My must read of the day is "Why the White House Won’t Admit Obama Is a Drag for Democrats," in the National Journal:
Another week of presidential travel and fundraising. Another round of bad polls. Another day closer to the realization by Democrats that there really is nothing President Obama can do to alter a campaign dynamic that all year has been gloomy for his party. You won't hear that acknowledgement, of course, from anybody at the White House. No one in that building ever easily admits to an inability to shape events.
Obama's press secretary Josh Earnest suggested that even after a year of extensive presidential travel and heavy fundraising, Obama has not really begun to fight. He acknowledged this week that Obama "has not begun a sustained campaign of campaign-related activities, if you will." Earnest noted a handful of times the president has been seen publicly with beleaguered candidates and indicated there will be more in the few weeks remaining before Election Day. "The president has already succeeded in making a pretty aggressive case," he said, adding, "And I would anticipate that in the context of the upcoming elections you'll hear the president make that case again."
That kind of confidence that an incumbent president's use of the bully pulpit can impact campaigns was found in other White Houses while they were under siege. There is something about being a senior White House aide that doesn't permit much talk of defeat. "I don't remember feeling frustrated or defeated in any way. I remember just feeling busy," recalled Dana Perino, who was deputy press secretary to President George W. Bush during the 2006 midterm campaign. "We did know, though, that we were pushing against history."
In October of 2006, the article notes, Bush was asked about Republican efforts to distance themselves from his presidency, and he told reporters, "I'm not resentful, nor am I resentful that a lot of Democrats are using my picture. All I ask is that they pick out a good one; make me look good, at least, on the picture."
Bush was a strain on Republicans in the 2006 midterms, and he knew it. President Obama seemingly refuses to accept the same reality he is faced with—and that’s an important difference. The question is why?
There’s an immense disconnect between the Obama administration and the reality on the ground.
Whether it’s proudly announcing in prepared remarks that "these policies are on the ballot," making energy decisions that would undoubtedly hurt vulnerable Democrats, or golfing immediately after a press conference on the beheading of American journalist James Foley, the president makes politically toxic decisions that defy common sense. At a certain point, one has to think it’s not possible that all of his advisers are injudicious or unaware.
There’s not a deeply complex, or rational reason for why this administration fails to concede that Obama is politically toxic. They won’t admit it because these days they simply prefer not to acknowledge political realities of any kind. They’re apathetic, not stupid. It’s much easier to ignore unpopularity and do what you want, than be bothered with the opinions of people outside of your circle.