With President Barack Obama set to make history this afternoon, the Editorial Board can't help but offer a word of caution as excitement over his presidency reaches epic proportions.
Gasp - has the Alligator Editorial Board taken a sharp turn to the right?
There is no denying the fact that we are extremely proud of America for putting race aside in electing Obama to the highest office in the land. Nor do we have anything but the kindest of words to bestow upon the man who ran a nearly flawless presidential campaign.
But when we get past the glitz and glamour of the inauguration, the Editorial Board wants clear-cut results from Obama before we start drawing comparisons to the likes of Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, JFK and other presidents of such ilk.
Quite simply, America and Obama himself are being set up for failure if the country is ready to deem his four years in office as a can't-miss success.
Do the words "Michael Jordan" and "baseball" ring any bells?
Yes, there is something undeniably special about Obama being the first black man to assume the presidency. Not to mention the long odds he faced and the stalwart opponents he defeated over the course of a truly tenuous process leading up to today's inauguration. But, let's give the man credit only when credit is due.
Sure, Obama represents change - but only in the sense that under his watch the country has rid itself of a failed agenda and now has the opportunity to rise from the ashes.
We cannot simply assume when Obama takes office the litany of problems currently plaguing our nation will suddenly dissipate overnight. Sadly, there are many who are caught up in the hype, throwing policy and careful planning out the window and expecting nothing short of a thriving economy by the weekend.
Dare we ask, has the bar been set so high that anything less than excellence may be deemed a failure on the part of Obama?
The Editorial Board is not a bunch of closeted McCain sympathizers nor do we aspire to be hockey moms one day.
Our concern over "Obamarama" lies in hoping the nation gives the man a chance to earn his reputation and remains optimistic when he does not convert water into wine during his first day in the Oval Office.
We strongly believe in Obama, and we hope for nothing but the best from the president challenged with one of the most arduous tasks in American history. But, Americans across the country need to realize Obama is a man - flawed and human just like the rest of us.
While we encourage you to throw your heartfelt support behind Obama, we hope you will keep in mind that placing unrealistic expectations on him will ultimately spell disappointment - and unfairly so.
That being said, the Editorial Board could not think of a sounder individual to lead the nation through the perils of economic failure and restore our standing in the world.
Barack Obama is on top of the world right now. Millions have descended upon Washington, D.C., to celebrate the utterly historic moment brought to fruition through the tireless work of black luminaries from Parks to King.
Come noon, we expect greatness - an inauguration speech that will inspire a nation and one day be studied by our children as the model for excellence in political rhetoric.
Starting Wednesday, Obama will have the chance to deliver on his word.
