Best of leaders, worst of leaders

Re “Mixed legacies,” Opinion, Jan. 18

The Times is right on target. We need to remember that the best presidents were not perfect and the worst of the lot had some redeeming qualities. In the heat of partisan debate, this is often forgotten.

But we need to keep this in mind as we look forward too. We are always in danger of expecting too much of a new president and making too much of his perceived failures and too little of his successes. We shouldn’t have to wait for history to correct our perspective.

As everyone knows, President Obama faces unprecedented challenges. Though we expect great things of him, we shouldn’t expect the impossible -- an outcome in which everybody is pleased and nobody is disappointed.

Shane Andre

Seal Beach