Reader comments on 'Romney and Obama, consultant vs. professor'

i think the press is discounting mr romney's accomplishments. the eyeopener in his debate was that as governor he found a way to work with a legislative body that was 85% democrat. woodward's assessment is correct. a good politician would find a way to work across ideological differences. mr o has not lived up to his promise. the spirit was strong but the flesh is weak.

Welcome back, Ms Wente... As to Rep. vs. Dem. leaders, the business of America remains business and not deocracy. Democratic stuctures for carrying out business is as close as one can hope for a nation which views social democracy as anathema. Canada at its best ( IMHO ) is a social democracy with a regualted and nearly free market system. The US ain't us...

thank you for this new format.

So you are human like the rest of us. Congratulations! Glad to see you back.

I am so glad to see Margaret Wente back in the paper. Her columns are always interesting and thought-provoking. With is chapter behind her, I look forward to a regular dose of her take on the world.

So glad to see Margaret back. She is the best the G & M has.

I am glad to see some remorse

It's really not clear what Wente is apologizing for here, at all. This is a non-apology, and starting a column with 'my liberal friends' is kind of willful and spiteful-sounding. This isn't an apology-this is a brush off.

I am glad you are back Margaret - missed your column, and am just fine with your apology and your attitude. As for Obama, he needs to be willing to actually fight with more than words.

I don't think Obama has a problem with negotiating and "shmoozing". He was a successful community organizer for years. Obama's problem is Republican obstructionism. The Republicans swore from the start their top priority wasn't the American people or fixing the broken economy but destroying Obama's presidency and making him a one-tern president. In the pocket of Wall Street, Obama was more or less powerless to put through any of his agenda. It was obvious that would be the case long before Obama was elected. But few could have predicted he would be so sycophantic in his powerlessness.