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As the first sitting president to appear on The View, Obama addressed the “roses” and “thorns” of his presidency, saying his recent vacation with his family has been a rose in a taping of the interview to air Thursday. As for the thorns? The president joked, “Where do I begin?” On a more serious note, Obama said, “Look the country has gone through a tough stretch… the last 20 months have been a nonstop effort to restart the economy, to stabilize the financial system, to make sure we are creating jobs and not losing them.” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama visited The View to “talk to people where they are.” Given the president’s recent low approval ratings—especially among women—some said Obama’s visit could help bring some popularity back. But one prominent Democrat wasn't biting: Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said he thought the president should go on “serious shows.”