I think that the writer of this article makes some interesting points about Obama and why he hasn't quite grasped the reality of his defeat in this year's election. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/19/the-problem-with-the-cult-of-obama.html
The article is a good one but it omits some significant points: 1) Clinton was aways a lot more inclined to change couse after 1994 than President Obama ever would be. Why? Clinton was elected with a mere 43% of the vote in 1992 with a general consensus being that if Ross Perot had not been running, Clinton would've gotten beat by Bush. Obama on the other hand came into office with the highest percentage of the popular vote (52%) of any Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years. So naturally, President Obama would tend to think "Why should I change?" 2) All the talk about Clinton moving to the middle after 1994, endorsing Welfare Reform (he vetoed it twice anyway), taking Republcan ideas ignores one big thing that was central to Bill Clinton's presidential revival. The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. In the aftermath of the bombing, Clinton's approval rating soared more than 10 points and just a few months later, he used that new found popularity to club the Republican in the budget showdown. So absent another domestic terrorist attack, President Obama is probably in major trouble.
When everyone around you including the press treats you like the Second coming then of course your not going to think you have to change.
He probably doesn't know what to do. I don't think he's a great president by any stretch of the imagination, but he tried to work on bipartisan legislation, and his acts have been largely centrist. Unfortunately, no one seems interested in working with him, when they can profit by lying about his actions and refusing to work with him. The other day Boehner cancelled a meeting with him and the Democratic leadership over tax cuts... to have a press conference bashing the Democrats about tax cuts. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/18/921620/-Obama,-Dems-meet-on-tax-cuts-at-White-House http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/18/921666/-Heres-John-Boehners-scheduling-conflict I'm not sure if he's any good, but I know damn sure the Republicans are only better at telling people they are.
Bullshit, the man did nothing to foster bi-partisan support. Calling in the opposition party to a meeting and basically telling them to vote in favor of the values you hold is not working in a bi-partisan manner. This President does not know what the term compromise means. I do not think it is unreasonable to consider Obama to be one of the most divisive Presidents we have had in a long time.
