I’VE been saying this for a while, but now it feels even more acute: America’s democracy has shrunken to “the only 100 days.” Since F.D.R., we’ve measured presidents by their “first 100 days.” But now it’s really “the only 100 days.” Presidents lately seem to have just those 100 days to lay down a transformational agenda and get it passed in their first year — before they have to tailor their politics to the midterm elections — and then, if, as often happens, their party loses the midterms they have to focus on the next presidential election. China has five-year plans. We have 100 days every four. So all I’m thinking about now is how we get the most out of the first 100 days of 2013 — our next quadrennial chance to make serious policy (barring a crisis that forces our hand).
— http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/friedman-the-next-first-and-only-100-days.html
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