Obama's not serious about cutting spending, is he?

Certainly, the political gridlock of his first term was not all his fault. But he’s the president, and by every historical standard of negotiating leadership in partisan times — Abraham Lincoln, Lyndon B. Johnson, Bill Clinton — he falls short…

Republicans are going to risk the wrath of Rush Limbaugh, Sen. Jim DeMint, the tea party and potential primary opponents to raise taxes — albeit under duress.

Now Obama should be willing to risk offending AARP, the unions and liberals by moving entitlement programs — not to mention the country — toward solvency.

After all, he doesn’t have to run again — and having the nation with its debt under control would be a legacy worth having.