No one wants to see Barack Obama run a great campaign more than me. Yet, I can't stop being disappointed by him. I'm really hoping he has more to offer in this campaign, which is set to officially begin in a few hours, than he has so far, because we need more.
The man mystifies people, and I understand why. He has incredible demeanor, he's good looking and he delivered an unforgettable speech. But for me - a young person with lots of student loan debt, living paycheck to paycheck, watching friends go to war, balancing the challenges of a disabled parent, every time I hear him speak, I find myself thinking, "Where's the beef?"
As our world faces a global crisis - the magnitude of which we've never seen before, America, the beacon of hope and the world's leader is in shambles. Our military is just a division away from being broken - bogged down in a war where the only options are worse and worser. Our citizens are ill-equipped to compete in the global economy. There's not one domestic policy that can easily be made right.
Facing these daunting challenges "redefining the nature of political discussion" just isn’t enough - definitely not coming from a candidate with a thin a legislative record, who has only been on the national stage for a little more than 2 years.
Maybe Barack is holding back - fearing he'll peak too soon. I really hope that's it, because in the case of me and most of America, I need a leader who can deliver and I can't waste my time and talents working for someone who is all sizzle and no meat.
I'll be up early to watch the announcement in Springfield. I really hope he puts his many talents to use and begins saying something that addresses the problems on a level that connects with Main Street and not just government students in Memorial Hall...