to sustain a long legacy, you need not just to get elected president but to forge a political coalition. johnson and roosevelt had congressional majorities that lasted. obama is an intensely charismatic politician, but he was not able to build a political base underneath him. in fact, during his eight years, the democratic party has suffered a historic series of defeats at the state and national levels, putting them in the worst position they have been in since the 1920s. was that obama's failure? a lack of political skill, perhaps, though it is equally likely that the currents were stronger than one person could shift. in recent years, america has gone through enormous economic, technological, political and cultural changes and some parts of the country, there has been a backlash to that change and to an african-american president. it remains unclear whether the country was ready for obama's vision. the most dramatic bet he made