Robert K. Wolthuis

For nearly a year I have hesitated writing this piece, hoping that Barack Obama would become an effective President. After 32 months in office, Mr. Obama is clearly the wrong man, in the wrong place at the wrong time. The senator from Illinois took office following a campaign for "change." He never clearly explained to the American people what that meant.

Mr. Obama did inherit an economic crisis of great magnitude. The subprime mortgage industry, Wall Street, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the SEC, several former cabinet officers and members of Congress, especially Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, share the blame. It was good politics for the new president to blame it all on George Bush, who of course must bear some responsibility. Mr. Obama, however, refuses to recognize the fact that George Bush, Henry Paulson and the Congress prevented the collapse of our national economy with the TARP bailout which ranks among the courageous political decisions in recent American history, despite the critics who bear no responsibility for their reckless opposition. At least in January 2009, Mr. Obama inherited an economy which was still afloat.