As Republicans gnaw at each other’s throats, playing a desperate game of “I’m more conservative than you,” something yet more depressing and deeply ironic is occurring: Capitalism is saving Obama.

◼ Lucky Barack - Roger L Simon/PJM

What a lucky man Obama has been and apparently still is. Perhaps we should call him Lucky Barack, in homage to Kingsley Amis’ Lucky Jim. But in actuality the President more closely resembles Chauncey Gardiner of Jerzy Kosinki’s Being There. That comparison is surprisingly apt. Obama is essentially a pseudo-intellectual, dyspeptic and self-centered version of Gardiner, originally and ironically named Chance, rising out of obscurity to everyone’s astonishment to be president of the United States.

Of course, Obama’s rise is not entirely accidental. A major characteristic of modern liberal/leftism, indeed one of its hallmarks, is a kind of determined fakery, using a pretense of anti-capitalism as a masquerade for greed. It’s an old and cynical game. Many of the richest people in the world are self-described liberals who shout loudly for supposed “progressive” causes, creating foundations proclaiming their goody-goodyism while quietly salting away billions for personal gain.

Obama is the perfect president for them.