POLITICO: The incredible shrinking Obama. “The once-muscular presidency of Barack Obama has undergone a dramatic downsizing – in power, popularity, prestige and ambition – to the point where even Obama die-hards are starting to question his ability to right the economy or win reelection.”

That Politico says this is bad, but what’s worse is what Andy Stern says:

“He has sort of lost the sense of power and mystique of the presidency,” says longtime Obama ally Andy Stern, former president of the powerful Service Employees International Union. “There’s also a sense that people aren’t scared of him. That’s very dangerous.”

Well, he’s proved a paper tiger over and over again — but, then, so has the SEIU. But this kind of public disrespect from his core constituency — and SEIU is certainly his core constituency — bodes poorly. Is the Hillary primary challenge coming?

Hey, who needs Hillary? I’ve got your primary challenger right here! Al Gore unhappy with Obama for dropping EPA’s new smog standards. “Gore’s obviously deeply pained that his pet issue has been given short shrift by the White House; nothing would do more to push climate change back on the national radar than a surprise presidential run by a former VP turned Democratic nominee turned Nobel winner.” Run, Al, run!