I found your rhetoric so inspiring. I found your ideas so encouraging. I also saw the problems you had to confront as overwhelming.
I viewed your opposition as well educated, highly experienced but terminally stupid. I couldn't imagine how they could continue to run the government into the abyss once we had given you Congressional majorities, and a free hand to enact your policies.
So, I have stood back and let you manage these mounting disasters, firm in the belief that you would change the way government conducts the people's business.
But, it increasingly seems that you have decided that your "change" will be confined to eliminating the strangle hold that the Bush White House exercised over all branches of government.
You have stood back and let the bought and paid for Senate devise legislation that effects no real change in the health care system except around the edges.
You have allowed the financial industry to continue the very practices that drove the economy into chaos. You have filled your Cabinet with the very people who were instrumental in laying the ground work for the disaster, and given them free hand to prop up and protect the banks with no increase in regulation or protection for the system.
You allow the struggling Harry Reid to try to whip the Joe Liberman's and Ben Nelson's into line without any public effort to back him up.
Now, it looks as though you are going to accept the advise of General McCrystal, the man instrumental in the Pat Tillman cover up, to dictate Afghanistan policy.
Nothing is changing except the Disaster of the Day.
Yes, yes. I know that you have restored the image of America around the world. But really, Sir, was that going to be so hard after 8 years of Bush/Cheney? Just getting them out of office was going to spread a warm fuzzy feeling across the planet. Anyone could have done that.
I know it's popular for those of us who supported you to list the many small changes you have shepherded. But in the big things, Sir, health care, climate change, using the stimulus package to improve infrastructure and generate jobs, forestall the foreclosure crisis, and address renewable energy, you have done little.
Where are those fine rhetorical skills, now? Why are you not devoting a great deal more time to explaining to us what you are doing. Transparency has become the cash word, of late. But, little real transparency can occur without a careful and full disclosure of not only high sounding phrases of "hope" for the future, but of a discussion of the issues, led by you.
I'm an old woman, Mr. President. And, after decades of disappointment, and frustration at the willful greed and blatant ignorance of the Beltway Bovines, I dared to think that you might actually offer leadership. Leadership by drafting the rough outlines of what you wanted in legislation rather than letting the high school clique that inhabits Capitol Hill play their mindless games while we, out here, fall over a cliff. Leadership in a little serious arm twisting to get the Democrats to fall in line. Leadership in by passing the mindset of the military and getting us out of Iraq and Afganistan.
Instead, Sir, I see the same old game, played in the same old way, with only the faces changing.
Please step up and take control of your government. That is what we elected you to do. Your failure, so far, to exercise the leadership and decision making skill set that I felt you might possess has been a profound disappointment.
You are losing me, Sir, along with many of those whom I encouraged to donate to your campaign, and to show up on election day.