A quick diary. Just to share an idea.
Watching Obama's stance during the debt ceiling battle, I saw him adopt two different persona. Most of the time he was the professor, talking rationally, without rancor, and with little obvious emotion. He seemed to believe that all people were equally rational. Unfortunately for the American people, we don't do too well with professors when we are hurting. This stance didn't convince. Obama was portrayed as aloof and uninvolved. (Which I don't believe at all.)
The second stance was Obama energized and angry. However, this came across as blaming and petulant. He moved from professor to bad principal. He didn't make me feel good about him, and he seemed to blame everyone around him for the problems. Listening to words, he said many good things. But he projected an image of someone who was frustrated, upset, and not particularly aware of the fact that many people were on his side and wanting to achieve what he wanted to achieve.
So, Obama needs a drama coach. What I want is a leader who has honest anger at the destruction of the fabric of our governance, but who doesn't appear to take it personally. I want someone who, at the top of the crisis, seems able to control what is around him and who cares deeply about me. I want someone who projects wisdom and hope. Even though this is hard to achieve in this environment, it is what got Obama elected. He was able to look like a wise leader in a situation where the attacks were small. When everything is falling around his ears, he doesn't know how to appear simultaneously wise, angry, and strong. He may be all of these things, but I need to see it. I think he has spent his life smoothing things over. Now he needs to continue to make things feel under control at the same time as he lets us know how unacceptable the current stand off is. He needs to be a bipartisan president at the same time as he calls out the people who are destroying our nation.
So Obama needs a coach. I hope that Michelle is whispering in his ear words of encouragement but also tips on how to act. But she is too close to do it alone. A Paul Wellstone or Hubert Humphrey would be good. Chris Christie struck a chord with his honest anger, but there needs to be more than just anger. I am not sure how Obama can change, or how he can learn how to do this better. I just know that I have to overlook his persona and listen to his words to continue to feel encouraged that he is my President.