heh. "Work" machine.

I don't think that's true American. It could be that Obama was more savvy (he knew it was a talking point), a bit naive, or more occupied than he intended to be with the economy, HCR, etc. I know what changes I was hoping for and I certainly wasn't expecting them overnight. I mean, the American people have had an overwhelmingly negative view of Washington since Watergate. Whether or not they've been able to articulate it, and I wouldn't know -- I'm too young, they've wanted change of some sort since then. I would say Washington has devolved since that time due to increased advertising, talking points, hyper-partisanship, lack of involvement from the people, etc (though again, I can't speak from experience). Any change from this administration would have met with extreme resistance and would have taken significant time.

I'm not trying to defend the President. He did get swept in to office on the promise of change, after all. I'm just saying it might have been a bit naive to expect significant change given its difficulty and the problems he was facing when he took office. But I guess he does have a couple of (six more?) years.

Having said all that, I did vote for him and I would again. I just think the system is the problem. The people we send in to it can only be so effective.

Thanks for the analysis Mark & Domenico. I hadn't really thought about Obama's appointments to ambassador positions or the effectiveness of deadlines.

Anon - perhaps I am to cynical, as my political awareness goes back into the 60's, even though I couldn't vote untill the 70's. I don't recall any politician (R or D) that didn't kick economic or other tough policies down the line to a future date unless there was a recession that forced action. I may not like obamas health care policies, as I believe that they are too open ended, but I can give him credit for trying, with some success to have one. Much as I give him credit as well for his bipartisan compromise on the tax cut/unemployment extensions.

American wrote: Anon - perhaps I am to cynical, as my political awareness goes back into the 60's, even though I couldn't vote untill the 70's. I don't recall any politician (R or D) that didn't kick economic or other tough policies down the line to a future date unless there was a recession that forced action.

I don't disagree there. Fareed Zakaria recently said something to the effect of "we don't fix a problem until it becomes an emergency." Truer words have never been paraphrased.

I have disagreed with some of the President's policies as well, but I do truly believe he wants a more open discussion and fewer games played in Washington. As much as I haven't enjoyed some of his compromises, I do understand what he's (attempting) to do, and I applaud it.

Cheney didn't help things go in the right direction for the majority of Americans. The problems started in 1947. The National Security Act made everything a matter of perception. The truth, and objective reality, became the enemy. An informed electorate would become a problem, to be avoided and defused through mass media distractions. And so it is....and so we go. Into Orwell's nightmare. The "telescreens" are literally everywhere. C.A.L.E.Act lets them see and listen and record everything you do.