Right about now, the American people must be asking, “Can’t we just elect this Obama fellow and let him get on with the business of running the country?”

The president and his advisors were careful to point out that Tuesday’s speech wasn’t a State of the Union address, and that’s probably a good thing, since it didn’t seem like one. Instead of watching an elected president address Congress about his plans for the future, Americans could be forgiven if they thought they’d seen a mere candidate regale us with everything he intends to do once elected. Oh, and any details will come later.

“As soon as I took office, I asked this Congress to send me a recovery plan by President’s Day that would put people back to work and put money in their pockets. Not because I believe in bigger government -- I don’t,” Obama announced early in the address. “Not because I’m not mindful of the massive debt we’ve inherited -- I am.” But, he added, because the near trillion-dollar “stimulus” bill was critical.

What made it so necessary?

“We have lived through an era where too often short-term gains were prized over long-term prosperity; where we failed to look beyond the next payment, the next quarter or the next election,” President Obama announced. Well, fair enough. Americans overborrowed and overspent, especially on real estate. Few would doubt that. Sadly, Obama then gave a speech that hinted at levels of spending our government won’t be able to afford in the quarters and years ahead.

Just consider what he’s already asked for: close to a trillion in “stimulus.” $275 billion for housing. $634 for health care. A $3.55 trillion budget that would lead to a mind-blowing $1.75 trillion deficit this fiscal year. The hits just keep on coming. For someone who doesn’t want to grow the government, Obama’s doing a bang-up job.

Democrats in the House aren’t helping. Continued...