Chicago Hope

Not the old TV series of that name - the one in which Mandy Patinkin performed one of his patented disappearing acts after the first season.  No, I'm talking here about the Hope which has come out of the City of Big Shoulders in the person of Barack Obama, now deep into his first 100 days as our President.

Hope is critical.  Hope is what we need most at the moment, as a Nation, and it sure seems the World needs it too.  And the World seems to be looking at us - at President Obama, if not for answers, then at least leadership in Hope.  

We and the World haven't received much more from America's leaders in the past 8 years than admonitions to be very afraid, but trust in them to do what is necessary.  Being very afraid was easy to do, but trust in Bush and his people was a hard ask given their obvious self-serving, condescending take on governing.  And trust became all but impossible after the lies used to justify Iraq began collapsing one by one.

Barack Obama has our trust, and that of the World, for now.  His brief tenure hasn't been perfect, with missteps here and there due to, perhaps, inexperience, but just as likely the result of the complexity of the challenges that face his administration.  There have been those mistakes, both in substance and in tone, that have given pause to us and encouragement to those who wish him to fail.  Even so, the Hope he has brought with him from Chicago continues to hold sway.  We are forgiving and resilient in our support - for now.

If President Obama appoints Mandy Patinkin for any critical post, however, all bets are off.