Politically Obama's amazing streak of self-destructing opponents who have lain beneath his feet during his unlikely political career appears to be holding.
The White House alone cannot hold its opponents accountable.
The development of beauty in chess never depends on you alone. No matter how much imagination and creativity you invest you still do not create beauty. Your opponent must react at the same highest level.
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.