Obama's Failed Report Card

Presidential candidate Barack Obama's report card showed all A grades. The problem is that the As were based on promises. He promised to end the Iraq War, chase the lobbyists and special interests out of Washington, get people back to work, put the kibosh on the Wall Street greed merchants, provide affordable and accessible health care for all, make transparency the watchword in Washington, fight the terrorism without trampling on civil liberties, and to patch things up with America's allies and even enemies.

Obama's first homework assignments and test scores are in. There are no A grades on any of them. Iran and North Korea have shown no willingness to broker a deal on their nukes. The stalemate on Middle East peace is still intact. Unemployment stands at a decade high. Home foreclosures still soar. Banks and financial houses have shown absolutely no interest in plowing some of the trillion plus taxpayer bailout dollars they got into business and industry loans. The stimulus has done to little for too few. Health care reform is looking more and more like a giant insurance and pharmaceutical industry scam.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, progressives scream that Obama has betrayed every progressive principle, liberal Democrats grouse that he's snuggled up to big money special interest and lobbyists, independents have deserted the Democrats in droves, and the GOP is more bellicose and defiant than ever. The consolation: Obama's failed report card is his first. He's got three more years to improve his grade.