While I think that many people would agree that Obama ended the year well with some notable wins, they were penny-ante transactions compared to the fact that the 'Licans had already emptied the back of the store.

Dangerously compromised healthcare reform, senseless continuation of our involvement in Afghanistan, and Free Money for the Rich Day loom large over programs that in a sensible political climate wouldn't be arguable at all: an arms control treaty? Healthcare for 9/11 first responders? Extension of unemployment benefits in the worst economic downturn in 80 years? If Republicans had any interest in governing (instead of their single aim of cutting Obama's balls off), such legislation would have passed unanimously.

So he hands over his entire boodle and gets a nickel back. THAT's the criticism of Obama that you hear from -- not "the left of the left" (a completely mythical faction) -- but from the progressive base of the Democratic party that occupies the territory starting a little to the left of Senator Dodd.

My hopes now rest on my expectation that the Republicans genuinely believe that they have some sort of mandate to wreck the government and so will self-destruct starting in January. And that's a very uncertain foundation to rest your hopes upon.

Is Obama the best we could have gotten given the times? Probably so. And several of the policies he's put in place (unpopular ones at that) are having positive economic effects. The fact that the tumble into the abyss that seemed very possible 18 months ago has been averted really does matter, and he should get credit for his contributions to avoiding such a disaster. That doesn't alter the fact that many of us think he gives up too easily and leaves waaay too much on the table.

Schaeffer is a fool, if not a crypto-Republican. Just being sentient enough to recognise that McCain-Palin in the White House would have been an unmitigated disaster doesn't make you a moderate.