jmm99,

The problem is that rhetoric doesn't work that much anymore. You see, the US isn't facing an ideological foe like the Soviets or Mao's China, they are competing against (or pretending to compete against) the Chinese, Indians, Brazilians etc who get things done without talking much or saying anything at all.

Obama is all rhetoric and people in Africa can see right through him - but at least Obama, Bush and Clinton are better than previous presidents like Reagan who never bothered coming in the first place.