THE PRESS CONFERENCE – AT 10:20 A.M. ET:   Have you heard about it?  Did you see it?  I saw it live on TV – what will go down as the most famous, and most bizarre press conference by a president since Bill Clinton announced that "I did not have sex with that woman..."

And again, Clinton was the star.  Although this time he wasn't the president.

It happened yesterday, just after Mr. Obama met with former President Clinton, soliciting Clinton's support for the tax compromise.  The two had a press conference, and Clinton quickly took over.  The contrast between the two men was stark:  Clinton the master, Obama the awkward disciple.  Clinton has the capacity to think on his feet, without a teleprompter.  He has the capacity to explain and convince, without turning into a dull philosopher.

And he gave his reasons for supporting the tax package.  At one point – this is what you've probably seen on TV – Obama announced that he'd kept the first lady waiting a half hour, and he just left.  It was weird.  He, not Clinton, is the president, and he left the entire job to Clinton.  Even if he was sincere in wanting to get to a White House Christmas party and join Ms. Obama, it looked as if he were yielding to the better man, and withdrawing.

Bill Clinton then continued the press conference for another half hour. 

What can one say?  The president of the United States has some serious problems.  At the same time, he is showing some signs of maturity and understanding in his tax compromise.  Is bringing in Clinton a sign that Mr. Obama is "triangulating," trying to be the center force between Democrats and Republicans?  That was, in fact, Clinton's strategy as he approached the 1996 president election, which he won handily against Bob Dole. 

We'll look for more evidence, especially in foreign policy, where Mr. Obama is increasingly being ignored by foreign nations.  If we see some strength and decisiveness by the United States, an embrace of our allies and a defiance of our enemies, we'll know some positive change is in the air.  We hope, for the country's sake, that it happens.  But Obama starts out much further to the left than Clinton was.  We ask to be convinced.

December 11, 2010