No Size Fits All

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=403492&single=1&f=28&sub=Columnist

David Brooks has a great piece on the Presidents new community college initiative. It doesn't go as far as I do - that most kids in 4 year schools don't belong there (and even fewer grad school students do) - but notes the important point that it is those schools that will make up the human capital gap America faces.

But what really got my attention was the ending when Brooks basically begged the President to seize the legislative reigns. I think there is a pretty good case that the passive nature of the white house is at least somewhat attributable to 'legislative capture' - the idea that with so many of the occupants having come straight from the Capitol they have an excessive deference to congress.

But it is also an unusual inversion of how presidents start terms. Usually the president grabs the reigns early, wages his major battle in the first 18-24 months, and when the dust settles everyone in congress is sick of him and the second half of the term he works around the margins. This president, whether intentional or not, has skipped the initial seige.

The interesting test will be whether folks like Brooks are still salivating for him to fight a big battle 12 months from now. If health care and global warming go to the mats and get done early next year, and they still are looking for the president to lead something bold, there could be the opportunity for something really incredible.

The only question left is, what does the president have up his sleeve?r