The president's cratering popularity, the lengthening odds at re-election and the emergence of scandals (particularly Fast and Furious) may be creating tensions inside the White House. A report from an "insider" portrays the First Lady as erupting at staff members (she has a score of them) that they had to call in security . Meanwhile the president may be falling into a funk and wearing makeup all the time (male makeup, the kind anchormen wear).

The rumor feeds into conservative portrayals of Michelle Obama as an alpha female and President Obama as a vain man with a Narcissistic personality. But I caution that this report comes from a site that claims it is from an anonymous insider.

However, the White House has plenty of need for concern. The unemployment rate continues to be stuck at 9%. The deficit gambit in which President Obama tried to pull Republicans into a trap backfired when Standard & Poor dropped the federal credit rating from AAA and the blame fell on the president (leading to the new monicker of ObamAA+).