It's true that Obama faces a far more difficult environment in 2009 than Carter faced in 1977. And it's undeniable that there are certain similarities the two share. Both had little experience on the national scene before taking office (though Carter did have executive experience as governor whereas Obama had none). And both were elected on the promise of bringing a new approach to Washington politics that many found refreshing.
Where they differ the most in their early days is how each tried to fulfill that fresh promise. On the whole, Carter sought to stick with it — and got clobbered by the Washington insiders in turn. In contrast, Obama's promise of a new bi-partisan Washington evaporated almost as soon as he saw that he didn't need Republicans to pass key legislation.
Yes, both made some missteps in their first few months. But the truth is a president could do a lot worse than Jimmy Carter in his first 100 days. In fact, Obama already has.
To read the "Stark Ravings" blog, go to thePhoenix.com/blogs/starkravings. Steven Stark can be reached atsds@starkwriting.com.
Related:
Has Obama peaked? Yes, he has, Bringing the party to the people, Appearing Act, More 
- Has Obama peaked? Yes, he has
To listen to some pundits, Barack Obama's public image began taking a serious beating when the off-year election returns came in a week ago. Or maybe it was the undeserved Nobel Prize, his approach to the war in Afghanistan, or when he revved up his pursuit of national health-care reform.
- Bringing the party to the people
Are there any jobs on Earth more virile-sounding than commander in chief?
- Appearing Act
Barack Obama is ubiquitous.
- Hoover? Damn!
It doesn't matter how many negative ads are broadcast or how many moose are slain on the tundra, candidates and their actions don't transform our politics nearly as much as outside events and circumstances do.
- Take Back Barack
It's time to reclaim the man we put in the White House
- Has Obama peaked? No, he hasn't
Barack Obama's popularity should not be judged by the day-to-day, media-driven vagaries of politics — nor by the wishful thinking of his opponents.
- Money matters
Conventional wisdom dictates that Barack Obama was swept into office on the winds of change.
- Rx for Barack
President Barack Obama is taking his vacation not a moment too soon. As his painfully poor performance in the health-care debate shows, he is way off his game. He clearly needs some time to recharge his batteries.
- Does not compute
Though he’s infamous for his aversion to computers, McCain is actually no Luddite.
- Emasculation proclamation
Though the press and Barack Obama supporters often maintain the opposite, by the rough-and-tumble standards of American politics, Hillary Clinton really hasn’t run that tough a campaign against the Illinois senator.
- Giles is one tough cookie
Phillipe and Jorge could not be more pleased to hear that President Barack Obama has nominated Cynthia Giles, the director of Rhode Island's branch of the Conservation Law Founda-tion.
- Less
Topics:
Stark Ravings
, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Politics, More
, Barack Obama, Barack Obama, Politics, U.S. Politics, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter, Aretha Franklin, Ronald Reagan, Edward M. Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, Less
