Too many people in the middle and on the left have projected their own very personal, particular brand of "hope" into some kind of "promise" Obama made either on the campaign trail or in the White House since his inauguration.

It is a sad sort of group delusion that converted hopeful speeches into concrete promises, because we are all so desperate to see change.

But when that change hasn't matched the expectations curve, then suddenly Obama hasn't kept his "promises."

Too many people believe Obama promised them something he never really promised, he just spoke hopefully about change.

But now that the corporate-lackey Republican obstructionists have had their way with our antiquated system of government, and our hopes have been held back from flowing instantly into law, too many blame Obama for their own delusions, no matter how noble, being unrealized.

Obama promised change, and obviously the rest of the world recognizes that at least SOME of that change happened immediately, as awards like THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE prove.

But to the single-issue American zealots whose cause has yet to be vindicated, Obama's just another promise breaker.

Broaden your political perspective, folks, and learn to appreciate the baby steps we now actually have the power to take. Don't let your personal disappointment over your pet cause blind you to the hopeful reality that people like those on the Nobel committee see clearly, as outsiders looking in. 

And never forget, our adversaries in this instance aren't soldiers with weapons, it is the richest collection of greedy billionaires and wannabe billionaires to ever inhabit the earth, which they believe is theirs to abuse.