“No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.”

Not exactly true, for example, Clinton was a bum when he went in and a bum when he came out.

I was just saying the same thing to my family the other day (though, not quite as eloquently) I am perplexed by all of the people in such a celebratory mood about the upcoming inauguration when they never cared about any previous inaugarations. They will be just as discontent in 4 years as they have been with previous administrations.

Yep

Bush was his fathers son eight years ago and still is, his fathers name is all he ever had and still is. The Presidency is a "ball buster" thank God we still have men willing to step up.

Illusions carry men into the Presidency. It doesn't take long for the illusion to fade once the magic show is over. Men who are thought to be golden turn out to be brass, or even worse fool's gold which has no use at all.

It's partly because we vote for the one who puts on the best 'act' and tells us what we want to hear -- then we find out who he is when he makes excuses for not doing what he promised. No one is elected president today for telling the truth -- the truth is too depressing.

Obama carried his reputation right into the presidency and it appears that most were too blind to see, and they continue to be so as he carries us rapidly into destruction.