Elliot Kalan’s weekly column:

Last week, Barack Obama hope-surfed his way into the White House, utterly destroying John McCain in a way that should be illegal to do to an old man. His flawless campaign, movie star looks and air of fairy-tale magic have led America to expect he can do anything. In the public imagination he’s a cross between George Washington, Merlin and Mr. T. Of course, these are probably unrealistically high expectations for him to live up to. But are they unrealistically high enough to ensure a successful Obama presidency? Possibly not.

Disappointment has long been America’s curse. What do you expect from a country whose constitution includes the phrase “more perfect?”

- Obama expectations: far too low? – Metro