expectations

first day in the big job. expectations remain very high.
in some ways president barack obama, and his team, have fanned the flames of expectation and in other ways expectation has been heaped on him by all and sundry.
if you had to choose when to be president of the united states of america now would, probably, not be the time, and i am sure gordon brown knows the feeling of poison chalice. as if he needed a reminder of what was ahead the dow jones registered heavy losses on inauguration day, as if to say, “what do you say to that mr. president?”
in some ways it is very reminiscent of that day in 1997 when tony blair became the prime minister. that day was characterised by a tremendous feeling of hope and limitless potential.
as obama made his inauguration speech those same feelings were there.
for some of us this leads to a situation of once bitten twice shy, a cynicism that has us wondering have we been sold snake oil? part of the problem is that obama and his team have not managed expectations that well and now the world is expecting the moon on a stick. (true i am ignoring the fact that obama and his team maybe supremely confident that they can carry out all their promises.)

it is possible though that so much is expected that no matter what obama does people will expect more.

obama: i have solved the middle east crisis, jews and arabs will now walk hand in hand and sing songs of love together forever and ever.
jews and arabs: but where are our ponies?

obama: i have healed the rift between christians and muslims nevermore shall there be hate.
christians and muslims: where are the ponies?

obama: racism is a thing of the past thanks to me. the klan and panther are now brothers in arms.
klan and panthers: ponies!!!

obama: i have solved the financ…
markets: pony now