Obama the Facilitator

Journalist David Corn joins the throng totally mystified at Obama's unwillingness to lead any fight at all:

In Washington, bipartisan compromise is often necessary. But it ought to come at the end of a political fight -- not before one. President Obama, in the instance of this apparent tax cut compromise, seems to be settling without waging a principle-driven battle, and that is puzzling many of his progressive loyalists.

Obama, who has said extending tax cuts for the wealthy will harm the nation, never figured out how to lead on the issue.It can be tough to read the mind of a president. But here was a made-for-the-Democrats conflict. At a time when middle- and low-income Americans are struggling, government deficits are a worry, and the corporate class is reaping tremendous profits, Obama and the Democrats were well-positioned to assail the Republicans for insisting that the well-to-do need a continuation of the Bush tax cuts and for blocking an extension of the cuts for the rest of the public. (On policy grounds, extending tax breaks for the rich do not yield as many jobs as other initiatives.) Yet the president, who has said extending tax cuts for the wealthy will harm the nation, never figured out how to lead such an obvious thrust.

His reasons for eschewing a showdown remain a mystery. There doesn't seem to be a grand and savvy political calculation at work. (Since the Nov. 2 "shellacking," there have been no public signs of a White House master plan.) Though Obama managed to push through the stimulus, health care reform, and the Wall Street bill, it appears that he doesn't fancy a down-and-dirty brawl. And that could end up being costly for him.

Frankly, all I can figure is that it's just not his style, his M.O., and he jsut can't bring himself to do it. He's not the 'Decider', he's the 'Facilitator'.

Having said that, is there any liberal Democratic challenger willing to be a kamikaze and commit a suicidal run against a sitting President? I still think that it could be Hillary. She does so want to be President.   I think the critical factor in her mind could be the Black vote--could she get enough of it to win?

On second thought, it's more likely to be someone like Howard Dean, who doesn't have anything better to do.