So, a lot of us way out here on the left got caught up in the emotion of Obama’s oratory and sloganeering. He couldn’t have been clearer:
“Barack Obama will refocus our efforts on Afghanistan. He has a comprehensive strategy to succeed in Afghanistan with at least two more U.S. combat brigades, more resources and training for the Afghan Army, and a comprehensive development strategy.”
That’s one campaign promise he’s kept, and we should have been paying closer attention back then. Okay, we’ll accept responsibility for that one.
But how do you explain Obama’s failure to follow through on his other campaign promises:
- Not closing the Guantanamo Bay prison (and worse, moving it to Illinois)
- extending Bush’s state secrets privileges
- failing to allow five days of public comment before signing bills
- failing to restrict warrantless wiretaps
- failing to stop the use of torture
- failing to re-regulate Wall Street and turning the bailout into a gift
- letting the insurance cartel, PhRMA, and the healthcare providers write healthcare non-reform
- and probably worst of all, failing to close the revolving door between lobbyists and government
