Barack W. Obama

Andrew Sullivan comes right out and accuses Republicans of wanting to sabotage not only President Obama but the U.S. economy. He's not an especially enthusiastic supporter of the stimulus bill, so it's hard to imagine he finds it impossible to accept that congressional Republicans, including ex-Commerce Secretary-designate Judd Gregg, are sincere in their opposition to this hastily assembled, impossible to comprehend, unprecedentedly expensive, soon-to-be-signed mess. Instead, Sullivan and other Obama boosters seem to be appalled that all Washington refuses to embrace their bracing post-partisan vision and march lockstep behind the President whether it agrees with him or not.

Perhaps one reason Republicans don't do so is that, so far, Obama doesn't lead very effectively. As a matter of fact, he's beginning to remind me of George W. Bush, whose conception of Presidential persuasion was to state what he took to be obvious about the war on terror and the evildoers and then act weary and vaguely peeved when people didn't see the world the same way he did. Over the last week, Obama has sounded so harsh and pedantic that Sullivan may be barking up the wrong end of Pennsylvania Ave. looking for the politicians whose actions and statements may actually be hurting the economy.

Now that he's got his bill, I'd like the President to begin talking up the productive and recuperative power of the American people and encouraging me to spend it if I have it. Just a word from you, Mr. President, and I'll even order a Kindle 2.0.