One part of Mr. Obama's task will be easy: showing how much damage the Bush administration has done to Americans' lives and their country's reputation.

This administration has the worst job-creation rate in modern history; income growth has been abysmal for most Americans. Whether the problem is lead-tainted toys or predatory credit card companies or irresponsible home mortgage lending by handsomely paid bankers, Americans doubt that their government is able to protect them, or wants to do so.

President Bush's White House has offered no serious answer to the problem of America's energy dependence and no strategy for calming anti-American furies around the world.

...NYT Ed