If President Obama has learned one thing in the year since his election, we hope it is that if a politician fails to show his supporters tangible results, their initial ardor will soon cool, leading to a lack of enthusiasm at the polls.

Republican victories in two gubernatorial elections (New Jersey and Virginia) on Tuesday might be a bad sign for the president and the Democrats as we move toward the 2010 congressional elections next November. On the other hand, neither new Republican governor will be voting in Congress, and one of the states, Virginia, has always leaned -- if not tilted -- Republican.

So, take what you hear today from Republican functionaries and Fox News commentators with some salt.

Even more than excite the wacko right in the country, which is a serious issue considering some of the hateful commentary and threats, Mr. Obama has so far failed to light enough fire under millions of his own supporters. On reforming health care, on ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, on closing the Guantanamo prison camp, on regulating the lending and securities trading industries, on boosting employment -- on these and more, the administration has failed to overwhelm. This after raising expectations for real change to a fever pitch during the 2008 campaign.

The reason seems obvious: The president appears too eager to talk about compromise on critical issues, even when opponents are obvious in their intent to never compromise and to make him

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look bad at every turn. If nothing else -- even when more Americans agree with the president on issues -- there is a growing sense that he is never tough enough, or ruthless enough, in the clinch.

The president can explain an issue or describe a cause with eloquence, but it's just human nature for your friends to eventually walk away from a fight if they sense your own heart isn't in it. That may be happening.

Beyond that, a few smashing political victories early in an administration makes all the difference -- usually locking supporters in for the duration of a presidency. This hasn't happened yet, as the president seems intent on shepherding legislation and policies along, rather than personally ramming them home to the applause of his supporters.

Franklin Roosevelt is, of course, the example of a president who wasted no time. His first frenetic 100 days are legendary, and he followed that up with major social and economic legislation over the next two years. This solidified FDR's support for as long as he wanted to run for president.

In contrast, President Obama has kept his distance from health care reform by not offering his own plan, and has done nothing decisive to end our two wars or to enact other legislation he has promised. His plan to reform the financial sector seems tepid, as does his economic stimulus in terms of expanding employment. Everything in half-measure is the widespread impression, nothing really dramatic that might inspire friends to greater admiration and foes to despise.

If this is the next wave in democratic governance, as the president has promised, we still aren't sure how it's going to work.