While it appears that the H1N1 flu is on the wane, it pays to remember that during the previous pandemics over the last 100 or so years, each was marked by a mild Spring outbreak, followed by a more virulent and deadly outbreak in the Fall.

Dana Milbank points out that President Obama is riding a wave of good news and optimism.

Pitfalls remain, however. As mentioned above, the flu could make a deadly comeback, and Obama's weakness could lead to disasters in places like Lebanon.

We could also see a meltdown in Pakistan, despite (or, perhaps because of) the Pakistani Army's offensive against the Pakistani Taliban.

Then there are the banks. Bank of America needs $33.9 billion in capital, according to the U.S. government, to be considered healthy, while other banks are going to need to prove to Federal regulators that they have the wherewithal to make loans without taxpayer assistance if they are to get out from under their TARP restrictions. Meanwhile, Progressives like Harold Meyerson are calling on the President to do for the banks what he is doing for Chrysler. Meyerson credits the different approaches to the fact that the Treasury men who are leading the charge all have Wall Street ties, which is a valid point. More important, though, for understanding the difference is the fact that Chrysler has tens of thousands of union employees, while the banks do not. Meyerson and other Progressives still do not understand that their hero is a Chicago politician, despite the fact that he looks and talks like an Ivy League intellectual. As a Chicago politician, Barack Obama understands that he needs votes, which the union men and women whose jobs he is trying to save will give him if he is successful, while the bankers will provide him money if he plays ball with them. So, unions and old-line bankers ..."good", hedge fund "speculators"..."bad". Just keep that in mind, and you'll understand what is going on.

Here in New Hampshire, Charlie Arlinghaus says we should pity poor State Senator Lou D'Allesandro, as his politically timid colleagues dump the state budget in his lap. I've known Lou for years and know him to be a good man. But, he's not a magician. Good luck, Lou.