One of Obama's most impressive attributes is his quiet confidence: Voters sense that he is comfortable in his own skin, a dedicated father and friend who won't waste time with the phony rituals of Washington. Ron Fournier attributecomfortableconfidence share on social
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt faced adversities that, in their times, seemed impregnable. Great presidents overcome great odds. Ron Fournier adversityfacegreat Change image and share on social
Historians will likely give Obama credit for steering the country away from the brink of economic collapse in 2009. Ron Fournier brinkcollapsecountry Change image and share on social
Perhaps we should wait until his second term begins before carving Barack Obama's face in Mount Rushmore. Is that asking too much? Ron Fournier barackbegincarve Change image and share on social
Barack Obama won a second term but no mandate. Thanks in part to his own small-bore and brutish campaign, victory guarantees the president nothing more than the headache of building consensus in a gridlocked capital on behalf of a polarized public. Ron Fournier barackbearbehalf share on social
Once a popular Alaska governor with a modest record of accomplishment, Palin could conceivably revive her reputation in this era of short memories. But it's hard to imagine her name atop the GOP ballot in 2016, when a cast of heavyweights who sat out 2012 will be vying for the nomination. Ron Fournier accomplishmentalaskaatop share on social
Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices. Ron Fournier obamaprejudicepresidency Change image and share on social
Although we were never pals and occasionally butted heads, my relationship with Clinton and his wife, Hillary, made me a better journalist. Ron Fournier buttclintonhead Change image and share on social
Part of the problem is voters know relatively little about Romney. And some of what they know about him complicates his task: Romney has a history of flip-flopping on issues, he's extraordinarily wealthy, and he can be tone-deaf about what moves voters. He just doesn't seem comfortable in his skin. Ron Fournier comfortablecomplicatedeaf share on social
Say what you want to say about the rest of his presidency, including his tone-deaf response to Katrina and a war waged in Iraq on false pretenses, Bush connected with Americans in the aftermath of 9/11 because he looked as frail and unforgiving as we felt. Ron Fournier aftermathamericanbush share on social