No doubt Barack thought the presidency would be non-stop date nights in NYC, state dinners, weekends at Camp David, voting present, golf vacations in Hawaii and trips abroad to be feted and adored. Nancy and Harry could take care of the governing and his cabinet and brain trust in the WH could do the heavy lifting in the Executive. He would be the front man, the razzle-dazzle, Mr. Popularity, whatever Barack wants the people will make sure Barack gets. They say dying’s easy, comedy’s hard. Well, governing’s even harder and Barack doesn’t have what it takes. Never did.

(I remember that Noonan piece well. It was after that one that I left Peggy behind for good. And I’ve never gone back.)