Matthews: Obamas not happy in the White House

>>> cameras into the host of chris matthews . chris has a great new book out

called "jack kennedy: elusive hero" and giving plenty of thought to this president. i began our conversation with a quote from his book.

>> you say, nations die or thrive on the ability and judgment of their leaders to stir them at perilous times. does barack obama have that ability to pass the proper judgment, to properly analyze and to stir this nation?

>> well, he has great analytical ability. he has clearly made the right judgments in his executive leadership. he has moved us effectively in self-defense in fighting terrorism. i'm not sure he's able to move the country. he had that ability as a candidate. and then the day he was inaugurated, mall filled with people, african-americans and everyone else, sent us home. worst mistake of his presidency. the day he got inaugurated, he sent us home and said, thank you now. watch how smart i am. that's the worst kind of notion of the president iscy. the presidency's not about being smart. most of our why does he want a second term? what's he going to do in the second term? more of this? is this it? is this as good as it gets? he has yet to tell us. he has not said one thing about what he would do in the second term. he never tells us what weiss going to do with reforming medicare, medicaid, social security , deal with long term debt, deal with the tax system? tell us why we're in this fight. commander, give us the orders and give us the mission. he hasn't done it. and i think it's the people around him, too many people around -- little kids with propellers on their heads. they're all virtual. politics, social networking -- i get these e-mails, you probably get them. i'm tired of getting them. i want to meet people. their idea of running a campaign is virtual universe of sending e-mails around to people. no, it's not. it's meeting people, forging alliances. it's white house meetings and dinner parties that go on till midnight. he should be sitting late at night with senators and members of congress and governors working together on how they're going to win this political fight that's coming.

>> you're --

>> i don't have a sense he's ever had a meeting. i hear stories you will not believe. not a single phone call since --

>> tell me one.

>> they don't call. he never calls. that's the -- that's the message. members of congress, i keep asking, when did you hear from him last?

>> silence.

>> he doesn't like their company.

>> you've just --

>> that's a problem, by the way.

>> you're just giving a bunch of contradictions in terms of the differences between jack kennedy and barack obama . are there --

>> differences.

>> differences --

>> well, both young, well educated, idealistic, incredibly well spoken, articulate, they have a great sense of poetry. they know how to say the right things about our country. obama is wonderfully skilled at evoking what america's all about. i think he's great at it. he thrills me when he does it. in fact, that's one of the reasons i was inspired by him. he talked about our country. he evokes our country from his background. but once having won the office he thought that was the end of it in connection to the american people . don't you feel -- i think everybody feels an absence of communication from the time he's been elected. it's not about not being left wing or too left. that's not his problem. it's connection. mrs. obama, she's an amazing asset. what has she done? obesity? how about connecting with the american people about being americans? i don't think she's -- i don't think she's happy. i don't think they like being in the white house . the american people can tell that. they don't seem thrilled at the fact the american people selected them as our first family. i don't sense the gratitude, happiness level, the thrill of being president. bill clinton loved being president every minute and you knew it.

>> you did get that sense.

>> that's what the american people liked. they like knowing the president's happy.

>> franc talk there from chris matthews . coming up later in the show we'll bring you part two of " office politics " with chris with more insight into chris 's view of the presidency. we remind all of you to watch "hardball" every night right here on msnbc.