Victor Davis Hanson believes that President Obama is off to a disastrous start. It reminds me of the early days of Jimmy Carter.

Jeff Jacoby is also reminded of Jimmy Carter, who tried to talk sweetly to the Soviets and got slapped around for his trouble, in that Obama is also trying to charm the Muslim world. That might work for the moderate Muslims, but it will only be a sign of weakness for the jihadists.

Part of the trouble facing Obama here at home is that his process for vetting cabinet nominees is clearly not working, losing two more prospective nominees due to tax issues, including Tom Daschle. Perhaps he wouldn't have had a problem had he listened to this advice.

I doubt he will have any problem with Judd Gregg, his nominee for Secretary of Commerce. Bonnie Newman is tapped as his replacement in the Senate. I don't know her or even know of her, or anything about her, or her stand on any issue. Sounds like the perfect choice.

Obama hopes to cap the salaries of executives whose companies receive bailout money, but he may not get as much as he hoped, since it appears the bailout bill won't pass the Senate in it's present form.

Obama's idea to "buy American" is getting slapped down by our friends in the European Union. Obama's weakness and naivete aren't a big problem in dealing with our friends, though, and the warning about protectionism is a good one. It's how he will be tested by the Russians, Iranians and North Koreans that concerns me.

More trouble in the UK, as it appears the Brits are facing a deeper recession than the rest of us.

Tom Friedman takes a look at the fractured Middle East.