More and more, Democrats are starting to worry they that they have a more um, colorful version of Jimmy Carter on their hands. Obama acts cool as a proverbial cucumber but that awful '70s show seems frightfully close to a rerun.

The quote by Eric Alterman, a political analyst and commentator, suggests that Democrats are beginning to worry about President Obama being compared to former President Jimmy Carter. Alterman uses the phrase "more colorful version of Jimmy Carter" to imply that Obama, despite his calm and composed demeanor ("cool as a proverbial cucumber"), could be facing similar challenges to those Carter faced during the 1970s. The mention of the "awful '70s show" evokes the difficulties and challenges of that era, including economic struggles and a perception of political ineffectiveness, which Alterman fears might be repeating under Obama's leadership.

In the quote, Alterman draws a parallel between Obama's presidency and Carter's, suggesting that despite the apparent calmness and composure of both leaders, they may face similar issues, particularly in terms of political challenges and public perception. He implies that, despite Obama’s efforts to remain cool and collected, the broader political landscape may be pushing him toward a similar fate as Carter, who faced declining public support and an economic crisis during his presidency.

The origin of this quote comes from Alterman’s critique of the political landscape during Obama’s time in office. As a political commentator, Alterman often analyzed the dynamics between past and present political figures, and in this case, he draws a comparison between two Democratic presidents. This remark reflects concerns among some Democrats about Obama's ability to navigate the pressures of his presidency and the potential for his leadership to be overshadowed by similar struggles faced by Carter in the 1970s.

Ultimately, Alterman’s quote raises questions about the future direction of Obama's presidency and whether it will follow a trajectory similar to that of Jimmy Carter's, especially in terms of political challenges and public opinion. The comparison suggests that no matter how composed or calm a president appears, they are still vulnerable to larger, unpredictable forces that can shape their legacy.