Greta: President Obama has lost his mojo

'Off the Record', 2/5/14: President Obama used to be able to inspire, but now he's just depressing - it's like he has given up

By Greta Van Susteren

Let's go "Off the Record" for just a minute. The nation has a big problem and this should worry you, regardless of your political party. President Obama has lost his mojo.

Yes, he came to office with very little experience, but he had that incredible power to inspire. America was rooting for him -- even his political opponents could not help but be inspired. He was exciting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate and so many veterans to care for, not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

That power inspire is a potent political weapon. If used effectively you can get people with very deep differences to work together.

But now, that is not happening. President Obama has lost his mojo. Frankly, he is depressing. He shows no fire in his belly. No passion to solve issues. If he hasn't the passion, why would anyone else? He almost sounds like he has just given up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: At this point, my goal every single day is just to make sure that I can look back and say we're delivering something, not everything, because this a long haul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

And his team taking a lead from him is just as bad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have been calling on the Afghan government to sign the agreement for some time now.

JASON FURMAN, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS CHAIRMAN: This has given that option that they didn't used to have.

TOM VILSACK, U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: I'm excited about the opportunities that this bill provides in terms of the issue of climate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Wow, those press briefings feel like a funeral home viewing. They are collectively sinking the nation's morale. When that happens, it becomes every man for himself. People grabbing whatever they can, waivers, exemptions deals, you name it. It is the "me" attitude. That is bad for the nation. It doesn't help.

President Obama blames his woes on others -- Fox News, Congress, Tea Party, Republicans. He needs to knock that off. That's not leadership. Those are excuses. Even his own party is disspirited by him. His national poll rating has sunk from 67 percent to now 42 percent. The nation is not happy with him.

If he wants to turn that around, and inspire the nation to work together, despite those deep political differences, he needs to get his mojo back. We can't do that for him. He needs to do it, but he has got to try.

And that's my "Off the Record" comment tonight. If you have an important story or issue you think I should take "Off the Record," go to GretaWire.com and tell us about it.