I may have more to say about it when I have more time, but I just wanted to connect it to the insider/outsider theme I've been developing recently. Here's the thing: Obama is great when he's talking to us outsiders. He doesn't seem to be that great when dealing with insiders. Talking about a controversial issue to mostly receptive people whom he will never have to deal
with again is easy. Dealing with entrenched insider power which shapes his day-to-day life is not. The test of Obama's administration, or any administration, in the long run is not how well he deals with us outsiders, but with the insiders.
Or another way of putting is is how well he uses his broad popular support as leverage to promote a reform agenda on resistant insider factions. We heard a lot of talk about how he was going to harness the people power released by his campaign to change the way things are done in Washington. We're all still waiting for some sign he intends to follow up on that. There's no question in my mind that this guy has the capability to do it. But will he?
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