Barack Obama was not my first choice as President, but after he won the nomination I supported him whole-heartedly.  Gave him money.  Campaigned for him.  Argued and lost friends over him.

And, boy, was I proud of this country when the first African-American was elected President.  I was born before the Armed Services were integrated.  Before lunch counters were integrated.  Before schools were integrated.  Before the Voting Rights Act.

I never thought I’d see that day in my lifetime.

And I’ve cut him a lot of slack over the months because he’s in a financial and international mess not of his making.

It’s may be that only a superman could perform to my satisfaction under these conditions.

But still.  This is November 30, 2009, and he is scheduled to announce his future plans for Afghanistan tomorrow.  They will include a massive build-up of troops from the man who promised no escalation of the war.

I can’t help but change only a few words of an old Tom Paxton song about Vietnam:

Barack Obama told the nation:
“Have no fear of escalation.
“I am trying everyone to please.
“And though it really isn’t war,
“I’m sending 40,000 more
“To save Afghanistan from Afghanis.”