(Request: Try not to go knee-jerk at the question.)

Over the past month or two on the Café boards, both on the Left Side and, to a lesser degree, the Right side, this question has come into play.  It's been brought up over various issues: the war in Afghanistan, choice of his military and intelligence advisors and cabinet, Big Banking, Israeli policy and/or diplomacy, and more. 

But as of this week, we are almost forced to look back at the list of employees and nominees that the Obama jettisoned when they came under attack by the right wing smear machine. 

While Googling to recall some on the list, I ran into an article from 2008 (way back!) entitled, Is it getting crowded under Obama's Bus?  Pretty snarky title, but pretty apropos just now, IMO. 

My short list would include: Jeremiah Wright, Van Jones, Dawn Johnson, Governor Davis Patterson, Shirley Sherrod, Charles Bolden; you may remember others.

On a Maybe list, I'll place the US House of Representatives.

If this isn't due to fear, what is it?  And what of other times and issues?

To my mind, he's been conspicuously absent on many issues; for a speaker with such high oratorical skills, it makes me wonder why.

(I realize that every President for the foreseeable future is terrified of an attack similar to that on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and that that fear as well as re-election figure as  driving forces.  And FYI, I did a blog a year or so ago exploring the issue of Presidents held hostage to Unseen Forces, including lots of info from FOIA requests...)

I'd like to hear from you, though specifically about Barack Obama himself, not so much about perceived political legislative handicaps (sixty-votes stuff), but about the issue of fear or other reasons you think he might be pulling his punches, or not.

What makes Obama Tick?  Or tock?

 Having trouble with Movable Type, sorry.  This won't boot up fully on IE, either.  Got Firefox?