The first of many grievances

What has Barack Obama done in the past or said during this campaign to demonstrate that he can bring about the "change" which he so artfully describes?

The United States faces countless domestic and foreign challenges today. Barack Obama claims that the power of hope, combined with his ability to bring people together, will provide our great nation with the solutions which we so desperately need. The reality, though, is that Obama has no substantive record of results. When asked about his greatest accomplishment in the Senate, Obama cited an ethics reform bill, which, among other things, bans lawmakers from sitting while dining with lobbyists (yes, they can still stand).

I think Barack Obama will make a tremendous president -- just not now. He's simply not ready. He's calling for change, and he positions himself as the necessary agent of change. Symbolism, though, will not change reality.

I ask the remaining voters, when they are considering whether they should vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, to consider the following:

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would face 435 members of Congress and 100 members of the Senate, with many in the opposition Republican party

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would deal with the same media outlets and radio talk show hosts (whether it's CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, or on the radio side, Rush Limbaugh)

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would inherit two wars, with the possibility of conflict with Iran and mounting tensions amongst Israel's neighbors

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would face the fiscal crisis, including a mounting federal debt, a huge national debt, and a trade deficit

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would face the same levels of carbon dioxide emissions, which spur global warming

- As President, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would possess the same executive powers


The last of the above considerations is the most important. We hear a lot about changing Washington, D.C. But instead of talking about changing how business is done in our nation's capital, shouldn't we focus on the business itself -- in other words, aren't our problems tough enough that we should get on with finding and implementing solutions rather than arguing about the terms of the debate?

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama don't stand too far apart on the issues. The deciding factor for Democrats in the upcoming primaries should be this: Who has the talent, intelligence, savvy, strength and wisdom to get us from Point A (where we are today) to Point B (where we need to be)?

When we consider that final question, we should direct ourselves to the records of each individual candidates. One (Hillary Clinton), has an overwhelming record of acheivement, while the other (Barack Obama), has done little if anything to enact change.

Does Barack Obama have a magic wand that he'll be using as President that he was not using in his previous capacities?


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Check out this article in The Economist:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10689547