reports on construction spending, productivity and consumer credit.

Deserving of a mention of its own is Friday's unemployment report -- with all eyes watching whether the national rate of 9.8 percent heads into double digits.

• Elections: The governors races are the main events, and while it would be wrong to read too much into the results, Obama's personal appeals in person and in TV ads erase any doubt of his investment.

There is as much if not more buzz in the final weekend over a special congressional election in New York: the endorsed Republican candidate not only bowed out but endorsed the Democrat -- this after she came under fierce attack from conservative groups.

Republicans labored Sunday to say it was an isolated family feud in a unique race, but Democrats saw it as proof of an intolerance for moderates on the GOP right.

"I'm a big believer in Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment: never talk ill about another Republican," Boehner said when asked about the conservative attacks on Dede Scozzafava.

'That was not followed in this race," we suggested.

"I know," Boehner answered.

Still, he and others suggested this would all pass. But on "Face the Nation," senior Obama adviser David Axelrod saw it differently: "It sends a clear message to moderates within that party that there is no room at the inn for them."

No more room here, though still much more we could discuss.

Enjoy the week.