An Open Letter to Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President;

You are now near the end of your fourth year of campaigning for another four years. During this time the two biggest problems that the citizens that elected you have faced have not changed one little bit for the better. I have heard your speeches filled with  self praise and first person pronouns and have been singularly unimpressed.

You claim that you have created jobs by the thousands. Yet a smaller portion of the American work force is employed today than at any time in the last three decades. You have said that you have turned the corner with the economy. Yet the GNP is at an all time low. Durable goods orders are down. Construction is down. More and more cities are declaring bankruptcy. Food stamps are up. Food prices are up. Mr. President, if this is how you measure success, I fear your definition of failure.

Now I know with all of the campaigning, fund raising, vacations, golf, and trips to apologize to various heads of state for the bedeviled country you have been forced to lead, you haven't had much time to actually govern. I understand. You had to prioritize and you most certainly did. Of course, it was made easier knowing that you had Mrs. Obama and Valarie Jarret back at the west wing taking care of business for you. You really didn't need to be there. And for most of the time you weren't.

Of course there is always your crowning (pun intended) achievement to discuss. While you were off doing all those important things. Hundreds of aides and lobbyists were putting together that maximum opus called Obamacare. I loved the way you assured all those panicky worrywarts that it was going to save money and medical care would improve. There would be none of those silly death panels. The people could keep the insurance that they loved and continue to go to that favorite family doctor. Cradle to grave medical care for all. Regardless of station or means, you will be covered. OK, so none of that is true. I'm sure it's not your fault. After all you didn't do it. You just told other people to do it. Their lack of competence is no fault of yours. If it should not get overturned the country can just spend the next fifty or sixty years straightening it out.

Then, of course, there is the matter of all those other little promises that you made to actually get people to vote for you. You know. Closing Gitmo. Transparency in governance. Honesty. No revolving door in the White House. Keeping lobbyist out of the process. I honor you for your consistency. You have pretty much missed the target across the board. It's good to see that you don't let that affect your self esteem.

Before I close, I must comment on the crescendo end to your four year campaign. It is a stroke of genius the way you have separated the country into groups and pitted them all against each other. If you don't have a record that you can run on, stir the pot, turn up the heat and see what happens. The country will heal eventually. And of course there always that good old Chicago technique of character assassination. I doesn't have to be true. Just get out there and shout it long and loud. There are always those that will believe.

Well, I must close now. I am afraid that I cannot wish you well in your campaign. But since I try not to be rude, let me wish you an early and enjoyable retirement.

Sincerely,
The Cranky Conservative