Obama's inauguration seems like an eternity ago

This is exciting news for people at USC. 

It is, on the other hand, a bit depressing for Democrats. There once was a time when the president would never waste his precious time going to the blue, blue state of California, except perhaps to raise some money from Hollywood. 

What a difference two years and one health care bill make. Obama would probably do more harm than good in, say, Wisconsin, where Russ Feingold is on his way to becoming the left’s favorite ex-senator, or Nevada, where Harry Reid and Sharron Angle are in a dead heat over who can be less dynamic. 

California (along with Illinois) is one of the few states where a visit from Obama might actually help matters. Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown look like favorites, but you never know which way the winds of voter turnout are gonna blow, especially when it comes to the young folk. Hence Obama going to a university.

Just why the president is so unpopular is subject of much debate. Is it the economy? Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected over and over again despite some fairly negative economic news. Is it the messaging, as Obama suggested in a recent interview with the Sunday New York Times Magazine?

You certainly can’t say Obama hasn’t accomplished anything. His ginormous stimulus package (no snickering) may not have “worked,” per se, but if he hadn’t passed it people would have accused him of sitting on his hands. Same goes for health care reform--it may have turned a quarter of the country against him, but what else was he gonna do? Not pass anything?

Obama’s real problem has always been the other Democrats. They forced him to water down the stimulus package with tax cuts and porky projects that took too long to complete. They forced him to settle for a muddled health care reform bill whose consequences will remain a mystery for years to come. Democrats have been unable to get on the same page and define what their party is all about, and they’re being punished for it. His drop in approval ratings is only a reflection of congressional ineptitude. And besides, 45 percent approval isn’t that bad. Congress would kill a hobo for 45 percent (they’re now just above 20 percent).

So it’s fitting, in a way, that it’s the congressional Democrats, who repeatedly stabbed Obama in the back, that are getting punished this year. Of course, this means Obama won’t be able to do much for the next two years. But maybe that’ll make him more popular–-voters haven’t much liked what he’s done so far, even if the reason has more to do with messaging than substance (which I somehow doubt). 

I haven’t seen Obama in person since the inauguration. I remember how peaceful it felt as I stood there in front of the frozen reflecting pool. There were hundreds of thousands of people, and yet it didn’t feel like a crowd at all. It felt like a picnic. It was serene. And it was hopeful.

Things aren’t so hopeful anymore. Or serene. And I don’t expect to get that feeling back on Friday. Because whatever problems we face today, one thing is almost certain: the president won’t be tackling them any time soon.

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