by Darren Robertson

Created on: August 15, 2010   Last Updated: August 16, 2010

Not so long ago the U.S. had an “unpopular” president.  Every liberal media outlet in North America, and across the world, denounced this president as the worst one seen in the history of the U.S.  The perception was created that this president alone brought on many of the U.S.’s troubles.

All anyone had to do under this president was “Blame Bush” and all would be forgiven.

Any incoming president would certainly raise the standard, for it was not believed that the presidential standard could be brought any lower.

The U.S. though wasn’t offered just any person for the presidency of their great country.  They had Barack Obama to vote for.  With Obama, his people believed he would not only step over the lowered expectations his predecessor created, he would raise the standard.

What we have all learned from this experience is that not one individual person can shoulder all the blame or take all the credit.

Obama had much of the world eating out of his hands.  Leading up to his victorious presidential election, it seemed he could do no wrong.  He was the chosen one.

Since his election, Obama has been brought down to earth.  We have to wonder with all the glorious promises he made if he had any idea as to what he was getting himself into.  I recall on television when newscasts showed footage of Obama sitting with Vladimir Putin.  Putin had educated a stunned looking Obama about the Cold War during their time together.

The economy hasn’t fared any better under Obama either.  Unemployment continues to grow.  They are struggling to hang on to any jobs they can and hoping to create a few new ones along the way.  I do believe that in time Obama’s investment in the green economy will improve the fortunes of the U.S., it will just take some time.

Obama’s handling of natural disasters hasn’t helped his image with the American public.  His predecessor was widely criticized for mishandling Hurricane Katrina, and Obama’s handling of the Gulf Oil spill hasn’t been well received either.

The American public has lowered their expectations of Obama.  His administration has consistently tried to “Blame Bush” for their troubles, but even the public can only buy into that for so long.  With a weak economy, job losses mounting, and Obama’s inability to get his hands dirty, he may no longer be the darling the American public had elected.

The troubles facing the U.S. today are not only those of one president.  It is not so simple to say that one president created it and the other left to deal with it.  To go into a presidency with such high approval as Obama did can only lead to a downswing in this support.  The decisions left to a president are too great for them to be revered as a movie star. 

Obama was, if we all remember, elected on hope.  Many people who thought life would instantly change under Obama’s message of hope have been disappointed to learn nothing has changed.

Are Americans lowering their expectations of Obama?  For the reasons given above, many Americans have.  For those who haven’t lowered their expectations may want to do so, because if the political scene remains as it appears today, Obama may not get a chance at a second term.

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