The long-term damage President Obama is doing to the country

As Ari Berman eloquently lays it out today, by trying to out-austerity the austerity-hawks, "President Obama has successfully used the bully pulpit to undermine the case for progressive governance."

It's tragic. A bigger point is that in weighing the Obama presidency -- discussing the good and the bad -- we shouldn't forget the long-term damage he is doing on many fronts in defining American debate and influencing public opinion.

He's throwing current and future progressive goals under the bus. That would be one thing if there were short-term gain; in this case, the Administration has only lost the short-term battle, not won, by trying to out austerity-hawk the austerity hawks.