Is America losing her mind?

Let's face it: America has major league daddy issues. And President Obama is bearing the full brunt of it from all sides. Among Republicans, the psychosis takes the form of sullen hostility and a tendency to blame the president for anything that goes astray. The BP oil spill was his fault, as was the East Coast earthquake. Bush drove the nation off a financial cliff, but Obama gets blamed for the resulting bad economy. Obama did what Reagan, both Bushes and Clinton couldn't do: Topple Qaddafi. But no good deed goes unpunished. Why didn't he do it in "weeks not months?" the Republicans lament. The GOP is like the nagging wife from hell (think "domestic goddess" Roseanne Barr).

Among the president's "friendly" Democratic base, profound angst and infantilism rule the day. "Why doesn't Obama grow a set and use his magic powers?" whine the activists. Why hasn't he closed Gitmo, reversed global warming, made Israel and Palestine love each other, given every American a job, and divined free universal healthcare yet? That was supposed to happen during your first 100 days of office, daddy. The Dems are like a stalker girlfriend from hell (think Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction).

"Race man" Chauncey DeVega is certainly not irrational. Far from it. Yet even he is tempted to sup at the table of unrealistic expectations. He's disappointed in Obama. "Not totally his fault," DeVega observes, "But he is much responsible and should take agency for his actions and deeds. He is a great man who has shunned away much of his potential greatness." Really? Is DeVega serious? Does he or anyone else recall the fact that Obama has not yet concluded the second year of his first term? This is sheer crazy talk.

The irrationalness of it all has seemingly reached absurd proportions. And yet, it feels real. Between the bad economy and daily injections of "crazy" by a barking mad Media-Internet Complex, America is having a nervous breakdown. But rather than pulling themselves up by the bootstraps, they crave a hug. Unfortunately, Obama cannot avoid dealing with them (his reelection might hang on it). I say unfortunately because, well, "daddy" still has to go work each morning and earn a living. You know, keeping us (and the world) safe for democracy and stuff. It's a low-down-dirty-shame that we have to add this extra burden to his plate. The good news is that Obama is smarter than most. Maybe he'll find a way to talk America back from the ledge. The bad news is that if this inspirational leader can't do it, then nobody can. On a more serious note, I hope the national craziness I sense is being falsely magnified by said Media-Internet Complex. Perhaps it is much less serious than it appears. But if Mr. Obama really can pull a rabbit out of his hat, now would be a good time. It might at least quiet America's inner little girl.