I don't know about all the optimism, but the anecdotal evidence I know suggests that rate jacking continues at the card companies.
Another one today about Discover Card. Consumer choice? Pay the jacked rate or end your access to credit ...
Obama's notice of the problems is too little too late.
If anything, they should threaten to regulate FICO, numbers that have turned into a farce. There are stories floating around of people facing falling FICOs, who have actually had improving financial condition! Yikes.