>>OK Charles, I'll bite. What makes you think this? I see nothing in his voting history to suggest that he'll be a pleasant surprise to those to his right. I don't count Iraq in this consideration because regardless of their campaign promises, I don't believe any candidate will pull us out, do to the recommendations of the generals and the fact that none want to own a military defeat.
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>Those to his right have no expectations of him other than his disbanding the military, nationalizing the means of production and requiring gay marriage and some kind of reparations to anyone who has had their feelings hurt in the last 400 years.
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>Short of that, any behavior in conformity with the realities of the office and the limitations of executive power will be seen as moderation.
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>Those who expect a messiah, however, are going to be very disappointed and those who present the laundry list of entitlements they think goes with having supported him will tear him to pieces when he cannot (or will not) meet their expectations.

Speaking only for myself, I think Obama would be an extremely pragmatic President, not an ideologue. I think he will listen to everyone and go for the best deal he can get rather than drawing a line in the sand and saying that's it and I won't budge. (Did someone say Hillary?) In that respect, he probably would make a fair number of enemies. On both sides, as you say. Better that than get nothing done. Haven't we had enough of that?