Obama's Running on Empty

Reading Barack Obama's speech today reminded me just how little this guy has going for him. If anyone else in politics delivered such a substance lacking speech they would be ridiculed to no end.

I mean, really, what is so new and great about his policy proposals? This is my take:

--He says we can't turn our back on problems in the world... unless were talking about Iraq in which case he may or may not abandon it to genocidal maniacs in 16 months.

--He says he wants to win the war in Afghanistan. So far, he has only articulated the Bush policy of throwing more troops in while begging NATO for help they don't want to give.

--He used to say trade agreements should be renegotiated, now he says that they are OK. Oh, yeah he'll also "end tax breaks for companies that send our jobs overseas" as if somehow that will bring our jobs back when it won't.

--He wants to give us affordable healthcare. While this is substansive, the general plan is no different from past Democrats running for president.

--He says he'll cut taxes for the middle class. On closer examination we find out these are tax credits (i.e. bribes), not actual tax rate reductions. Giving out a bribe is not a substansive policy proposal.

--He wants to balance the budget by soaking the rich. Analysis indicates that not even that will pay for his huge spending increases.

--He says he'll invest $150 billion into alternative energy sources. But he never tells us what exactly the money will be used for.

--His one innovative proposal is lifting the social security tax cap to further soak the rich in an effort to save Social Security. Unfortunately, not even this enormous tax increase will solve social security's long-term shortfall.

You get the picture. I hope I haven't missed anything here. Say what you want about McCain, but he does have some creative proposals on Afghanistan, taxes, healthcare, and energy.