WE, NOT ME:

Barack Obama's personal story no substitute for policy in Asia (Rowan Callick, 11/16/09, The Australian)

IT is Barack Obama's personal story, and the brilliant way in which he works that into a national narrative, that continues to prove his greatest asset.

In Japan at the weekend, he attempted to develop that now-familiar theme into an international message. [...]

There remains, however, a policy-development gap. Instead, perhaps surprisingly, this White House has seen - despite the upbeat rhetoric surrounding the President's brief visit to Asia, his first in office - something of a retreat in policy terms, in ambition for the US's role in the region.

The Hall of Presidents just re-opened at Disney with the new Obamatron. When they display the long arc of history from slavery to a black president it makes you realize how remarkable his election was. Then the robot speaks and the speech the White House submitted is such pabulum your mind numbs. He seriously equates the American Dream with kindness and generosity rather than liberty and the opportunity that flows therefrom. It's stunning.

And note how it pales in comparison to W's contribution which it replaced:

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 15, 2009 8:50 AM