Some laud Obama’s pragmatism.
I don’t. I feel misled — betrayed.
I was promised change,
underscored with “yes we can.”
A ship that veers off course needs
a new direction, but the chosen cabinet
seems more likely to provide no more
than steady hands at the wheel.
The only deviation from moderation
is the choice of Rick Warren
for an inaugural speech (with head bowed).
He [...]

Barack inspired us for a while.
His election brought us
unabashed joy.
But once he won decisively
he forgot about
“yes we can,” and switched
to “sure we will.”
His eclectic cabinet has a bit
for everyone except those
expecting something new.
And now to guarantee
we all get the message,
he gave his inaugural prayer
to an unforgiving zealot.
Our first black president
has already overcome
any doubts about being [...]

Barack calls gay marriage “a social issue.”
He’s wrong. It’s a religious matter.
Some people want the law to deny rights
to neighbors their faith says are sinful.
One marriage has no impact on another.
Each is an assumption of responsibilities
entitling partners to privileges granted them
by civil laws, but withheld from single people.
Abortion is another right some religious folks
want [...]

Obama invited a bigot
to turn on the spigot
at his inauguration.
Doesn’t he realize
that his new friend relies
on the same ancient oration
to deny legal rights to gays
that his predecessors say
give slavery justification?

In his final days Bush hunkers down
to protect taxpayer funds. He insists
on conditioning money for auto makers
on a car czar and a tangle of rules.
This differs from the Wall street rescue.
That sailed through ‘cause he couldn’t
put his buddies’ banks in peril. Now the
only risk is three million workers’ jobs.
Unfortunately, he forgot GOP senators
might enjoy winning [...]