I'd say we're improving. The economy is much better shape than it was nine months ago. We've gone from falling off a cliff to a small decline in the second quarter. Third quarter numbers will likely show another small decline or potentially a small increase. In either case, most experts project positive growth in the fourth quarter. The employment picture has not improved significantly, but that's to be expected as job growth is typically a lagging indicator.
In foreign policy, the amount of continuity is probably the most interesting factor. Some of that has to do with the fact that Bush's Iraq policy moved more toward the position preferred by Democrats (setting up a timetable for withdrawal), but a lot of it has to do with an unwilling by the Obama administration to challenge conventional wisdom. The only real shift we've seen has been rhetorical.
In foreign policy, the amount of continuity is probably the most interesting factor. Some of that has to do with the fact that Bush's Iraq policy moved more toward the position preferred by Democrats (setting up a timetable for withdrawal), but a lot of it has to do with an unwilling by the Obama administration to challenge conventional wisdom. The only real shift we've seen has been rhetorical.