I'm A Former Red Sox Fan, Now

Guerrilla War Is A Test Of Wills. Obama's Actual Objectives - Rollback In Iraq, Containment In Syria - Are Not Unreasonable. But They Require Commitment And Determination. In Other Words, Will. You Can't Just Make One Speech Declaring War, Then Disappear And Go Fundraising.

Where There Is A Confluence Of Interests Among Nations, As, For Example The Swine Flu Or Polio, You Can Get Well Functioning International Institutions Like The World Health Organization. And You Can Act. Climate Change Is Different, Because The Science Remains Hypothetical And The Potential Costs Staggering.

In The Course Of His Presidency, Obama Has Gone From An Almost Magical Charismatic Figure To An Ordinary Politician. Ordinary. Average.

Passing A Law Like The Assault Weapons Ban Is A Symbolic - Purely Symbolic - Move In That Direction. Its Only Real Justification Is Not To Reduce Crime But To Desensitize The Public To The Regulation Of Weapons In Preparation For Their Ultimate Confiscation.

Great Leaders Are Willing To Retire Unloved And Unpopular As The Price For Great Exertion.