The White House is still an insular operation. But even as he's bringing these people, which is an acknowledgment that he had to do something, he's never gone really out of his comfort zone. He's never done the equivalent of reaching out to a Jim Baker, who had run the two campaigns against Ronald Reagan as chief of staff...

From PBS Newshour on 12-13-2013:

JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, while -- just before we leave the subject altogether, watching all this, the president -- and we have watched new -- a number of new polls come out this week showing his approval rating down, the lowest of his presidency, in the last couple of weeks, Michael.

There are some staff changes at the White House. What does all this say about what is going on one year into the second term?

MICHAEL GERSON: Well, the deal was an example, to some extent.

The president had almost no influence on the deal. He was marginal to it. It didn't embody any of his legislative priorities, very much a bystander in this. Now, you can never count a president out. President Bush in his second term, at a low point, did the surge in Iraq. This is an inherently powerful position.

But the president faces real challenges. The Senate is very much up for grabs, which would be a huge blow to the president. There are increasing questions in the polling about his credibility, particularly because of some promises on Obamacare, and his competence. These are long-term challenges for the president as he tries to, you know, reconstitute his influence.

MARK SHIELDS: Yes, what the president has going for him right now with the reservoir, is people do like him. But he's taken a hit, make no mistake about it, Judy.

You have got 54 percent now in the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll disapproving of the job he's doing.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Highest ever disapproval.

MARK SHIELDS: The highest ever.

And you have also got half of voters saying they're disappointed or dissatisfied in his performance in office. So, there is no question. The people he is bringing back, John Podesta was a superb chief of staff under Bill Clinton.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Bringing him back as a senior adviser.

MARK SHIELDS: And Phil Schiliro is a gifted congressional liaison, knows the Hill very well.

But even as he's bringing these people, which is an acknowledgment that he had to do something, he's never gone really out of his comfort zone. He's never done the equivalent of reaching out to a Jim Baker, who had run the two campaigns against Ronald Reagan...

JUDY WOODRUFF: Who was Ronald Reagan's -- right.

MARK SHIELDS: ... and bringing him in as a chief of staff.

And I think -- you know, I think that still remains a little problem. It's still an insular operation.

JUDY WOODRUFF: This kind of thing, though, Michael, can make a difference for the president in getting his agenda...

MICHAEL GERSON: It can.

But I'm afraid his problem, his main problem is not a personnel problem right now. It's the implementation of Obamacare, which is a huge challenge, with very disappointing uptake, with dislocations in insurance markets because of regulation, with new taxes coming on in the new year.

This is the substantive challenge he faces that's not going to be solve by personnel issues.