Obama: The 1st 100 hours

Pundits have a problem writing about Barack Obama and his administration: There's both plenty to say, and it's just too soon to say anything. Most reporters are dwelling upon minutia, so I'd dwell on the few certainties we have after the first 100 hours. Most of these relate to the fantastic, paranoid pre-election perceptions about President Obama that kept the country on edge of its collective seat for months. Conservatives and liberals together have some tough challenges in the months ahead, so it's worth revisiting some once commonly held views about the president.

First, he didn't take the oath of office on the Quran, unless there was something about Abraham Lincoln we didn't know. He used Lincoln's Bible, and the only odd thing about the swearing in was that it was fumbled by otherwise smart conservative Chief Justice John Roberts.
Next, President Obama isn't a closet socialist or communist, unless there's something about Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner – arch-capitalist and former chief of New York's Federal Reserve Bank – that we don't know. In fact, the only thing we didn't know about him was that made that most upper class American error: He screwed up on his nanny taxes.

President Obama's administration of American foreign policy is not being turned over to al-Qaida. It is being given to Hillary Clinton, who, you may remember, was the conservative alternative to the "radical" candidate Obama during the Democratic primary. Despite election talk craziness, don't expect to see Osama bin Laden, Hamas or Iran's president invited to any White House receptions. In fact, some foreign policy experts think Iran's president may actually have been weakened by Obama's election – the mullahs want better relations with the U.S., and the former is now seen as an obstacle.

The U.S. military will not be replaced by groups of "community organizers." It will be managed by highly regarded Bush Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. And, while Obama has asked his defense team for a slow drawdown of troops from Iraq, he's just ordered thousands more Marines to Afghanistan. So much for holding hands and singing Kumbaya.
I could go on, but I think you get the point – this administration is about as middle of the road, inside the envelope, and mainstream as any ever elected. No, Obama is not a Republican, and he has already made some changes long dear to the Democratic Party: liberalizing abortion money for overseas groups (which Bill Clinton also did on his day one) or asking that the public relations disaster of Gitmo be closed in a year (which many in the Bush administration had also recommended.) And yes, given the chance, he'll probably appoint some liberals to the Supreme Court. But so far, he hasn't taken anyone's guns away.

So when Rush Limbaugh declares that he wants Obama "to fail," he's not talking about Hamas, Iran's president or bin Laden. He's talking about a president who enjoys a 75 percent approval rating and with good reason: Obama is us – all of us – thinks like us, acts like us, liberal here, conservative there, unsure somewhere else – indeed, no crazier than your boss or significant other. And much to the dismay of lefty culture warriors, he even smokes cigarettes!
So, Rush, my friend, join the public and even some of your listeners: Settle down, and give the man a chance.