Damned by Faint Praise
Headed by a big picture of Obama flashing a big smile, two members of Politico's staff, put together an opinion piece entitled, "And What's Right with Obama." They end up citing only style factors to the absence of accomplishments. By doing so they have inadvertently ended up with a sly hit piece on Obama's presidency that is right on the money. Here are the factors cited.
His personality
"No one will ever mistake Obama for warm and fuzzy. But when he tries even a bit, he can't help being winning. His smile remains dazzling, even if he flashes it less often."
"... the fact that people basically like the guy."
His normality
" ... but it's hard to imagine that he would ever slide into LBJ-style meltdown or Nixonian paranoia."
His party
"Obama has the good fortune to govern at a time when long-term demographic and ideological trends are breaking in the direction of his party."
His luck
" ... he was "lucky" to have run for president against John McCain."
There you have it. His personality, his normalcy, his luck and his party. Nothing about his policies. Nothing about his legislative accomplishments; his foreign policy accomplishments; his domestic accomplishments; his economic accomplishments. Accomplishments? Forget it. He is one swell guy and lucky too. Missing are the touted would be accomplishments of his presidency: unify the country, gain respect abroad and create an economy "built to last." "What's Right with Obama" says it all - unfortunately.