generalspeaking

Vast Expectations

First the miracle of sufficient numbers of American voters casting their ballots for an urbane, principled, calmly responsible and intelligently responsive candidate for President of the United States. Fulfilling the dreams of a very large, previously unentitled demographic.

Enthusing, in the process, the hopes and aspirations of people of good will anxious to transform their country into one more representative of their Constitution's goals. And offering to reciprocate trust and hope for the future in all he inspired.
He must now reach beyond the tenuous promises he emoted that so enraptured his audiences.

Now, to fulfill his destiny. Will he be capable of delivering even a modest proportion of the hopes entrusted in this man? He does, after all, inherit an troubled country of vast differences in entitlements, opportunities and worldly acquisitions.

He responded to the emotional plight of a country reeling in disbelief at the cost in lives and treasury support of waging two foreign wars, only to find that their national financial security and with it, their own future security, has imploded.

He has graciously, as becoming the chief executive officer of his country, informed the entire population that it his intention to represent all their best interests. But those who supported the audacity of his candidacy and his vision of a better tomorrow, feel entitled to closer, kinder, more attentive representation.

And all those special interest groups who chose to champion this leader feel especially entitled.

He did caution everyone, his supporters and those who did not support him that it would not do to anticipate too much, too soon. His agenda, and theirs, might take quite a long time to see fulfillment. Certainly not in his first year in office, and perhaps not even in his first four-year term.

Not fully imbibed in the euphoria of his reception, following his sombre speech of gratitude and acceptance of the heavy load he's been given.

For many of those who anticipate he will lead them immediately out of their travail into a land of comfort with a solution to all the problems that afflict their society, the near future will appear with a thump of disappointment. Their goals are unrealistic, but yet goaded into expectation by a mantra of promissory 'yes we cans'.

And certainly they can hope, but not to hold one's breath for too prolonged a period.
He is only human, despite his imperial stature and messianic appeal.

He has set about steadily and carefully assembling a supportive and reliable team of actors who will in time reveal just how successful he may be in reaching his goals, with their considerable assistance. His overtures have been placatory, politically impartial, and hopeful.

Unions, immigrants, Latinos, environmentalists, anti-war groups, will simply have to exercise patience.

President-elect Obama is ambitiously determined, but he will require the stars to align in the bowl of the sky overlooking this Globe and his country, to enable him to accomplish a generous fraction of his aspirations for his country.

Labels: Political Realities, United States

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, November 19, 2008