David Greene has been revisiting some of the stories he reported on during a trip he took across America back in 2009. The reporting trip was to mark President Obama's first 100 days in office. In his second report in the series "100 Days Revisited," Greene talks to Dorothy Jerse and Carolyn Toops, two of the ladies he spoke to in 2009.
DAVID GREENE, host: The president is trying to recapture the enthusiasm that swept him into office. And during his first 100 days back in 2009, I was traveling across the U.S., asking Americans how the tough economy was affecting their lives. This summer, we've been checking back with the people I met during that trip.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Let's remember March 24th of 2009. President Obama described the failing economy this way.</s>President BARACK OBAMA: It took many years and many failures to lead us here, and it will take many months and many different solutions to lead us out. There are no quick fixes, and there are no silver bullets.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: The morning after the president said that, I drove to Boo's Crossroads Cafe in Terra Haute, Indiana, where a group of women in their 70s and 80s were holding their weekly breakfast club meeting. One of them was Carolyn Toops.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: You came to sit next to sit to me. You must want to tell me something.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Yeah. I wanted to just make a brief statement. I don't want to engage in a dialogue. Okay.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: I won't say anything.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: All right, then. Are you going to ask me who I am?</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Well, you told me I can't be in a dialogue with you. I'm just kidding.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Yes. Introduce yourself, if you can.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: I'm Carolyn Toops, it's T-O-O-P-S. I have been a resident of Terre Haute for a good many years now. I'm originally from Louisiana. No, I did not watch the speech last night. However, I would just like to say that I think it's unfair to expect the new president to handle this, and he has been in office less than three months. I wish him well. Thank you.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Well, when I called up Carolyn Toops the other day, she hadn't changed her tune much.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: You said back in 2009 that it was unfair to expect President Obama to get the economy going after just a few months. Now that it's been two years, do you think it's fair to criticize him now?</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: No. That's part of what goes on with the job, I think.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: And how do you think he's been doing when he goes on TV and talks about the economy?</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: I think the honeymoon is over. It didn't last too terribly long. And with the present situation, I think none of us could anticipate what is happening now.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Are you worried about him politically if the economy stays in rough shape?</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: I think it's going to be difficult for him to be elected for another term.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: How do you feel about him? You know, are you going to vote for him?</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Probably I would vote for Obama for a second term. But, of course, it depends on who is in the opposition.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Another one of the breakfast club regulars I spoke on that 2009 visit is Dorothy Jerse. Unlike Toops, she had watched President Obama's speech the night before and she was pretty worried that the sour economy would hurt him.</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: It's going to depend how bad this gets. You know, if more and more and more and more people lose their jobs, people are going to get impatient, because you always blame the president.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Jerse was with Toops when I called back the other day.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: So, are people getting impatient?</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: Yes, people are impatient but I think we put more blame on Congress than on the president for the current problems of both unemployment and national debt.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: And why do you blame Congress more than the president?</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: Because I think they are not agreeing on anything. And you have to figure things out when you're in that position. And I won't go through each of the things they've done - we'll be here all day - but I really think Congress has not come through like we'd hoped they would.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: So, you're still behind President Obama 100 percent?</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: Yeah, I'm behind him as he's a wonderful human being. I think he's doing all he's can, but what can he do just by himself without the rest of the government with him?</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Are the ladies still talking politics on Wednesday mornings?</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: Occasionally.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: What were you talking last time politics came up?</s>Ms. DOROTHY JERSE: Oh, probably unemployment 'cause we all have children and grandchildren and it's tough and we see it around us all the time.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: That's when Carolyn Toops asked to get back on the phone.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Hello.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Hi, Ms. Toops.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Back again.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Back again.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: OK. Now, you did not ask me about my previous life.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Do you want me to?</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Yeah.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Tell me about it.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: OK. I am from Louisiana originally, so I still...</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Eventually, Toops got around to telling me about her two grandchildren. She was especially concerned about one who's had trouble finding work.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: She is still looking for something. You know, she's had summer internships and things like that but, I mean, there are jobs which might not be ideal but who knows when you get your ideal job?</s>DAVID GREENE, host: Well, Ms. Toops, it has been an absolutely pleasure catching up with you again and I look forward to seeing you in person sometime soon.</s>Ms. CAROLYN TOOPS: Well, good.</s>DAVID GREENE, host: That was Carolyn Toops and also Dorothy Jerse, old friends who have been meeting for breakfast for 25 years at Boo's Crossroads Cafe in Terre Haute, Indiana.