Drew Westen, a psychologist, political analyst and author (The Political Brain) writes often about the "narratives," aka stories, the public wants and needs to hear.
Westen's story in the current New York Times magazine, suggesting that Barack Obama can't craft a presidential narrative as compelling as his candidacy, has gone viral and is helping propel the latest progressive wave of second thoughts and second-guessing about the president.
All of which suggests how much some of us really do need a new narrative about the man whose stunningly tepid leadership is so at odds with the glorious stories we told ourselves about him.
After the dozen dithering years that made up of Clinton's second and Bush's two terms, we so wanted and needed a president who could inspire, whose own life story was inspiring – a smart, savvy, worldly president who could rescue domestic and even global politics from the parochialism, pettiness and belligerence he himself seemed to transcend so effortlessly.
The fact that reality hasn't come close to expectations is excruciatingly clear, and the reasons clearly have as much to do with Obama himself as with the fringe ideologies to which all Republicans (with the possible exception of Chris Christie) must pledge allegiance.
Now, with the approach of those famously pre-fabricated Iowa caucuses, the presidential campaign that never ends "officially" begins, yet again.
And the narrative will shift, away from whatever Obama the president is or isn't doing, and toward what Obama the candidate is saying.
A new narrative of change we can believe in.
Or not.