Kinda like Ray

Paul "Bear" Bryant left Texas A&M to take the head coaching position at the University of Alabama, where he led a team that would be recognized as a national powerhouse from 1958 until he retired after the 1982 season. Bryant's record was 232-46-9 and he is, to this day, considered one of the legends of college football.

Bryant was replaced by one of his former players, Ray Perkins, who lasted four seasons (1983-86) and compiled a decent record (32-15-1). Perkins had one losing season in four, unheard of at Alabama, and was (figuratively) run out of town by disgruntled fans and alumni.

"Bear" Bryant's legendary status is a product of his outstanding competence and professional accomplishments. George W. Bush will become a legendary American president for opposite reasons -- staggering incompetence and a stunning lack of accomplishment. In other words, legendary for all the wrong reasons.

Based on incomplete evidence, Obama is starting to resemble the Ray Perkins character in this analogy, following the legendary G.W. Bush. Maybe even down to the four-seasons tenure.

Bryant established a pattern of success that would be difficult to match, and was the standard against which Perkins was compared and judged. Bush drives a speeding car off the road, leaping clear and allowing Obama to slide behind the wheel just before the car smashes through the guardrail and over the edge. An imperfect analogy, but it's still better to not be the guy following the guy whose success or failure is the stuff of legends. Barry, like Ray, is about to be run out of town by disgruntled fans.