Deficit to be slashed!

Well whoop, whoop, whoop. The Obama administration has declared its commitment to slashing the deficit in half by the end of the President's first term. This, they say, will bring it to about $513 billion.

Well grand. During the Bush administration we routinely heard about the unprecedented deficits topping $400 billion. So, President Bush proposed cutting the deficit in half by the end of his presidency--natch.

Imagine our surprise, the slash was overcome by circumstance, the deficit and debt ballooned, Bush left office, and now we get to live the scrip in replay. It isn't that there aren't compelling reasons for the government to be in deficit. It isn't that President Obama's actions are any more gauling that President Bush's.

My point in commenting here is simply this: We are hearing the same old rhetoric that we've heard from presidents for decades. We see the same old earnestness about "needing to spend today, but save tomorrow."

It is all bunk. And most profoundly: It is NOT change we can believe in. Those of us who thought the President's vapid campaign rhetoric would quickly evaporate have not needed to wait long at all. The sad thing is, slowly but surely the country, and then the world will come to the same dissappointing conclusion-- unless the President retakes his message from his handlers.

His weeks of doom and gloom. His calculated public appearances, missteps, and premature announcements. Tax scandals, unfilled cabinet posts. From these he needs not to retreat into a political CYA, but rather to step forth with the boldness that got him where he is.

We're waiting Mr. President, but getting a bit dizzy holding our breath.