I’m probably a bit more skeptical about Obama’s long-term popularity, since the MSM is going back to its “Clinton Rules” as we speak. But when you’re in the middle of an economic crisis, intangible things like confidence really do matter, and Obama projects it. Honestly, ever since Katrina, could anyone sincerely argue that Bush II was a leader in any respect? On the economy? On the military? On showing the world that we’re still the greatest nation on the planet?

What I’m not skeptical about, however, is Obama’s willingness to fight back against the Republican smear machine and the whiny bitching from the punditocracy (“Bu – bu – but – what about bipartisanship OMG?”). The Republicans created this mess, and they should be firmly ignored until we’re out of it.

Make us proud, President Obama. And _please_ put in some serious regulations for the bailout. Don’t just throw good money after bad. And while you’re at it, let the Big Three fail. Provide benefits for the workers to find other jobs, but let’s face it: American auto companies are dead weight. Hell, sell them to Honda and Toyota instead.

Better still, paraphrase the great line from the ghost of Col. Stinkmeaner in Season 2 of “The Boondocks”:

“This is how you break your FOOT off in a right-wing muthaf**ka’s ass!!”