I am more comfortable believing that Obama is simply in way over his head, exhausted, uncertain, confused, and fearing the backlash coming at the polls in 2010.
But - maybe it is in fact more than that. Maybe his is really "Off" in some way...
I'd be astonished if The White House announced that, "The President's Cheese had done Slid Off His Cracker."
However, the more you see unusual items in the news, the more sense a "conspiracy theory" grows. The latest was Obama's appearance on The View. While many took this as pandering to his consituancy to try to increase his personal poll ratings, it can be more accurately viewed as a personal therapy session.
Why would going on The View increase his popularity? Everyone watching the view already likes him. No: the purpose was to build up a deteriorating ego.
I expect it to continue to degrade: he will not run again for office (a la Jimmy Carter), and we will see fewer and fewer public appearances. Dems will begin to float 2012 contenders after November, when they are able to assess the damage.