The fundamental question that President Obama asked the country when he ran against John McCain in 2008 was whether or not Americans wanted "change."  In fact, it was the word that he used repeatedly in railing against George W. Bush, and, in tying McCain to the then highly unpopular president, in warning voters against sending another Republican into the Oval Office.

Last week, President Obama announced his intention to run for reelection, and, in some ways, he himself ironically needs to answer the same question that he asked Americans in 2008.  Two of Obama's biggest campaign slogans were "Change You Can Believe In" and "Change that Works for You."  But, in light of all that he has done-- and not done-- during the past four years, it would be fair for the American people to have doubts about the type of change, or what change for that matter, Obama has brought to the Beltway and for the nation.

In fact, looking at the one of the more recent polls by Reuters/Ipsos, only 31% of all Americans believe that the country is on the right track versus 64% who think that the US is on the wrong track.  Unemployment is still hovering at about 9% even though the Obama adminstration had claimed that it would remain under 8% with the passage of its omnibus stimulus legislation-- which in itself added an additional $760 billion to the deficit that year and contributing to the ever burgeoning federal debt level.

Partisan bickering still exists just as it always has-- as evidenced by the near shutdown that was barely averted on Friday.  Now, one might think, "No president can change the way politics is done.  That would be unrealistic."  While that statement may be fairly true, it is, in fact, what President Obama claimed he would do time and time again in 2008.  For this election, voters now need to decide on Obama's record for all that he has done and not done, not on his rhetoric.