Simply because expectations are so high, the impact of coming down to earth will be so much harder. The Europeans, eager to adopt Barack Obama as a president of their own, will get a hard landing, too, when they realize that he, like presidents before him, was elected to look after American interests, not theirs. They’re entitled only to a good speech. But let us gather rosebuds while we may, with the prayer and a toast. Hail to the new chief.