over the last two years, democrats lost to the debate on their major initiatives, economom recovery and health care. they don't want to run the risk this time. they have to lay out what the consequences are, the recklessness and irresponsibility of even entertaining the possibility of letting this country defaults on its obligations. >> evan, what do you make of it? >> you cannot be partisan about this. at least he is showing some engy. but he has got to be an arm twister behind the scenes, and he is not really lyndon johnson. this is serious now. this is his moment of leadership. this is no joke. he has got to get it done. >> nina? >> in the modern era, there isn't a lyndon johnson. the criticism of him, by david brooks most recently, is that he's too much like the senate majority leader. the president has a bully pulpit and he used it. the fact that republicans startete screaming bloody murde, indicate that they are worried about it. >> charles? >> the problem is this has the feel of a town with a leader who is not leading. he has not proposed a budget t on. the one he proposed was vo