Let's Measure Obama's Performance to date...

Nearly a year after his election (but, in fairness, not yet a year into his first term), Barack Obama is an enigma. Thankfully, he has abandoned the rapacious aggression and naked nationalism of the Bush years, but on critical issues like warrantless surveillance and detention of combatants he is barely distinguishable from his criminal predecessors.  His clear-eyed acceptance of global warming is refreshing -- not to mention timely -- but he appears on the verge of capitulating to the profiteers who run the American health care system.

Barack Obama remains a study in contradictions.  Abe and Joe examine his record thus far, and speculate on what's to come.