Daniel Drezner has resisted the temptation to label the Obama Administration "protectionist," but now he's finding it more difficult. He's particularly concerned about the recent tire tariffs, announced Friday, because it's not "your garden-variety protectionism" and China's response has been particularly strong and swift. He also thinks the Obama Administration will have difficulty reversing course and (rightly) fears the protectionist elements within the Obama's base: "If I knew this was where the Obama administration would stop with this sort of nonsense, I'd feel a bit queasy but chalk it up to routine trade politics. When I look at Obama's base, however, queasiness starts turning into true nausea."

More from noted right-wing Obama critic Brad DeLong.