THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

As a rookie blogger who has devoted a considerable number of my postings to the topic of President Obama, I would be remiss if I let the one year anniversary of his election as President to go by without comment. So here it is.

A little while ago, one might have thought that the one year anniversary of the historic 2008 election would have provoked wild celebration in the streets, intense analysis by the cable chatterers, and a general party like atmosphere in the US and elsewhere. This has not been the case. The day has passed without much attention and little revelry. If anything, the mood seems unusually sombre.

Reality has finally set in. When even CNN focuses its attention on the unkept or broken promises, one realizes the extent of the let down. The fact that unemployment in the US remains high, and the deficit continues to grow, does not help buoy anyone's spirits. For Democrats in particular, stinging losses in governorship races in Virginia and New Jersey on the eve of the anniversary does not help matters.

Whether one is a great fan of the President or not, one has to admit that things are not going too well for his administration at this point in time, especially on the big issues. Health care reform which was supposed to be done by August, and then by Christmas, seems likely to be put off yet again. It is unclear whether the reform, when it does come, will be much ado about nothing, and in particular will contain a public health option. In terms of foreign policy, the delay (some might say the dithering) on Afghanistan is disturbing. The election is over, the consultations have taken place, so decide already. I have noticed that one of Obama's strategies on many things is to delay in doing anything in the hope that the problem will cure itself. The Afghanistan problem will not cure itself. In terms of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, things seem to be at an impasse. Secretary of State Clinton says one thing to the Israelis regarding settlement construction ( i.e the offer made was "unprecedented") and another to the Arabs ( i.e. all settlements are illegal). Carnage continues in Iraq and Pakistan with suicide bombings taking an unbearable toll of innocent civilians. The Iranian nuclear stand-off continues.

The same inaction or lack of will is evident elsewhere. Yet another referendum, this time in Maine, rejected same sex marriage. Despite his energetic and supportive speech to Gays and Lesbians just a short while ago, the President apparently did nothing to assist the same sex marriage advocates to defeat the referendum which overturned same sex marriage legislation in Maine. Guantanamo will not be closed by January as promised. Transparency in committee work on health care reform did not occur, and legislation is not posted on the web for Americans to view before votes are taken, as was promised. I do not know what is happening with the prosecution of those involved in torture, promised by Eric Holder, but this seems to be another issue which has fallen off the radar. The war against FOX seems to have been temporarily abandoned, especially since it has been questioned by even the friendlier "non-biased" media outlets, who now seem to be unwilling to be co-opted into battle.

The bloom is off the rose. This is good. The only way to get politicians and other administrators moving is to put their feet to the fire. A free pass does no-one any good. Let us see where we will be on November 4, 2010.