The number one talking point for republicans since they took the house is to repeal "Obamacare."
They use that term to deliberately mock the president.
They proudly and openly proclaim their mission to destroy him and his administration and they’re baiting and bullying him every chance they get.
Obama supporters are going nuts.
Everywhere you look, democrats are imploring the president to take a break from his offers of conciliation and compromise.
At this point, it’s not just about strategy.
We want to see him stand up for himself.
Didn’t we just learn that if you’re constantly giving in to your opponents, they’ll just keep rolling you; all the while chipping away at your stature, credibility and power?
President Obama’s temperament has worked for him in the past. It could very well be that his decency and humility will start to shine through, igniting the voting public’s admiration as the 2012 election approaches.
Or it’s possible, I suppose, that Obama is "rope-a-doping" the republicans, holding his punches until the later rounds when they’re overconfident and most exposed.
It any case, we need to do more than rely on a backlash against conservative extremists or a Sarah Palin nomination.
I'm open to suggestions.
Because underlying all the chatter on our side - including my own - is a growing suspicion that Obama just doesn’t have what it takes.
And I desperately hope we’re wrong about that.