Why is the White House messaging so terrible?

[Stoic]

Why is it a man who had such success shaping his message and reaching out to a variety of constituencies during the election cycle had such a terrible time getting the word out on his (albeit modest) achievements in the White House?

The answer, as least as I see it, is that he surrounded himself with the usual suspects and Establishment types who desperately want to make sure the powers-that-be and Big Donors don't perceive Obama as some kind of reformer or aberration from a nice safe CEO, don't rock the gravy train insider.

If some of us don't see the light of his success it's because he keeps it safely hidden under a bushel. President Obama has a bully pulpit. He needs to start using it and STOP playing it safe.