Every great president since George Washington has also been a great partisan.
President Obama, however, has been reluctant to present himself as a partisan, much less as the leader of a party. …
In the most noble image of politics, parties would not be necessary; if only people had all the facts, they would all agree. But politics is not a science — it is a contest. The program advanced by Obama (and his party) is controversial. Facts are necessary to persuade people. But a fight, and a party leader who attends to that fight, is also required. CONT.
Russell Muirhead (Dartmouth), Washington Post