If Mitt Romney Is Vanilla,

American Exceptionalism Is The Recurring Character In The Nation's Narrative.

Obama Still Has Work To Do With The Vision Thing. Convincing Voters That He Has A Credible, Practical Plan To Turn The Nation Around Is A Process, Not A Speech.

Historians Will Likely Give Obama Credit For Steering The Country Away From The Brink Of Economic Collapse In 2009.

Washington's Answer To A Self-inflicted Financial Crisis Reminded Americans Why They So Deeply Distrust The Political Class. The 'fiscal Cliff' Process Was Secretive And Sloppy, And The Nation's So-called Leadership Lacked The Political Courage To Address Our Root Problems: Joblessness And Debt.

Obama Considers Himself Above Deal-making And Back-slapping, Political Necessities He Often Delegates To Vice President Joe Biden And Other Lesser Sorts.