Six months? No way does he get a free ride. "100 days" is the usual standard people have, and that's normally in better times.

Obama does not worry me nearly so much as the California mafia in Congress. Obama has made various statements and backed off enough campaign pledges to make me suspect he "gets it".

But Feinstein's actions are scary, especially the way she threw Harry Reid under the bus. She considers herself Speaker of the Senate. I realize Pelosi was outflanked at every turn by Bush, but if Obama isn't up to the task Congress could be a real problem. And Feinstein and Pelosi most definitely do not "get it". The positive side is that Emanuel knows how to play bare-knuckles politics and won't be afraid to go against Feinstein if necessary.