David Gergen actually said...

"I think the president is trying to heat up the rivalry again in doing this, but at the same time, it diminishing his presidency."

"I think that the concern, of course, is that we're edging ever more closely toward potential conflict."

"He's very much more in a prime ministerial role and even with that, his -- where the tweets and everything else, the level of discourse is below that we've seen from any other President I can remember..."

"This first year has not only been controversial but it has accelerating trend that's been danger for the presidency, and that is the seeping away of influence and authority."