Most of the things that need to be said about the President are things he can't say himself.

Another cause for the increase in alienation and cynicism is a feeling that too many policy decisions that affect individuals have been taken out of any system that has accountability or that they can influence.

The President, the Administration and the campaign need a theme. I am concerned that the President is seen as a tactician without an overall strategy of his plan for the country.

Look at the declining television coverage. Look at the declining voting rate. Economics and economic news is what moves the country now, not politics.

The President's political travel is going to get blamed (and probably rightly) for a share of this downturn.

People just automatically say 'If this guy is George and Barbara Bush's son, we don't have any question about those personal qualities that we were fooled on by Clinton.'

Many citizens see all the leadership of these large institutions together in a conspiracy against them rather than in any adversary relationship with each other.