A few days back I wrote a post comparing the troubles of the Republican Party to the woes faced by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and today I want to offer another relevant hockey analogy. Last year, the Penguins came within two games of winning the Stanley Cup. Going into this season, many fans and experts expected nothing less of the Pens than earning a top playoff seed and perhaps even a return to the Stanley Cup Finals. Right now, however, the Penguins are struggling to maintain a winning record and simply make the playoffs — widely considered to be a given entering the season. The failed expectations have resulted in people making calls ranging from the extreme, such as firing head coach Michel Therrien, to the outright absurd, calling for trading Sidney Crosby, who is almost universally considered to be among the best hockey talents in the world.
This is a simple example that clearly demonstrates the fact that expectations can be truly damning when they are not satisfactorily fulfilled. Therefore, as President Obama takes office today, it is important to note the incredibly high expectations facing his administration and the possible repercussions of those expectations.
Indeed, a New York Times/CBS News poll notes that “hopes for the new president are extraordinarily high,” while today’s Gallup poll finds that 72% of Americans think the country will be better off in four years and that 62% expect Obama to be an outstanding or above average President. U.S. News and World Report writes that, “Americans’ expectations for the nation’s 44th president are, like the estimated million-strong crowd at his inauguration, at a historic high.”
Abraham Lincoln, to whom President Obama has looked for inspiration, once cautioned, “The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time.” These high hopes for the Obama administration could turn to disappointment and frustration if, for example, the economy continues to sour in the long term after Obama passes his stimulus package. If, in the eyes of Americans, our new President successfully meets the expectations, Democrats will have a strong position in 2010, and he will likely be nearly impossible to defeat in 2012; however, if the public believes he failed to meet these expectations, it may well open the door to significant Republican electoral opportunities in 2010 and beyond.
That said, today is a day to put political differences aside. As a nation we are all in this together, and so I sincerely wish President Obama the best in leading this incredible nation through these difficult times. Congratulations President Obama!
Last 5 posts by Aaron Marks
- Onward and Upward: Building a Sustainable Majority - January 22nd, 2010
- Dear Young Voters: This Is What You Get When You Don't Vote - December 1st, 2009
- The Youth Vote and the 2009 Elections - November 6th, 2009
- The Best of the Post-2009 Election Spin - November 5th, 2009
- Introducing NextGenGOP Executive Director James Kane - October 20th, 2009
