Betting on Obama to Quickly Show His Greatness (De Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
"When you're
the only man in the world mightier than Angela Merkel, and the most
promise-laden president in history, one must measure the time left to fulfill
those high expectations in months. ... An American president during his first
term is mainly concerned with securing a second, and of his second four years,
he has about 23 months to blossom into a great president - or a failure. ... To
be very well aware of that, and to come out with a speech like Obama's on
Monday: one has to be a tough cookie and an incorrigible optimist, too."
When he flies out of Washington on January 21, 2017, Barack
Obama will be 55, returning to Chicago to write his autobiography. He will have had
two terms as president of the United States and will have fulfilled his mission
in life. For an American president the transition from young and promising to
old and discarded takes place over a maximum of eight years. A heavy price.
According to U.S. correspondent ArieElshout, Obama will have to produce in 2013 and 2014.
Because in 2015, the next campaign begins, and the incumbent president is
finished. After the inaugural speech, Adam Nagourney
wrote in The New York Times that
Obama really has to go for it in the State of the Union on February 12. He must
be quick, "before the light of his presidency begins to dim" in March
or April.
Inequality
Democracy is a matter of very short breaths. When you're the
only man in the world mightier than Angela Merkel, and the most promise-laden
president in history, one must measure the time left to fulfill those high
expectations in months.
An American president during his first term is mainly
concerned with securing a second, and of his second four years, he has about 23
months to blossom into a great president - or a failure.
Posted By
Worldmeets.US
To be very well aware of that, and to come out with a speech
like Obama's on Monday: one has to be a tough cookie and an incorrigible
optimist, too.
Obama knows that Congress is full of Republicans who are
more concerned with stopping all of his plans. In addition, his country's debt
is more than $16 trillion. Although in relative terms, Belgium is not inferior
in terms of debt, in a Dutch inaugural speech, dark clouds like these would
result in a speech full of "tightening belts" and "living within
our means."
But not in Washington, capital of optimism. As Obama said:
"My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize
it."
Barack Obama will fight inequality, put Wall Street bankers
on an even shorter leash, expand health care, build roads and schools, curb gun
violence, and take the initiative in the battle against climate change.
Furthermore, there will be an end to a decade of war, the economy will grow,
and the middle classes will rise again.
And that's not all, if it's up to Obama.
Progressive
You may think: "dream on Barack, these things will come
to nothing."
But you may also say this: "It's wonderful that the most
powerful man in the world dares make such a hopeful speech and send such a
progressive message to the world, far from the cynicism and pessimism that is
de rigueur in Europe."
America is rather grim right now, but its leader did what
leaders are supposed to do: set out a course that promises a better society and
passionately try to mobilize support for it.
He had Reverend Luis Leon offer the benediction, who was
born in Guantanamo - things also have to change there.
Obama needs a little more time. But nevertheless, after his
speech I was more hopeful than before. Can he grow into a great president and
inspiring world leader in just 23 months? I certainly wouldn't rule it out.
