Asked how he would grade his first year in office, Obama said a “good, solid, B-plus.” (As opposed to one of those weak, squishy B-pluses.)

Just to review:

Another 3 to 4 million jobs lost, and the unemployment rate rising from 7.6 percent to 10 percent.
In ten months, the national debt has risen from $10.6 trillion to $12 trillion.
We’re not sure the housing market has hit bottom; loan-modification programs aren’t working.
Trade disputes with China, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Panama and Colombia . . .
Iran ignoring our efforts to reach out, and bloodily smashing a pro-democracy movement.
Israel furious, and the Palestinians as stubborn and unyielding as ever.
An executive order to close Guantanamo Bay within one year ignored.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed coming back to the Big Apple.
Unremitting violence on our southern border.
Average retail price of gasoline rising from $1.86/gallon to $2.61/gallon.
A stellar cabinet of Tom Daschle, Bill Richardson, Nancy Killifer, Van Jones, Kevin Jennings . . .
56 percent of the almost 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations going to political appointees or donors instead of career diplomats.

So what would have gotten a “C-minus” from the president?

Put another way, in Obama’s eyes, this year was almost as good as it gets.