President Obama ran as an empty vessel, neither half full nor half empty, but completely empty. His message was simple and had three parts. The first part was hope. The second part was change you can believe in. The third part was that he would "transcend" politics. There are three questions that were never addressed. 1) Hope for what? 2) What change? and 3) How will this be accomplished?

As for transcending politics, well that is impossible in a democracy. President Obama attempts to transcend politics by not being present. This did not work for the stimulus package. This did not work for the health care bill. This did not work for this year's budget / deficit ceiling package. This will not work for the Super Committee for future budgets. Worse transcendence makes Obama appear like he wants to be a God instead of a President.

The wonderful aspect of running for office as an empty vessel, saying only that the problems will be fixed is that voters can fill the vessel with their own desires. They were able to see Obama as whatever they wanted to see him. I did this, as did many other people. This is what enabled the republicans to succeed in 2010. They ran on a message of jobs, deficit reduction, and lower taxes. Nothing was stated about how the conflict between these messages would be resolved and they cannot be resolved.

The problem we have is that the empty vessel has been and is being filled with contradictions - the same contradictions that the republican messages have only Obama articulates the contradictions. For example jobs can be created by reducing the deficit through austerity and lowering the tax rates on the ultra rich. Shared sacrifice and a balanced approach except when the other side insists on their approach. End the war in Iraq, but leave thousands of troops in Iraq. Treat Pakistan as an ally but invade Pakistan when the invasion suits us. Support the rebels in Libya but do nothing for the Syrians or Somalians. Drill baby Drill only not as hard as republicans.

Worst of all is the don't blame me, but blame who I am contradiction. This contradiction is President Obama's attempt to transcend politics. The problem lies with the politicians of both parties, so Obama portrays himself as neither a politician or a member of either party. But he is both a politician and a member of the democratic party.

The problem Obama is faced with is that he can no longer run as an empty vessel. The voters see him as a full vessel and the vessel is filled with hot air. Until Obama releases the hot air and starts to fill the vessel with solutions can progress be made. The only question is how rapidly.