"Sarah, You're No Nixon": Fineman

Months ago I outlined how Gov. Palin might become the new Nixon. It's not happening, writes Howard Fineman at "Newsweek," though he leaves a candle lit on the way out by saying that she should listen to Roger Ailes. My suggestion would be Ray Price.

You Don't Tug On Superman's TARP

Howard Fineman calls him Super Prez, assuming the highest profile of any President since FDR and missing nothing:

At a private meeting with House Democrats this week, one member urged Obama to propose more money for roads and bridges. The president tartly reminded the fellow that he had voted “no” on the original stimulus package, which contained money for that very purpose.

“Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother,” Obama added. There was laughter all around, but nobody missed the point: The president was at the helm, firmly in control.

Stuck In The Center

Howard Fineman says President Obama is experiencing the classic centrist's dilemma, with the additional element of elites' whispering that he's still not up to the job:

Swimming in the middle, he's denounced as a socialist by conservatives, criticized as a polite accommodationist by government-is-the-answer liberals, and increasingly, dismissed as being in over his head by technocrats.