Blowhards got you down?

Have the GOP blowhards got you down? Are you surrounded by conservatives who think they've cornered the market on truth (when in fact they hold worthless stock)? Do Republicans who can't find a fact with two hands and a flashlight drive you crazy?

Then try what I call Andrew Sullivan's "Reality Elixir No. 9. (90 Proof)". His post about President Obama's accomplishments is guaranteed to cure what ails you, lickety-split. Keep it handy and take a snort the next time your local conservative know-it-all disses Obama. No. 9 will clear your sinuses and give you the clarity of mind to retort thusly:

Political Wins: Epically defeated the Clinton party machine but still brought Hillary into his cabinet (where she has thrived). Cemented GOP's broad identity as extremists opposed to compromise. Entrenched black and Hispanic loyalty to the Democratic party. Retained decent favorable approval ratings despite worst recession since the 1930s (44% of Americans still (rightly) blame Bush for this mess, only 15 percent blame Obama). Restored America's standing in the world. Oh, and he also plugged the BP oil hole (ecological armageddon didn't happen).

Policy Wins (a partial list): Ended the US torture regime; prevented a second Great Depression; enacted universal healthcare (taking the first serious steps toward reining in costs); elevated two new female Supreme Court Justices; ended the gay ban in the military; ending the Iraq war; wisely bailed out banks and auto companies (profits now surging); advancing financial re-regulation and (slowly) balanced debt reduction without drastic cuts during the recession; humiliated the birthers (making them and The Donald look like the fools they are). Oh, and he killed bin Laden (and moving the US out of Afghanistan).

What hasn't happened: Scandals. No Katrinas or Lewinskys. No "mission accomplished" landings on aircraft carriers. No Abu Ghraibs.

To be sure, Obama hasn't been without defeats (think 2010 midterms). Gitmo is still open for business. He too often let the Republicans frame the issues. And he's not effectively using the bully pulpit to lift the nation's badly flagging spirits. But that said, his wins far outnumber his losses. And I completely agree with Sullivan's concluding observation: "When I read commentaries expounding on the notion that this man is completely out of his depth, I just have to scratch my head. Given his inheritance, this has been the most substantive first term since Ronald Reagan's. And given Obama's long-game mentality, that is setting us up for a hell of a second one." Go ahead, friend, have another snort of that No. 9 ― then [hic!] pass the bottle.