Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It was not just U.S. Democratic voters who were looking forward to "hope and change" when Barack Obama became the 44th U.S. president. Around the world, many anticipated the United States would behave very differently under the new leader. They wanted to hear less about Americans swaggering and throwing their weight around. Some, perhaps, wanted more talk of U.S.-style freedom and democracy, but not if it meant Washington imposing its will. ... A scandal over the hiring of prostitutes by the U.S. Secret Service in Colombia, killings and Koran burnings in Afghanistan and drone strikes in Pakistan...

<p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the new budget reserve plan he negotiated with the Legislature will prevent the state from ever again descending into the kind of deficit spending spiral in which California finds itself today.</p> <p>But a close look at the details of the proposal, which will go before voters on March 2, suggests that it falls well short of accomplishing the goals Schwarzenegger was trying to achieve.</p>