Increasingly Alone and Isolated

Obama's presidency is imploding. Anyone can see that. His personality seems to be doing so as well.

As I have mentioned before, Obama's administration began a steep decline in terms of professionalism and message when Rahm Emmanuel left the White House. Emmanuel seemed to be the glue holding it all together. He was abrasive and irritated Republicans to no end, but Emmanuel was a capable helmsman for the ship of state.

Obama has foundered since, shifting course abruptly from the center to the left, back to the center, back to the left with no real rhyme or reason. He shifts from presidential to campaign mode constantly. Emmanuel also seemed to be the guy telling the president "don't say that." The president has grown much more hateful and angry over the past year, lashing out at conservative figures and trying to write Republicans out of every process. Obama also seems confused about Republican gains made last fall, seeing them as an aberration instead of a protest against his policies and ideas. His speech on the debt made left wingers fall in love all over again, but did not strike a presidential chord. Obama now just blames the Republican Party for all of his problems since he cannot single out George W. Bush anymore (probably since some polls suggest that voters would rather have W back in the White House.)

The presidency has worn down Obama. He was not prepared from the beginning and lost his most capable guide. Obama now seems lost, bitter, angry, and surrounded mostly by sycophants. Republicans fear that he can turn on the campaign mojo at the drop of a hat, but incumbents cannot run on hope and change. Outside of Rolling Stone, few people think that he has much of a positive record to run on either. He has succeeded in liberating the black conservative and reorienting the GOP for the 21st century. It remains to be seen if Obama can even campaign effectively in the coming months.