Yesterday, on his blog The Page, Halperin offered 16 reasons why he believes President Obama is, in his words, "dominating".
(I am reproducing the entire post below, but you can click here to read The Page, which I highly recommend bookmarking - it's one of the most reliable, non-partisan sources of quick-hit, breaking news on the Internet.)
WHY HE IS DOMINATING
1. On major decisions, almost without exception, he does what he thinks is right, rather then what might appear to be the politically expedient thing to do; in the end, doing what he thinks is right actually turns out to be better politics.
2. He-- and his vice president, chief of staff, deputy chiefs of staff, congressional relations office-- are experts on Congress and know how to approach, manage, manipulate, finesse, and meld with the institution in virtually every respect. (Up to and as far as the considerable limits of three-branch government and multiple egos).
3. He is temperamentally suited to both the public and private aspects of the job.
4. His honeymoon with the media and the public continues unabated.
5. His political operation (and its closely coordinated allies) is modern, well-funded, and skilled at not leaving fingerprints.
6. He has vast reservoirs of charm.
7. He trusts his staff. Clear guidelines, no micro-managing, accountability, less back-stabbing than most governments.
8. He knows how to control his public image.
9. He is emotionally stable, and has a rock-solid support system of immediate family, close friends, and reliable advisers.
10. Criticism from his political opponents-- no matter how personal, vile, or off base-- bothers him no more than such things bothered Dick Cheney (which is to say, not at all).
11. He's not afraid of losing-- because he doesn't expect to.
12. He talks to his constituents as if they are adults who are willing and able to deal with complexity-- which is intellectually and practically satisfying to him, pleasing to elites, and gratifying to many citizens.
13. He has created a political organization that has unprecedented access to polling and focus groups, but he maintains a healthy distance from the up-down-in-out minutia, even as his advisers use the data to maximum effect.
14. The cyclical nature of economics, politics, and sociological trends seems to be on his side. For now.
15. He is rarely angry, intimidated, stressed, fearful, or joyless.
16. He likes the job-- its challenges, its history, its resonance, its power, its perks.
