Despite his resounding electoral victory, his solid majorities in both chambers of Congress and the obvious goodwill of the bulk of the electorate, Mr Obama has seemed curiously feeble.

• 相比于他在选举中的压倒性胜利，他在国会两院的大多数席位和大部分选民对他抱有的明显好感，奥巴马表现得似乎出奇的软弱。