What change?

(Note:  The Old Man wrote the following, which I post on his behalf.)

President Obama...some are still hoping, but...what's the change? 

1.  I will bring the troops home, starting immediately, and end the war in 12 months.

...as of September, gaining on two years into the Obama term, troop strength in Iraq and Afghanistan was about 180,000, just below the all time high of about 195,000 during the previous administration. The cost of the wars reached a peak in 2007 of about $180B. The projected cost for 2010 (by the government) is about $170B, and requests by the Obama administration for 2011 extrapolate to...$170B. And...did you hear this week's proud statement by the President? He and NATO have agreed that they are aiming for a transfer of war leadership to the Afghanis by the end of...2014!...what change?

2.  The economy...I'll create 3 million jobs with this stimulus bill, and we have to pass it right now (don't even bother to read it, there's no time) and we'll keep unemployment under 8%.

...as we labor along at almost 10% unemployment for almost two years, with no projected end in sight, most are getting tired of the “yeah, but it would have been even worse, and besides, it wasn't my  fault”. If it weren't so sad, I'd be amused that Wall Street and the big banks have record earnings and huge bonuses again, while the rest of the country is hurting....what change?

3.  Restore respect in the world by using diplomacy (they love me, don't they?)

...Iran thumbs its' nose at the U.S., with its' pursuit of nuclear weapons unabated and Ahmadinejad referring publicly to Obama as “a cowboy”. This week a U.S.scientist said he was “stunned” by his visit to a “vast new Nuclear enrichment facility in North Korea. Russia continues to support Iran, and China lectures us on fiscal responsibility. There is no progress on middle east peace, and Muslim extremists still vow to kill us....what change?

4.  I'll close Gitmo within one year, (and end this endless detainment without trial)

...gaining on two years, no sign Gitmo will be closed, and one trial held. Further, the only one tried was only convicted of one conspiracy charge (not of any of the multiple terrorism charges) and the President said “we were prepared to hold him even if he wasn't convicted of any charges”....what change?

5.  We're going to end the “backroom deals” and allow C-Span to view negotiations.

...this is just blatantly false, from the “cornhusker kickback” to the Florida deal to the Stupak bribe to the  record earmarks to the refusal to let C-Span televise negotiations to the backroom secret negotiations with  everybody from big banks to insurance com- panies to unions et al.  ...what change?

6.  I'll eliminate “don't ask don't tell” and immediately allow gays to serve in the military.

...almost two years and the president passes the responsibility to a commission and Congress. Disgraceful.  Read up on Harry Truman and desegregation of the military. All it takes is a pen (and some courage)....what  change?

7.  The country needs a president who can get people to work together. I'll usher in the era of “post partisanship”.

…the last two years have been more divisive, not less divisive, and the president goes down in history as the only president to get a major piece of legislation passed without one vote from the other party....what  change?

8.  Health Care reform...every american will be covered (as opposed to Hillary's plan), and we'll reduce the  skyrocketing costs, and you can keep your existing plan and Dr. 

...the administration has already admitted that costs will go up, and only half of the 15% without insurance will  be covered. Insurance companies are opting out of health insurance and the administration is busily granting  waivers to it's law even before it takes effect....what change?

….Just asking

The Old Man