… The implications of Johnson’s administration for Obama are different from what many of these commentators think. What we perceive as presidential leadership (or lack of it) often reflects structural factors that are largely beyond the control of the chief executive himself — a reality of presidential power that critics of Mr. Obama’s speechmaking and relations with Congress often fail to appreciate.
Advocates on the left, for instance, often suggest that Obama could win the public over by advocating a more assertive brand of liberalism. But the success of Johnson’s “Great Society” agenda can be seen as a reflection of public opinion, not a result of his speeches or those made by his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. CONT.
Brendan Nyhan (Dartmouth), New York Times