Dreadful Judgment

Andrew Sullivan, one of the foremost Obama supporters, adds to Peretz's criticism:

But look: this Copenhagen trip was a big mistake on the president's part, a
piece of political tone-deafness that anyone could see would backfire. He looks
like the mayor of Chicago, not the leader of the free world. Obama has his
signature domestic reform on the line at home; he's at the beginning of a
critical period in negotiations with Iran; he faces an immensely tough call on
Afghanistan; the recovery requires every ounce of his attention ... and he's
dealing with touting his home town for the Olympics. Please. Someone needs to
get a grip on his schedule. And he needs to get a grip on his priorities. It's
not narcissism; it's arrogance.

Most of all, it was a dreadful piece of judgment. The president
deserves every inevitable brickbat from the right; and David Axelrod should know
better than to have left his boss this vulnerable at this critical juncture. I
suspect the input of Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama. But the buck stops with
Obama and he blew this one big time.