President Obama ran against cynicism — and defined his presidency by it.

 

Jonah Goldberg  "Even now, the Cynic-in-Chief admits that his “highest priority” is neither economic growth nor job creation but reducing income inequality. In fairness, he says he wants to reduce inequality through something called “middle-out” economic growth by taxing the wealthy (again). But my hunch is that the highest priority for those without work is . . . work. While the president’s highest priority is to exploit resentments."

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Michael Barone: “Pivot to the economy” may be a useful catch phrase, but Obama has few serious policy recommendations.   
"We have a president who loves to give campaign speeches to adoring crowds, but who doesn’t seem to have much interest in governing.

"That was apparent Wednesday, when Barack Obama delivered the first of several promised “pivot to the economy” speeches at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., where he spoke eight years ago as a newly elected U.S. senator."