Secret to Recovery: Optimism Obama, Boehner must promote American confidence By Matt Cantor Posted Nov 5, 2010 1:54 PM CDT Copied In this Jan. 29, 2010, file photo, President Barack Obama holds up a document of Republican solutions given to him by House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) There’s a big economic problem that’s been keeping a low profile: American confidence, writes David Smick in the Washington Post. “Between $2.5 trillion and $4 trillion of private capital is waiting on the sidelines to ‘reliquify’ a new era of American confidence and innovation,” he notes. Now, we need a bipartisan effort to create an environment that inspires optimism. President Obama and the next Speaker need to focus on “private-sector innovation,” asking themselves, “What conditions would induce a talented innovator in this threatening climate to take the risk of striking out with a new job-creating venture?” We must brace for “a long, hard slog,” but remember: “our national mood could make the difference between success and failure.” Read These Next The Wall Street Journal is naming more names tied to Epstein. RIP, Chuck Mangione. Hulk Hogan has died. The first video of an earthquake fault slip led to a major discovery. Report an error