Between the inability to build a working consensus in a Senate with 60 Democrats and the decision to go to a Copenhagen summit that appears to be devolving into a bitter, intractable fight (with the usual punks rioting outside), you would think Barack Obama had never held a serious executive position before.

The inspiring message from Obama’s emissaries to the summit before he arrives? “Our commitment is tied to our anticipated legislation. We don’t want to promise something we don’t have.”