Certainly success in a campaign is one way of validating your style's effectiveness. But it's also the case that Obama hasn't even tried this kind of top-down, tightly orchestrated, take-no-guff approach.

Sadly at this point I think it's too late. I think the Teapartycans are happy to set the house the live in on fire as long as they think there's a chance to burn the other guy by doing so. On the other hand, a stronger opposition may (I think) call for more vigorous work on the President's part. I think we'll see how this plays out in the current game of chicken being played over the debt ceiling. Obama caved bigtime on the last round and I'm afraid he'll cave again.