Mr. Obama is a talented speaker. I am at a loss, however, on how to reconcile the words that come out of his mouth with the actions he has taken and plans to take. He is against earmarks? He is right on the money there; the American people strongly disagree with the practice. But then it is discovered that the current $400-odd billion appropriations bill that will be signed into law probably sometime this week, has nearly nine thousand (9,000)!!! earmarks. Some of these pet projects are so brazen and clearly unnecessary, just to hear the details of them is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Where is the transparency promised by this administration? Or is this the transparency - that the people in the Obama administration will say what you want to hear then do whatever they want, because the voters have neither the voice nor the numbers in the house and senate to stop it? It's like someone giving you the middle finger salute behind their back while they say soothing words to you. I don't like the feeling.