Managing Expectations

What was Barack Obama thinking when he was driving from the White House to the Capitol to be sworn in? Was he worried about his speech? Was he thinking about the burdens he was about to inherit as he chatted amiably with the man from whom he would inherit them?

And how about when he drove back, waving to the adoring crowds who were so inspired by him. Was he thinking about his friend Ted Kennedy who collapsed during the luncheon at the Capitol and had to be rushed to the hospital? Was he wondering how he, the now President Obama, or anyone else, could possibly live up to the expectations his fellow citizens had for him?

Success in public life is often a matter of exceeding expectations. The latest CBS News/New York Times poll shows that 79% of Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Obama as President. How can anyone exceed those expectations?

Imagine what it must be like for a new President to be taking office at a time like this, when so much is going wrong and yet so many people think that he can make it right. He knows how tough it will be to solve the problems we face. The question is, do we?

In the days leading up to his inauguration, you could tell the President-Elect was trying to manage our expectations. In every speech, he talked about the hard road ahead of us. He talked about the sacrifices he was going to ask of every American. And then he really hammered it home in his Inaugural Address when he talked about the dawning of a new era of responsibility. It was as if he knew that in the long run we will prevail in the challenges before us but in the short run he is going to disappoint an awful lot of people. That knowledge, in itself, must be one heck of a burden.

©Copyright 2009 by Keith Ellis; All Rights Reserved

Comments

[Cheap North Face]

He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.

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Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

[Melissa Dodge]

Well said Julie! I've been shaking my head over those Obama supporters who have criticized the choice of Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation. Have they not been paying attention? Barack Obama has stood firmly upon a platform of unity and bipartisanship. I believe he really does mean 'WE' in the collective sense. You, me, and 'them' over there-- who are not like you and I, who don't think as we do or hold the same priorities. 'WE' are America and the only way to get 'there' is to go together. Yes, the road ahead is going to be difficult. But like any goal worth attaining it is going to take some hard work.
Like it or not we must find common ground with those we have viewed as adversaries. To paraphrase Dr. King let us judge by the content of one's character and not by the color of their skin...religion, orientation, or whether their names are followed by an R or D.
It is time to supplant the culture of fear with a journey of hope.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord".
Barack Obama Jan. 20, 2009

[Julie Kehrli]

I was struck by a conversation with a friend recently who related how disappointed she was in Obama already because he had the audacity to include Republicans in the conversation. My initial thought was to wonder how Obama can possibly succeed when those who should support him the most already question his motives. My response to my friend was that Obama had made it clear early on that he was going to be the President of everyone, not just those who think like him. I couldn't agree more. The only way to get us back on track and put a dent in the ugly partisanship we've endured is to include everyone at the table. They may not think like you, but most are contributing members to their communities, attend PTA meetings, pay taxes, worry about their families, and suffer the same indignities we all do on a daily basis.