I think Obama really is the source of our depression here. His policies are horrible, but his whole approach is a downer, a rhetoric based on envy, fear and revenge.
Someone pointed out that one of the reasons Putin isn’t concerned about Obama is that it is clear to him that Obama is too involved rooting out his domestic political enemies to give a darn about what happens in the rest of the world (especially if it doesn’t involve Muslims).
You are exactly right. The greatest thing about Reagan was that he made you feel good to be an American again. Obama strives for just the opposite.
I’m with you, Livius. Plus, Putin can see Obama for the little, self-serving, professorial pretender he is.