Obama's "actual positions" have become very much clearer in recent weeks, and portend to become clearer still. Its why I secretly delight in my series of "Bush's Third Term" posts--There aren't in fact, that many different ways to skin a cat, and the Obama administration choices will be as constrained by reality as were those of Bush administration.

...when you're actually the "decider," splitting the differences becomes much more difficult. That's why we have that saying: "To govern is to choose." It will be in his choices that we will know the man.

Charles Krauthammer wrote that after six months, it will be the Obama economy. I recall that Dan Riehl took exception to this, explaining that the media is squarely behind the man. I'll go with Dr. K on this for the simple reason that the state media in other countries have never really been able to insulate their governments from public disapproval. History demonstrates that even Saint Roosevelt couldn't keep the ducks lined up. In his second term, newly resurgent Republicans teamed up with moderate Democrats opposed to the New Deal. Roosevelt managed to defeat only one moderate Democrat from New York City.

Being on what we used to call internet-time in the early part of this century, Obama won't have a full term to work with. Expectations are huge and unreasonable--in no small part because Democrats made them that way (remember the woman who thought Obama would pay her mortgage and put gas in her car?)

The crucify Messiahs don't they?

UPDATE: Here's a perfect example of someone who is going to be mad as a hornet in a little while..

Barack Obama has only four years to save the world. That is the stark assessment of Nasa scientist and leading climate expert Jim Hansen who last week warned only urgent action by the new president could halt the devastating climate change that now threatens Earth. Crucially, that action will have to be taken within Obama's first administration, he added.

Soaring carbon emissions are already causing ice-cap melting and threaten to trigger global flooding, widespread species loss and major disruptions of weather patterns in the near future. "We cannot afford to put off change any longer," said Hansen. "We have to get on a new path within this new administration. We have only four years left for Obama to set an example to the rest of the world. America must take the lead."

...or will he simply declare Earth "saved" in four years?