This column by Dan Gerstein highlights the President-elect’s most powerful appeal–and his greatest challenge. His supporters want him to use his powers of “persuasion” and his skill as “explainer in chief” in the auto industry crisis. Gerstein declares:

But the mess in Motown could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Obama. It provides a unique opportunity to test drive his new model of leadership–and if he succeeds, whether it is tomorrow or two months from now, to begin restoring the American people’s confidence that the president and Congress can come together to solve national problems.

To do what? And for what purpose? Why is government intervention superior to Chapter 11? Moreover, the notion that the President-elect (or even the President) can personally reorder an entire industry is not terribly realistic. At some point, the atmospherics and process-fetish must end. Then, real policy decisions–revealing Obama’s true philosophy and disappointing some allies–must be made. So rather than reveling in his negotiating skills, his admirers should explain what he believes. Then we will all know. But intervening for the sake of intervening, and negotiating for the sake of a deal, are not a good idea. Anyone familiar with the Middle East “peace process” knows that.