Believing and not-disbelieving are two very different things. I think a part of this poem's fundamental purpose is to attempt to communicate that distinction.  

In modern politics, as in every aspect of modern life, we must convince ourselves of that which we trust we know while simultaneously accepting that it is quite possible that our convictions are not very well-founded. Look elsewhere in the poem for appearances of this motif: why should we trust third-party information providers like the New York Times? how can we think we know something is happening out the window if we're not looking through the window? how much value is really intrinsic in promising political campaigns, much less promising political revolutions (ref. "pamphlets" and "manifesto")?  

I think this poem says we shouldn't take any of our beliefs for granted, least of all those regarding what the president who wants our votes tells us about the city we live in.

But see, from what you just said, you *did* believe it, at least for awhile.

Perhaps it's only natural that it's disappointing, because politics, like most other aspects of life, is also naturally disappointing.  

I can't give you a precise reason why this line is the way it is aesthetically, but if it helps to provide any context, that line refers specifically to a day when I actually did see Obama speak while he was campaigning against Romney. I was in high school at the time and was feeling a lot of angst about living in the boring Midwest, but when the president said what I refer to in the poem, I felt a profound sense of suspension of disbelief and I saw my city differently for the rest of the day until the trance wore off.  

Glad you enjoyed it.

What if you *had* believed him? I felt like the "almost" was a bit of a let-down. I think it's more powerful the other way. But it's your truth.

Awesome poem otherwise.

Poetry is about subverting expectations. Maybe you're not looking hard enough.

Well, this didn't feel poignant until the end.  I guess the title had me hoping for more of a fixation on the political establishment and a little more commentary on the recent election.  The first stanza I think also gets a bit too lost in imagery.  I just couldn't find the message.

The Establishment