Obama is in a similar position as FDR just before World War II

The best way I might put this is that the bickering between the Democrats and Republicans about petty things isn't very useful in the world right now with something that looks a lot like a "World War II" kind of situation beginning on at least two fronts(three if you include what China is doing in the Pacific Region). So, however, the parties can manage it they need to get over petty differences and deal with the Survival of the U.S. as things go haywire one by one (or ten by ten) lately around the world.