A year has passed since President Barack Obama stood before a crowd in Grant Park as the president-elect. After a long campaign for “hope” and “change” he made dozens of promises to the American people and mainly his supporters. In one year, of those promises, how many promises has Obama kept and how many has be broken? He announced to the emotional crowd, “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term.” In a year since this declaration, it seems President Obama’s progress is off to a slow start.

The mostly “unchecked” list of promises include immigration reform, health care, and new financial regulations. Many of Obama’s campaign promises are marked as “in the works”, however time is slipping faster than the progress of “change”.

As Obama campaigned his presidency he promised to return the troops in Iraq home in 16 months, and “finish the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan.” Those 16 months have turned into 19, and as the troops remain on Iraqi grounds, Obama has deployed an additional 20,000 with consideration of sending thousands more. Obama also promised to oppose mandatory insurance and fining people who do not have insurance. The health care bill is “in the works,” however, both oppositions will likely appear in his health care bill and chalk up broken promises. President Obama also promised that lobbyists “will not work in my White House,” yet they are still present.

Of all Obama’s promises, kept, broken, or in the works, there are also dozens of promises receiving “no action.” Nearly a quarter of his term is complete, and there barely seems to be a dent in the list of promises Obama has made. His presidential clock is ticking and he has about 3 years to start taking action on his list of “no action” and “in the works.” How many promises of “change” will be kept, and how many will be broken? Or how many will receive any action at all at this progressive rate?

We are only a few hours into 2009 and already I wonder what the new year will bring for both our country and myself personally?

While we wont have a massive political campaign that comes to a historic end, we will have the first African American President who will have to perform beyond the hype and Saturday Night Live parodies.

While we will still have an economic crisis in the country, maybe we are coming out of the worst times. The cost of gas continues to drop into the low $1 range and hopefully will not go back up to the $4-5 prices we saw in 2008. Mortgage rates are at all time lows and the car companies are offering incredible deals to stimulate buying. Can the stock market return to the higher levels it once enjoyed?

Speaking of Detroit, will the Detroit Lions ever (more…)

Now I know we have reached a breaking point. Santa is bankrupt. This can not happen! At some point we have to get a grip on all of the “bailout” discussions and proposals. Who will be the next to receive a billion dollar gift for not doing their jobs well? When will the money pit well run dry?

At least the bailouts are providing us with some good comedy and laughs. Enjoy the video. I know I did.