Don't Stigmatize In A Rush

Andrew Jackson Was The First President To Claim That The Desires Of The Public Overrode Congress's Constitutional Prerogatives. Virtually Every President Since Jackson Has Claimed The Mantle, Even While Lacking Two Ingredients Of An Electoral Mandate: A Landslide Victory And A Specific Agenda.

Obama Won The Presidency On The Strength Of His Message And The Skills Of The Messenger. Now The Talk Of Hope And Change Feels Out Of Tune When So Many Americans Are Out Of Work, Over-mortgaged, And Worried That Life Will Be Even Tougher For Their Children.

Obama Considers Himself Above Deal-making And Back-slapping, Political Necessities He Often Delegates To Vice President Joe Biden And Other Lesser Sorts.

Obama Might Do Well To Remember That His Fast Rise From The Illinois State Senate Was Due In Large Part To An Uncanny Ability To Make Friends And Find Mentors.

Once A Popular Alaska Governor With A Modest Record Of Accomplishment, Palin Could Conceivably Revive Her Reputation In This Era Of Short Memories. But It's Hard To Imagine Her Name Atop The Gop Ballot In 2016, When A Cast Of Heavyweights Who Sat Out 2012 Will Be Vying For The Nomination.