Maureen Dowd is following Obama with the same bloodlust as the rest of the country. Waiting for the savior to stumble. Waiting to see the 'human' side.
The only problem is, the human has always been there and what's new, the giving up smoking, getting irritated with reporters, freezing in Iowa, is all understandably human too. This doesn't tear down the image of Obama so much as point out what (I at least) meant by "unprepared". What's not precise about that word tho is that it expects him to eventually be prepared. I hope not.
My problem with Obama is that he's too good. He's too real. I've met him. He is everything that's fine about the human race, including having familiar, down-to-earth, forgivable failings. Think about it. That's not who gets elected president. And if by some freak of history someone like that sneaks in (Carter), they are woefully bad at navigating the pitfalls once they are there.
Bill Clinton gave some interview I caught on CSPAN where he described how when he first took office he tried to ram through every great idea he ever had. The result was the 1994 takeover of the legislature by the republicans. Being president means prioritizing, picking battles, living with all you haven't accomplished. And being hated for it by someone.
A president has to make ugly decisions. They have to horse-trade. A Senator can spend his whole career voting his conscience (or not) but a president who doesn't give up a pawn or even a knight every now and then doesn't succeed. Witness Mr. "Never admit you're wrong" in office now.
It's ironic that everything you hear Hillary criticized for is EXACTLY what makes her perfect for the job.
The black community, the American people and the entire world need Obama, but they need him "clean and articulate". Does anybody really want a jaded Obama who learns to parse what "Is" is?
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