Whatever happened to that happy-go-lucky, feckless, haughty, egotistical, self-important boob that the country elected a year ago? Okay, granted—that’s a loaded question. I concede that Barack Obama is not really happy-go-lucky.

The answer in any case is provided in a column by Charles Krauthammer, who summarizes some of the “then” and “now” highlights in what has made for the most interesting first year of any president certainly in my lifetime.

His column is worth reading if for no other reason than the laugh you are sure to get from some of the predictions made by loons on the left that Krauthammer cites. Example: “A year ago, he was leader of a liberal ascendancy that would last 40 years.” The point of view is attributed to James Carville, whom the world can also thank for 8 glorious years of Bill Clinton. Another example: “A year ago, conservatism was dead,” this keen observation courtesy of Sam Tanenhaus.

What has happened to change that picture is, of course, one of the dirtiest under-the-table-deal-making administrations ever to soil the good name of the American presidency. It is still highly likely that Obama will exact his pound of flesh from the American people by imposing on them his much-loathed health care reform so that he can continue to gloat about accomplishing what every president since Teddy Roosevelt has wanted to accomplish.

It is equally likely that the American people will exact vengeance of their own in the 2010 elections, thereby doing the impossible–viz., neutering a man who lacks cojones. Anybody with a brain could have predicted that Barack Obama would make a dreadful president. Could anyone have guessed he would conduct the affairs of state in a manner so unbecoming of the high office to which he was entrusted?

Cross-posted at Manhattan Conservative Examiner