Much of the discussion over the last few days has concerned the imminent arrival of the President.   Will it require the closure of North Road ?  How much will it inconvenience the neighbours ?  Did he leave a monogrammed Presidential basketball behind by mistake ?

But some of the discussion relates to the deeper issue as to how far the President has fulfilled the hopes of his greatest supporters (Martha’s Vineyard is full of loyal democrats) ?  Most people feel that he could and should have done more, but they remain sympathetic to him as a person.   They know that the expectations of a President are nowadays unreasonable.   They blame Congress.   Some blame his closest advisors.   And they recall that he has been, and still is, a great orator.