As the world continues to descend deeper into chaos, the most stinging criticisms of President Barack Obama are that he is detached, disinterested, uninvolved, etc. The logic is that the reason things are getting worse is because the President isn’t leading and that a checked out American President leads to disaster around the world and domestically.

However, if the White House is to be taken at its word (don’t laugh) – that Obama is fully engaged – another logical conclusion is that Obama must be destroying the country on purpose.

The White House is bristling at suggestions President Obama is disconnected, checked out or out of touch.

White House allies maintain that the storyline of a checked-out president is a myth drummed up by the media during the summer doldrums.

“It’s bullshit,” said one former senior administration official. “This is a guy who reads 10 letters a day simply to keep in touch with the American people. He spends all his time thinking about the economy and improving lives of the American people. He’s constantly in touch.”

Obama has been criticized as out of touch by critics and supporters, with the subject discussed at length by the media.

The criticism has been underlined by Obama’s decision to repeatedly golf over his two-week vacation, including minutes after giving a statement to the media about the execution of journalist James Foley.

There are only a few explanations for Obama’s refusal to confront America’s enemies (to include leaving the southern border wide open) or otherwise preside over the decline of the country: 1.) he is detached / checked out (White House maintains this is not the case); 2.) it’s all by design because he hates this country or is in league with America’s enemies or 3.) cowardice.

He cannot have the perception that it’s by design take hold because that would carry with it severe consequences for him personally; ditto the issue of being fearful. Therefore, he must go the extra mile to create the perception that he’s just detached.

Perhaps the White House would do better to keep the “checked out” narrative going.

The alternative – if made known to the American people – could be far more disastrous for the administration (but better for the country).