Life must be difficult right now for those who try to criticize and spew forth nasty attacks at President Obama. They can’t seem to land any punches. In trying to follow my spiritual teachings since childhood, this calls for having compassion for those throwing the punches. It must be so frustrating. Just what can you do with a man so obviously undeterred by your attacks?

 Barack Obama simply carries on with magnificence and inner strength, rising well above the levels of the attacks upon him. Nothing angers and frustrates a low-level attacker more than trying to land a punch that is not taken. Watching this play out, especially during this election year, is truly revealing. Political opponents and certain media outlets keep yammering and hammering away but with nothing from Obama except yet another rich and meaningful speech and/or interview.

 Can’t you just feel the build-up of frustration? It is palpable. Sadly, there are those who live their lives trying to get to the top by climbing over bodies of those they have knocked down. One does not have to look very far to see all this in action.

 One of the Republicans’ greatest fears? It is when our president gets out on the campaign trail and begins to talk and explain in clear terms just where we are as a nation, as a world, and what it is going to take to move us forward and solve our problems. His rhetoric and sensible logic will affect even those who have been trying so hard to conjure up good reasons to hate the man.

 I am looking forward to the next few months. Are you?

—Bob McClellan, Polson