Obama and the Economy: Success, Just Not the Right Kind

On a sun-soaked peak in Acadia National Park Friday, President Obama welcomed the weekend like a man who knows he's had a good week. Financial reform behind him, he flew to Bar Harbor,Maine, content to focus on his family rather than politics.

Despite his financial reform bill passing, the president's popularity sinks.

With no public events scheduled until Sunday, the Obamas went cycling and looked out on the Atlantic Coast from Acadia's tallest peak, Cadillac Mountain, all smiles. This is President Obama's third vacation since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began, but this vacation is different -- better because, for the first time since April, no oil is spilling into the Gulf.

But for all of his recent successes – health care reform, financial reform, what may be the end of the disaster in the Gulf – President Obama has taken the brunt of much criticism lately. And some of it has come from his own party.

Politicians are often criticized for not following through on the promises that they make. They hit the campaign trail with words about more jobs, less war, cleaner energy and insurance for all. Then, if they fail to accomplish these lofty goals, the voters take their support elsewhere.