“[T]his kind of partisanship doesn’t just come from Republicans, all the ones who turned their opposition to this stimulus package into a holy war. It comes from the Democrats as well, all those who keep getting in Obama’s way…

This isn’t about them because it is about Obama, the one guy who can get us out of this, whom the country believes in even as it is told constantly that he is some kind of raw rookie in over his head, who wants to do what great Presidents are supposed to do in times of crisis, which means lead, and inspire, and make brave decisions, and make the country confident again.”

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“With loony jihadists threatening from without, a crumbling economy terrorizing its citizens from within, Obama knew he needed straightaway to demonstrate utmost competence to stem fear and instill confidence. The reason for his wanting to assemble an able cabinet more quickly than any other administration in recent history was to show that, though the nation had major problems, they were under study and would soon be attacked by the most capable minds of our time. He needed to calm the country down, and show, in a measured but forceful way, that a strong hand was at the wheel.

This he has thus far failed abysmally to do. Very disappointing, to the country at large, and not least, I have no doubt, to Barack Obama himself.”

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