Facing an economic crisis, a banking crisis, a housing crisis and an auto industry crisis, President Obama used the opportunity of his address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night to load his plate with even more. Mr. Obama said he would press ahead with plans to overhaul the nation's health-care system, bolster education and lead the transition to new forms of energy -- all while curing cancer and getting the deficit under control.

We understand the president's instinct not to let short-term demands obscure the need to meet the country's long-term challenges. His priorities for fundamental reform, the causes that animated his campaign, are admirable ones. Yet we cannot help wondering: Isn't the most critical task to ensure a swift and effective response to the stomach-churning downturn? Does a new, understaffed administration have the capacity to try so much so fast? And does the political system have the bandwidth to accommodate all that Mr. Obama is asking from it?

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Filed under: * Economics, Politics • Politics in General • Office of the President • President Barack Obama

1. Harvey wrote: I am not looking forward to a future time when my children, grandchildren, and two great-grandaughters may wind up being saddled with a multi-trillion dollar tax bill. February 25, 2:43 pm | [comment link]

2. vu82 wrote: Easy answers: Yes No No February 26, 1:24 am | [comment link]

3. libraryjim wrote: The President’s priorities? Recreate socialism in America, piece by piece and replace the ‘flawed Constitution’ with legislation that allows this without riots. February 26, 4:49 pm | [comment link]

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