MICHAEL FULLILOVE

Politicians never live up to all the hopes that we invest in them but I think he [Barack Obama] has made America a different country.

So to some extent he [Barack Obama] is a victim of the expectations and the high hopes that we experienced.

But Obama is a cool cat. We've seen that before: when he suffered reverses he didn't react immediately. He took a couple of days to react.

Gifts [concessions] to rising powers are rarely reciprocated. Mostly, they are just pocketed.

Australians find the American political system lovable but odd.

There may be a sense in the electorate, especially among independents that President Obama has overreached in some ways.

Gifts [concessions] to rising powers are rarely reciprocated. Mostly, they are just pocketed.

Australians find the American political system lovable but odd.

Politicians never live up to all the hopes that we invest in them but I think he [Barack Obama] has made America a different country.

There may be a sense in the electorate, especially among independents that President Obama has overreached in some ways.

So to some extent he [Barack Obama] is a victim of the expectations and the high hopes that we experienced.

But Obama is a cool cat. We've seen that before: when he suffered reverses he didn't react immediately. He took a couple of days to react.