With the nation teetering on the brink of a double dip recession, President Barack Obama returned from his $50,000 a week vacation and delivered his weekly radio address. There was no mention of his promised new ideas for job growth and helping the poor and middle class. There was no comment on the re-estimated 0.7% economic growth for the first half of the year. Instead, there was a seemingly benign attempt to use the upcoming anniversary of the September 11 attacks to encourage Americans to participate in a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Continued...

Setting aside the lost (or perhaps dodged) opportunity to give an update on what his new ideas are and when the poor and middle class can expect that help; the president couldn't even deliver this feel-good, puppies and rainbows infomercial for volunteerism without inserting a lie about his non-existent economic leadership and an excuse for his own failures.

Near the end of the speech the president declared, "We’re emerging from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes." Less than one percent economic growth does not an emergence make. In fact, 9 of the past 11 recessions since World War II have been preceded by a period of growth of 1 percent or less. But even in the face of indisputable numbers from his own Commerce Department, Mr. Obama cannot (or will not) let go of the delusion that the US economy is recovering.

Next, this man whose entire presidency has been based on the idea that government regulation and spending are the answers to all of our nation's problems, ended today's address by stating that when it comes to facing current challenges, "None of this will be easy. And it can’t be the work of government alone."

I'm sure many who fell for Candidate Obama's soaring rhetoric and empty promises will be surprised to hear that the reason he hasn't delivered is their fault for expecting too much from government.