If Obama Were President (or even a real leader)

When Michael Brown was killed and Ferguson erupted, Barack Obama had an opportunity to put on the mantle of the President of the United States and lead the nation “forward” through a crucial crossroads.

Why didn't he?

Obama is not a leader, he is merely a politician. Eric Holder stated, “In things racial we have always been and, I believe we continue to be, essentially, a nation of cowards.” Not only was Holder projecting, but he was also just a bit off the mark. What he meant was liars.

If Obama were President of the United States, rather than merely a politician holding the office, he would have spoken out on behalf of the nation, instead he merely reinforced the political mantra of his party and ideology.

What would have been so hard or so wrong with (warning wordy mock speech approaching)…

“My fellow Americans.

What is happening in Ferguson right now is troubling. People have jumped to conclusions and assumptions about an officer’s conduct based solely on deep seeded bias and prejudice. People are picking and then tending an old wound as if it happened yesterday.

There is currently no evidence that the shooting of Michael Brown is a civil rights violation or in any way racially inspired. There is no evidence that the contrasting races of Michael Brown and the officer who shot him is anything more than a coincidence.

According to the evidence at hand, Michael Brown fit the description of a suspect involved in a crime. It is reasonable that this might draw the officer’s attention, regardless of Brown’s race. When the officer first noticed Brown, Brown and another young man were walking down the center of the street; behavior the officer is obligated to address; again, regardless of race.

There are those who would argue the officer ONLY took interest because Michael Brown was black, and would not have cared had he been white. While I cannot say for certain what the officer’s motivation was, I CAN say with absolute certainty that the officer had a mandate to address Michael Brown, and I CAN say with absolute certainty that I would have wanted…DEMANDED that the officer do so.

I can also be fairly certain that members of the Ferguson community would want the officer to dutifully fulfill his mandate on their behalf. So what choice did the officer have but to address Michael Brown?

So I can be absolutely certain that anyone who says Michael Brown’s race influenced the officer’s decision to address him…ANYONE….EVERYONE….is currently making an ill-informed assumption…a foolish assumption…an assumption that is fueling protesters and violence in Ferguson.

We must wait for the evidence.

Now there are those who would concede the officer had a mandate and a just cause for approaching Michael Brown, but they would argue that how the officer handled Michael Brown was influenced by race. These people contend that Michael Brown is only dead because he is black. The officer only pulled the trigger because Michael Brown is black.

Again, there is currently no evidence that this is a civil rights violation or in any way racially inspired. There is no evidence that the contrasting races of Michael Brown and the officer who shot him is anything more than a coincidence.

According to ALL accounts, there was noncompliance from Michael Brown and there was an altercation that ultimately ended in Brown’s death; however, no account offers race as anything more than a physically apparent variable…something you can see with your eyes. Are we to assume…and pre-judge…that because race is visually apparent, it is the chief concern?

Such assumptions are themselves rooted in ignorance, prejudice, and hatred of the basest sort…rooted in racism.

Are we to take up the mantle of racism, justified by the fall of Michael Brown, whom we see as one of our own…based solely on his skin color?

Is not the Officer also one of our own? Is he not also a member of our community? What if he had fallen, instead of Michael Brown? How would race fit in that scenario?

If a young black man commits a crime, we rightfully decry mention of his race as more than coincidence. Why in this case, in the absence of evidence, would we not do the same thing and rightfully decry mention of race as more than coincidence?

We cannot pick and choose when to be colorblind; when to be equals. Racism is evil, and if it is ever going to die, we must resist the temptation to revive it, even for our assumed benefit. If racism exists at the heart of Michael Brown’s death, it absolutely has no place at the heart of his defense.

If we shroud these events in the shadow of racism, we will NEVER know the truth, and in our ignorance, our response to this tragic event will be a wild, chaotic, destructive, and fruitless cry that brings further tragedy to our communities in the forms of distrust, anger, and violence. And just as such premature and misguided fury has already begun to further embroil Ferguson, so will it ravage the rest of our great nation.

I do not know Michael Brown, but under the circumstances, to assume anything about him…his guilt or his innocence…strictly because he’s black and the officer is white is to judge both men by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character. A great American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died that we, as a unified nation of equals, might know and be better than that.

Until credible evidence suggests otherwise, the issue at hand in this case is whether the officer acted properly when he assessed an unarmed assailant to be a lethal threat warranting the lethal force that ultimately took that assailant’s life.

It is the officer’s duty and responsibility to make that call. As we gave the officer that authority in trust, and we gave it to him for a reason. We must afford the officer that same trust when he exercises that authority.

And while we do indeed trust the officer, it is our duty to review the officer’s conduct and verify that trust has not been misplaced. Michael Brown’s death is indeed cause for us to investigate and scrutinize; however, his death is not in and of itself evidence of the officer’s misconduct.

So, I urge genuine protesters in Ferguson to restrain themselves for the moment, and let due process, the heart of our nation’s judicial system, run its course. The evidence must be reviewed, and if misconduct is proven, there will be disciplinary and punitive action taken.

Do not waste your energy protesting ONLY on assumptions of guilt, accusations of impropriety, and the media fueled idea of a racist conspiracy against the black community. Use wisdom and patience, so that if your righteous fury must be unleashed, you can choose the right time, the right place, and the right cause. Such focused energy would be easily discernible and far more productive than the chaos of riots and looting going on in Ferguson right now.

As for the rioters, looters, and other criminal elements currently ravaging Ferguson: It is clear Michael Brown’s death is merely a veil behind which you hide your selfish and malicious intent to pillage and plunder the resources of that already shaken community. I implore would-be leaders of the Ferguson community to unequivocally discern and denounce such heinous and despicable activity.
 We need to make our first priority unity and order, especially in the community of Ferguson. I beg all upstanding and law-abiding members of the community of Ferguson to stand with the police, as I vow to you the police stand with you, and together you can repel the current criminal forces destroying any hope of peace or progress in your community.

Together with the police you can restore order and bring unity to your community; and if the officer who shot Michael Brown did so without cause, he will be held accountable. Regardless of the outcome, this is an opportunity for the community and the police department to grow closer, rather than further apart, but make no mistake you will have to choose which course to take.

This is not an issue of racism, it is an issue of community. If we want to move forward, we must keep our eye on the real issue and actively invest in community, here and now, when it’s toughest…when it’s needed most.

Thank you, and God bless the United States of America.”

What would have been so wrong with that message (besides the fact it would not work as a smarky or catchy Tweet)? It’s the actual truth.

It would have given a clear and productive direction to the community of Ferguson and it would have left the door open for the system to serve the black community. More accurately, it would have left the door open for the black community to recognize the system is not against them, even if one individual within the system might happen to be. Why wouldn't Obama want to do that?

Why wouldn't Obama want to dispel the counterproductive narrative of a racist conspiracy against black America?

Obama definitely hedged his political bets, and he has empowered the “victims” within the black community, but he has yet to step up and shed the racial cowardice and lies that attempt to disenfranchise the whole of black America. He has yet to embrace the true responsibility of the office of the President.

He has yet to lead.

Only One World

I am troubled that Officer Sanders feels he lives in two worlds. 

More importantly, I am troubled that as an officer of the law, based on the color of a woman's skin compared to his own, he can dismiss any professional or commonsense appreciation for her concern for her safety in the presence and proximity of a stranger.

As a black man with a white wife, I am troubled that my wife’s concern when passing a stranger would be dismissed and attributed to racism because that stranger happened to be black. Who cares that her husband, her children, her in-laws, and her friends are black; because the stranger was black, she is racist.

Black America has devolved past the white-America of the 60s. Black America not only judges others by their skin, we judge others by our skin.

Officer Sanders is dead wrong. He lives in only one world, but he has accepted the fabricated world in which racism lurks behind every corner, and he allows that world to shape his reality.

Black Americans decry “profiling” and stereotypes, yet have no issues when Barack Obama or Officer Sanders reveal their prejudices about whites. In fact, we champion those prejudices.

When it comes to young black men dressed and carrying themselves like thugs, hoodies hiding their faces, skulking around in shadows; we are shamed for “assuming” their appearance and actions accurately portray their character and intentions. When it comes to white women guarding their person in the presence of a black stranger; well the concern is obviously ONLY because he is black, and indicative of racism running rampant through ALL OF WHITE AMERICA. (Oh yeah, no profiling or discrimination there.)

I feel sorry for Officer Sanders that he has created the prison and imprisoned himself in it; however, I am outraged that he holds others accountable and spreads the lies and foundation for other black Americans to construct similar prisons for themselves.

I live in the exact same world Officer Sanders does, and I never notice store security following me, I never notice white women in fear of me, and I never fear the police shooting me, because I have no reason to.

For the purpose of making the point above, I highlighted that I am a black man with a white wife. Of course, neither I, my wife, nor our children see it that way. I am a man. She is a woman. We love each other. Period.

It is Officer Sanders, Barack Obama, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and countless others that just won’t let it be, and then they blame my wife, my family, my friends, my community, and my country and fellow countrymen.

Officer Sanders, you seem like a decent fellow, but if you don’t want to live in two worlds, you need to make the decision to cast one aside. If you’re having trouble deciding which world is real, let me give you a hint. If your skin color was the issue, the uniform wouldn't solve it.

Stop feeding the distrust. Stop building up that other world. Start giving people that which you so self-righteously claim as your just deserts: the benefit of the doubt.

Did you ever think the store security follows you because you obviously keep looking over your shoulder at them. Maybe the white woman on the street guards her purse, because she noticed you obviously looking at it.

A great man once said (and I paraphrase) the best way to end racism is to stop being racist.

I tried it, it works. 

Michael Brown's Tragic Proof

In light of the chaos ongoing in Ferguson, MO, I have to ask myself why, given the choice and responsibility to choose between an angry lynch mob and the justice system, alleged leaders in America sided first with the lynch mob.

Those alleged leaders fostered an environment in which justice could no longer survive under any circumstances.

Had the grand jury indicted Officer Wilson, the lynch mob would have been thus reinforced, believing its lawless, violent actions the key to newly won “justice.” What if that indictment did not yield a conviction? Likely the same outcome as when the grand jury "failed" to yield an indictment, the previously condoned and now inevitable lawless violence.

This is no longer about the death of Michael Brown, but about the death of American leadership.

Talking heads continue to lament how the justice system mishandled the situation, ignoring the fact that the justice system was prematurely judged “guilty” by not only the lynch mob, but also the alleged leaders of the community and even alleged leaders of the nation. Perfection itself would have been insufficient under the circumstances, had it failed to render the lynch mob’s demands.

What was to be lost by first calling the lynch mob to task for violence and lawlessness? Why was it necessary to reinforce unfounded accusations of a civil rights violation, before allowing the justice system to even try?

Alleged leaders effectively ruled out any chance the justice system might prevail. Why?

In destroying any chance the justice system could prevail, those same alleged leaders ensured their followers would never rely on the justice system and would never feel justice. This is most puzzling and horrifying when those same leaders parade a slogan of “no justice, no peace.”

These alleged leaders have made justice unrecognizable, unpalatable, and ultimately impossible, and by their own slogan’s admission, they have done the same for peace.

Michael Brown is dead, and while the situation is indeed tragic, that does not automatically imply that it was murder, or even criminal. Nor does his tragic death absolve him of the potential role he played in his own death. It is possible and plausible Officer Wilson’s actions were warranted.

Why are alleged leaders unable or unwilling to recognize and acknowledge these facts?

Unfortunately, the answer to both of our pertinent “whys” is closely related to why Michael Brown robbed the store, why Michael Brown disrespected the police officer and disobeyed lawful authority and direction, and why Michael Brown might have felt justified in all this to physically contest and assault an officer of the law and ignore that officer’s order to stand fast.

The alleged leaders in this entire situation have, as a rule among black communities, sewn distrust of the American system. Conveniently, that philosophy has reined in black support to anyone outside those same alleged leaders, but at what cost to the Michael Browns of America? The Michael Browns of America have been convinced that law and order in America is a conspiracy of oppression to be resisted and railed against.

Before Michael Brown’s blood was spilled, his alleged leaders had convinced him the justice system was corrupted beyond measure and should hold no sway in his life. Hence, Michael Brown would so vehemently reject an officer’s simple and rational instruction not to walk down the middle of the street; something a parent might naturally teach their child for safety’s sake.

Alleged leaders misled Michael Brown to his death.

Rather than instructing Michael Brown on how the system works, they fed him lies and conspiracies and imprisoned him in ignorance. Had those alleged leaders truly led Michael Brown, he might have known how to interact with an officer of the law. He might have prevented his own death, rather than contributing to it. He might have denied the system at least this one opportunity to prove itself; and what tragic proof.

Black Interests

Since when do most black Americans prefer taxation, unions, and abortion?

Apparently Professor Adolph L. Reed, Jr. doesn’t just drink the Kool-Aid; he’s gone and drowned himself in it. In an op-ed piece in the New York Times Reed dismissed black conservatives as tokens. He went on to say that Republicans won’t gain any support from the black community until they take policy positions that advance black interests.

Exactly which interests are specifically black interests? Would it be the economy? Wait; is it the unemployment rate? Oh, I know, the national debt?

These are the issues surveyed Americans said were the most important. These were the issues Americans agreed Obama is weak on. These are the issues Republicans continue to try to address, and Americans felt Republicans were more strongly capable of addressing than Barack Obama. Yet, Obama won the election largely due to the unwavering support of the minority vote.

Once again, exactly which interests are specifically black interests?

Step back, professor, and let a black conservative give this a shot.

When was the last time black America actually communicated their interests? Take a close look. Usually when you hear about black America’s interests it’s guys like Reed speaking for them, and amazingly black America seems to be regurgitating the Liberal Democratic party line. When you go directly to black America, you often get something akin to an angry cry for help, an incoherent mixture of confusion and desperation that scarcely resembles Reed’s vision.

Of course, there is the conservative voice of black America, but that voice is ignored, drowned out, and marginalized by black leaders and liberal media. While black America obviously doesn’t actually identify with the Democratic Party, they will not be allowed to identify with the Republican Party.

Black America is completely deprived of their voice, but by whom.

If I were a political cartoonist, I’d draw a gathering inside a room with a sign above the door “Republican Party.” Outside the room, a guy wearing a Democratic Party pin would be nailing up a “No blacks allowed” sign as a large crowd of poor, dejected black Americans looked on in confusion and desperation.

In the crowd, a media representative turns to a confused onlooker and says, “Those guys are so racist.”

Gun Control

I fear my government far more than I fear my neighbor.

My neighbor and I are on even footing. Even if my neighbor gets the drop on me, it’s still “mono y mono,” but the state…the government…has clout, manpower, and firepower that I can’t match.

If my neighbor comes for me, he’s going to have his hands full. When the government comes for me, I don’t stand a chance…unless I am armed (preferably to the teeth).

The fact that we are even debating inhibiting law-abiding citizens' constitutional right to bear arms highlights the real problem: only the law-abiding citizens would be detrimentally affected by such a law.

Criminals will always plan and prepare to resist authorities, while law-abiding citizens resist criminals and will only resist authorities if/when those authorities become oppressive. So, by inhibiting law-abiding citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms, we not only inhibit law-abiding citizens’ ability to resist criminals (increasing dependence on the state…wow, common Liberal/Democrat theme), but we also inhibit citizens' ability to resist the oppression of the state.

Logically, why then would the government want to deprive law-abiding citizens of their arms? Um, let’s see…1 + 1…

Of course, two things tend to contradict the notion that the solution to gun violence is to inhibit law-abiding citizens' constitutional right to bear arms. History tells us that man kills his fellow man by whatever means is available. History also tells us that governments have killed far more unarmed/disarmed citizens than any single man ever has or ever will. So, when/if the government takes your guns, while death will not decrease, at least we’ll be able to say fewer people died at the end of a citizen’s gun.

Ya know, that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside…my internment camp…where I wish I could smuggle a weapon…any weapon.

It is ridiculous to focus on a heinous act such as the shootings in Connecticut and suggest that somehow the method makes a difference. I wonder if any of the parents would be comforted to find their child wasn’t actually shot, but was instead stabbed, beaten, strangled, or simply died of shock? Somehow, I think not.

Also, the tool that facilitated the act should not be the focus. If that was sound reasoning, after 9/11 we should have waged some sort of war on box cutters. If only Home Depot hadn’t had a sale on box cutters, thousands of Americans might still be alive today.

What about cars? How many people die every year in vehicle accidents compared to gun deaths? Are privately owned vehicles next on the list?

My brother was shot in the face by some low-life thug. It wasn’t the gunshot, the bullet, or the gun that killed him, it was the idiot that pulled the trigger because he lived in a culture that had distorted all appreciation of law, order, justice, humanity, and life itself. Take away the tool, and I can guarantee that same idiot, values unchanged, would have ended my brother’s life.

The gun is an inanimate scapegoat, unable to defend itself, but it is unfortunately and obstructively misaligned with the political ideology/agenda of many of the political elite and their media proxies. For many, guns are true empowerment, true freedom. When the government comes for me, and history confirms that they eventually will, I don’t want to be dragged away kicking and screaming, I want to go down with guns blazing.

They’d love to subdue and ultimately oppress us with laws, but I intend to make certain they have to do it by force.

Self Respect vs Being Liked, A Tale of Two Parties

According to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, 

“If we want people to like us, we have to like them first.”

I’m embarrassed. I must admit…this entire time I thought the goal was to lead responsibly. What a forehead-slapper. I suddenly feel so stupid. Forget balancing the budget or reining in spending. Open up a Twitter account and go on Late Night with David Letterman (sound familiar), and while the world’s problems won’t get solved…or even better…at least people like you.

Ah, that’s better. “They like me. They really, really like me.”

Exactly who is Jindal trying to make like him, and why would that require that he affirm Democratic propaganda that “Republicans are racist and hateful?” Way to go, Bobby, I think I’ll stick with the politically incorrect, yet painfully honest Mitt Romney, thank you. At least with him I can lose telling the truth and standing proud rather than lying (hint, play on words) on my back with no dignity left.

Former Commerce Secretary CarlosGutierrez has a more viable plan: direct appeasement. Since the Libs and their media cohort are going to corner (read as demonize) Republicans on illegal immigration anyway, if Republicans make it seem like acquiescence was voluntary, they might win some votes. Three cheers for “comprehensive immigration failur…reform” which includes amnesty. Hip-hip, hooray! Hip-hip, hooray! (Imagine the third one in Spanish.)

Pardon me if I don’t share Gutierrez’s confidence that all those entitlement-eligible voters are going to flock to the Republican ranks, but at least they will like Republicans

So, I get the making-people-like-you angle. After all, Barack Obama was an utter failure but because folks liked him (thank you mainstream media), they just overlooked his many, many, many shortcomings..for four years…wait, eight years. But why does “liking” people mean we have to lie to them or accept the lies they tell or believe about us? I’m pretty sure that’s a sign of low self-esteem.

While Jindal actually played right into Democratic propaganda (in his defense, it’s kind of hard not to, there’s a lot of it out there), he was actually stating a very basic and unfortunate truth: in our country, the liberal media will turn every Republican word to hatred, so you have to watch everything you say….even if it is the truth.

What’s that? Obama’s platform relies on anger? RACISM!

What’s that? We want to uphold the integrity of our system by verifying voter eligibility? RACISM!

What’s that? We didn’t know about the economy or Benghazi? FOUR MORE YEARS (...of someone else's fault)!

If you’re Barack Obama, the very words from your mouth and their intended meaning can be forgiven or just conveniently overlooked, because the media likes you. If you’re Barack Obama, you can campaign to be given a job, and then hold someone else responsible for failing to do your job…four years later, because the media likes you. If you’re Barack Obama, you can buy votes with divisive vitriol and be called a unifier, you can sell out another nation and be called its ally, you can surrender on two wars and be called commander-in-chief, you can sway in the direction of the wind and be called a leader, and you can have only Liberal accomplishments and causes under your belt and still be called “moderate”… because the media likes you.

Heck if you’re Barack Obam you can be born in another cou….um….let’s just leave that one alone. (For anyone reading, that’s not called conspiracy….it’s called humor…and freedom of speech; and there’s plenty more where that came from, so stick around.)

Seriously, Jindal makes a great point: if the media likes you, the public likes you. Then, nothing else matters. Get liked, and get elected. If the media doesn’t like you…aw crap.

Republicans lost because they weren’t liked by the media, and the media was willing and able to support Obama by steering the vote away from issues, accountability, international policy, and other pesky presidential stuff and make it about who the media…I mean, voters personally liked more…and…who could bring in the largest number of unconcerned voters. “Since you’re not using your vote, can I use it?” (congrats Obama).

So, the real question isn’t how do you get voters to like you; but if you can’t get the media to like you, how do you get voters to step outside the popularity contest, consider the merits of your position, and vote independently on issues regardless of party or media?

Great question, if I don’t say so myself. Romney and Ryan tried it and were doing well at it when Obama and his media supporters made a full court press to inject the emotional social issues and distract from things like the economy, Benghazi, and all four years of Obama’s presidency. And whaddayaknow, it worked. Yay!

…wait….bummer.

If focusing on the issues won’t get the job done, I hear trading vodka or cigarettes for votes works really well…ahem…or Republicans could try loading their policy up with entitlements that the voters won’t immediately have to pay for (at least not the targeted voters). Of course that won’t work unless it’s used in concert with a “they hate you” message, but you’ll need the mainstream media to back you. I think we’re onto something. This could fundamentally change the face of politics in Amer…wait….so true, and so ironically not funny.

Here’s an angle, Bobby. Don’t make popularity your goal; aim for respect…self-respect. Stop apologizing, shoot straight, and sleep soundly knowing you stood your ground and told it how it is. Compromise on opinions not principles, and stand firm until the end if need be.

You don’t have to agree with Romney’s decision to make the statement of fact, but if the only way you can stay in power is if the facts are colored or denied...

...you’re Obama, and the media likes you.

Who needs what change?

In a USA Today article titled "Black vote up for grabs in 2016 if GOP adapts," DeWayne Wickham quotes NAACP President Ben Jealous:

“The status quo, minus Obama, could be a disaster for Democrats in 2016.”

 Well, that’s refreshing.

Wickham goes on to interpret Jealous’s statement:

“In other words, without Obama at the head of the ticket, Republicans will have an opening to get a larger share of the black vote if they commit to a targeted effort to solve the problems that disproportionately afflict blacks.”

Of course, that’s not what Jealous’s statement says. Jealous implies that black voters recognize that the status quo is unsatisfactory, but voted in favor of “unsatisfactory” on behalf of Obama; however, they will allegedly draw the line once Obama is gone.

Furthermore, what problems are Wickham referring to: the rash of single mothers and fatherless children, violence in black communities and black on black crime, lack of proactive effort and reliance on outside forces (Democratic leaders) for internal problems, what? How are Republicans going to solve those issues for the black community?

Jealous has also been quoted saying the Democratic party 

“must quickly figure out how to motivate [black] voters who – if Obama is not at the top of the ticket – simply go away.”

Jim Galloway elaborates on this in the Atlanta Journal-Constituion:

“Republicans…must find a way to appeal to a significant number of black voters…”

“When it comes to issues such as civil rights and equality, 87 percent of African-Americans polled declared that GOP concern was either “just talk,” or simply didn’t exist.”

Mr. Galloway, like Mr. Wickham, attempts to legitimize the position, and he similarly fails to recognize that Jealous is plainly indicating that the black Democrats that mustered to put Obama in the White House voted along racial and party lines, as Obama and his party knew they would, and once Obama is gone those voters are likely to just go home rather than entertain voting again, period.

It is an ugly reality, but reality nonetheless.

Wickham’s re-interpretation, like Galloway’s, reveals the propaganda message used to put black voters beyond Republican reach: only Democrats care and strive on behalf of blacks in the U.S. Of course, black voters don’t ask, and Democratic leaders don't tell how or why the two most revered, iconic political and historical champions of the black community (President Lincoln and Reverend King) were both Republican; or why Malcolm X loathed the Democratic party; or why the values of the Democratic party are wreaking havoc on black communities; or why the Democratic policies have yet to provide promised prosperity and the perception of equality they so vehemently deny their black constituents.

Allow me to reiterate that the President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People admitted that black voters were solicited and mustered by their leaders to purposefully vote along racial and party lines for a recognized unsatisfactory status quo.

So, recap:

Democratic and black leaders point black voters in the direction of failure. Black voters pursue failure at the behest of Democratic and black leaders. Failure impacts black voters while entrenching Democratic and black leaders. Republicans get blamed for failure, further ingratiating black voters to Democratic and black leaders. Democratic and black leaders continue to “lead” black voters, and black voters continue to follow.

Yet, according to Wickham, Galloway, and black communities across the nation, it’s the Republicans that need to change.

It explains why black Americans voted so heavily for “change we can believe in”…twice (and it wasn't change at all).