If Acknowledging That Racial Misgivings And Misunderstandings

Say What You Want To Say About The Rest Of His Presidency, Including His Tone-deaf Response To Katrina And A War Waged In Iraq On False Pretenses, Bush Connected With Americans In The Aftermath Of 9/11 Because He Looked As Frail And Unforgiving As We Felt.

With Gridlock The Norm, Congress's Approval Rating Is Below 10 Percent And The Public Has Lost Faith In Its National Leadership.

A Concrete Agenda And Landslide Victory Might Not Even Guarantee A President His Mandate In A Capital As Polarized As Washington.

In Washington, Compromise Has Become A Dirty Word.

By Nominating Chuck Hagel To Be His Defense Secretary, President Obama Is Putting Forward An Aloof Contrarian Who Doesn't Suffer Fools - A Striving Politician Who Considers Himself Above Politics.