Months before Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, I said he was modeling after Ronald Reagan, not in policy, but in practice. This week’s submission of the FY2010 budget proposal, “A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America’s Promise,” was just another example. While the headlines read that President Obama is un-doing what President Reagan had [un]done, in practice, Obama is doing exactly what Reagan did — keeping his promises.

For me, the budget is not the done deal to be implemented as is. It’s the impetus for a larger dialogue about what is really important to the American people and where our leadership and lawmakers stand on key issues like healthcare, energy, education, scientific research, and our future. And what better time than when people are really paying attention to these things.

As one friend said, “No one is above a critical analysis.” If nothing else, Obama has been consistent. For people who don’t agree, they haven’t been paying attention or read his books. Even when he says, he’ll change course if a strategy or plan doesn’t work, is part of that consistent practice. Afterall, we now know where “staying the course” has gotten us.

2/28/09: Your Weekly Address from White House on Vimeo.