what are they expecting from Beshear?

This morning, the C-J editorialists borrow from Sen. David Williams in describing Gov. Steve Beshear's "State of the Commonwealth" as "a pleasant start". They continue with a slightly critical but still hopeful assessment of his gubernatorial vision and strategy.

Every governor deserves a honeymoon period, where he or she is given the benefit of a doubt. But even allowing for that, Steve Beshear's State of the Commonwealth address Monday night was at the very least a missed opportunity.

But, sad to say, the Governor missed his first real chance to inspire, excite and lay out his priorities. Senate President David Williams, Mr. Beshear's Republican adversary, was right when, afterward, he wryly called the speech "pleasant." But a State of the Commonwealth address can be so much more....

Unfortunately, he then offered no specific ideas or indication of what his "new course" might be....

The best that can be said about Mr. Beshear's first on- duty address is that it was non-confrontational. That's good, in the sense that no lawmakers could possibly have been offended by anything he said....But the truth is, the kind of change Kentucky needs and Gov. Beshear seemed to be calling for will require confrontation. And confrontation is inevitable: In two weeks, Mr. Beshear presents his budget. Then his priorities, plans and path will become clearer.

The honeymoon is far from over. There is still plenty of time for this governor to prove to lawmakers and voters that he is the governor of their dreams. "Pleasant" is a good start in any relationship. But as any good romance novel shows, it won't take a suitor where he wants to go.

I didn't follow the race all that closely, but I don't see the reason for the C-J's optimism-- except perhaps that they like his party affiliation. Beshear's campaign seemed to be mostly "I'm not Ernie Fletcher" and "I favor casinos"-- not much specificity, not much fight, and certainly not the sort of thing that results in a "mandate" at the polls, even when one wins so comfortably.

I would continue to predict a modest and unexciting four years-- and maybe that's a net gain, given the standard set by previous KY governors.