CAN'T BE BOTHERED - AT 10:04 A.M. ET:  One of the wonders of the last campaign was the organization put together by the Obama forces.  And where is it today, during the health-care debate, when Obama needs the troops?  Well, they just can't be bothered.  The New York Times reports:

As the health care debate intensifies, the president is turning to his grass-roots network — the 13 million members of Organizing for America — for support.

Mr. Obama engendered such passion last year that his allies believed they were on the verge of creating a movement that could be mobilized again. But if a week’s worth of events are any measure here in Iowa, it may not be so easy to reignite the machine that overwhelmed Republicans a year ago.

More than a dozen campaign volunteers, precinct captains and team leaders from all corners of Iowa, who dedicated a large share of their time in 2007 and 2008 to Mr. Obama, said in interviews this week that they supported the president completely but were taking a break from politics and were not active members of Organizing for America.

COMMENT:  Not at all unusual, especially in movements of the left.  They're fun and cozy during election campaigns, not so much fun when the real work of governing begins.

We saw this same phenomenon in the fifties with the "madly for Adlai" crowd, those who believed Adlai Stevenson was also some kind of messiah because he spoke well and sounded Ivy League.  They would ride through towns honking their horns during presidential campaigns, but were nowhere to be seen between elections.  Dahlings, we do not mix with the masses. 

Another factor is that governing often takes the bloom off the rose, as the starry-eyed realize that there's a real world out there - like other countries that may not fall in line just because The One makes a speech.

Campaigns are about cheering.  Governing is about doing.

August 15, 2009