"Obama is powerless" is not a right wing meme.. But it's not a left wing meme either..

[The Traveler]

2. Not sure its a meme

But ... I do have to say that I question the ability of the Chief Executive to thwart the layers of corruption now so well integrated into the system. In my view, the system of checks and balances has been overwhelmed at last in a manner precisely predicted by George Washington. Washington feared there were insufficient checks built into the Constitution to balance the influence of accumulated wealth. Smart guy, Washington.

The system is broken. It needs repair and revision, and the scope of the problem is such that it will require massive grass roots involvement to accomplish these tasks. FDR was in much the same predicament when he told labor leaders they would have to make him implement the changes they both wanted to achieve. That was an expression of sympathy with the cause, but also a statement of fact: Without public pressure on the entire system, FDR would never be able to achieve those changes.

I think Obama faces a much better organized and systemic opposition than FDR had deal with ... and he faces it with far less pressure from the public.

Just my take on it. But I think it's more on us than it is on him to provide the impetus for change.

Trav