With U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Republican governors such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie  framing the national political debate these days, despondent Democrats are scratching their heads wondering what happened to the magical mandate for change they conferred on all-star Democratic candidate Barack Obama in 2008; the president who appears to have turned into a hesitant political bystander two years on.

We asked two local Democrats, ascendant progressive state Rep. Marko Liias, who still signs his emails "Yes we can," and dissident former state Rep. Brendan Williams, who gave up his seat in disgust last year thanks to what he saw as a tepid Democratic Party, whether Obama's presidency has fizzled.