Waiting and hopeful

A cartoon by Rex Babin, reprinted in the AJC from The Sacramento Bee, captures what many of us are feeling: we face the worst combination of crises in our lifetimes, and yet we are hopeful.

The cartoon shows the typical outgoing 2008 Father Time, with his long white beard and scythe and hour-glass in hand. But, instead of the diaper-draped baby 2009, there is the bare-chested, fit Barak Obama striding confidently up from the Hawaiian beach, ready for the transfer of responsibility.

Less than a year ago, it was widely feared that he lacked the experience to be president. And in that year the job only got more formidable, as the crises deepened and new ones emerged. Yet, here we are, counting down the days and impatiently waiting for him to be in charge. One of his fiercest critics is now in his cabinet; conservative pundits are impressed; even far-right nay-sayers, like Pat Robertson and Bay Buchannan, are praising him. And 80% of the people have a favorable opinion and are hopeful that he will make things better.

My guess is that he is not literally the Messiah, but that he is an extraordinary leader and that he will emerge as a great president. We will inevitably be disappointed in some ways -- it would be humanly, perhaps even divinely, impossible to accomplish everything we need, not even to mention pleasing everyone.

But I think the best evidence of what we can expect is the fact that the turn-around of his image did not come from Karl Rovian image-manipulation, nor even from the simple fact that he won. No, he went from "inexperienced" to "longed-for leader" because it has become quite clear from his every action that his wisdom and intelligence are far more important than how many years he has been in Washington.

Eighteen days to go.

Ralph