Still, I do intend to listen to him take the oath of office tomorrow (a moment of history) and listen to his inaugural speech (his rhetorical skills are undeniable).

As to the whole "hope and change" thing... he has so far proven himself to be just exactly what I thought he was... a pragmatic centrist with a leftward tilt. Is he, in the future, going to p*ss me off?

Of course. Does that mean I can not enjoy the moment tomorrow? Not hardly. After all, we could have had just another old white guy stuttering thru another green "is that change we can beleive in" speech with a sick sycophantic grin on his face.

Why in the world do you find the playing of the National Anthem at a sporting event "mildly creepy"?

Because, outside the Olympics and similar competitions, it's just out of place.

OK James, I have you pegged for the commie-pinko-jihadist you really are now. I mean, what are the last 2 words of the National Anthem?????

"PLAY BALL!"

(I have to say I am with you on the hockey thing tho... Never heard the words, "Play Puck!" yet...

Who would argue? But we elected the leader of the free world, not a bar buddy.

"And, while his lack of experience concerns me, he’s generally done a fantastic job of assembling a governing team."

Fantastic? Good, perhaps, tax cheats and foreign policy neophytes aside. But that experience gap is huge.

"Still, he’s just a man and almost every president — and that includes the sainted Ronald Reagan — fails to live up to the hopes they inspired in the campaign."

Absolutely, and why some of us deplore the constant slobbering over politicians, and govt, as the solution to our ills.

Politics seems a creepy form of sport. Except the score actually matters......

Yes, he probably won't be able to keep all his promises, and I'm sure Polifact will point out those (in the list) that he didn't keep.

As you pointed out in your original post, Polifact did not credit Obama for No. 13---they made it clear that it was fulfilled back in October. Still, what should they do? He did in fact make the promise, and it did in fact happen. Which of the categories would you have chosen for No. 13? The choices:

* Promise Kept
* Compromise
* Promise Broken
* Stalled
* In the Works
* No Action

assume your problem is with No. 13---but, as they say, it was a promise that Obama made, and that the Democratic Congress passed, and that Bush signed. So the promise is fulfilled.

With support like that, he can't lose huh? I didn't say it was a "problem", I said they were pushing him. By pushing him, as with most media, they are putting unrealistic expectations on him via giving him credit for something he had nothing to do with. He said he was going to solve the BCS issue as well. The President nor Congress has anything to do with the BCS. If the BCS decides to go to a playoff system, which the entire country has been demanding since that farce was created, I guess he'll get credit for that as well. However, if they don't, is anyone going to blame Obama? I mean, he has nothing to do with it. Right? Will everyone just forget all about the promise? With the double-standard and hypocrisy media and others have shown for Obama, my point has been when people start realizing they are not going to get everything they expected right now, ie the stoners, it could get a lot uglier than it ever needed to be if the media et al had not made him out to be some messiah. I just think the media especially needs to tone down their idol worship of the guy so that he has a chance to do what any mortal can do in a very difficult and often uncooperative environment.

I don't quite understand the remark about Polifact giving Obama credit for legislation he had nothing to do with---they show only 2 promises kept (so far):

No. 13: Require taxpayers to report more detail on capital gains taxes

No. 503: Appoint at least one Republican to the cabinet

I assume your problem is with No. 13---but, as they say, it was a promise that Obama made, and that the Democratic Congress passed, and that Bush signed. So the promise is fulfilled.

Why in the world do you find the playing of the National Anthem at a sporting event "mildly creepy"?

Because, outside the Olympics and similar competitions, it's just out of place. Hell, some of our baseball and hockey teams are comprised primarily of non-Americans.

Why in the world do you find the playing of the National Anthem at a sporting event "mildly creepy"?

I find it to be a great opportunity. Its the best time hit the beer stand--no lines. Let all those lapel-pin wearing saps belt it out Rosanne-style. I'm stocking up on cold ones!

He kind of weakens his argument with his inconsistency.

I think the media has been overly adoring of Obama, and I am curious to see how long this adoration lasts once Obama owns it all come noon tomorrow.