Victor Davis Hanson's latest column asks a simple question: Would Obama won the November election if he'd told the American people he'd be doing what he's doing now?

Imagine that last fall before being elected, Barack Obama had outlined the positions he has embraced since being inaugurated as president. An honest campaign speech could have gone something like this:

"As we approach Election Day, the American people should not waste the crisis we find ourselves in.

"Consequently, if elected, I promise to get us over the Bush financial meltdown with a stimulus program that will borrow $787 billion — which, of course, will add to the already sizable budget deficit (nearly $500 billion) projected in the Bush administration's last budget.

"By March of next year, my new $3.6 trillion budget will include a spending bill with over 8,500 budget earmarks to target in-need constituents.

"In addition to the stimulus/borrowing plan, I intend to devote $634 billion to fund a new supplementary national health care system. But that is not all. Unfortunately, the initial Bush bank bailout of some $700 billion also may well have to be augmented by an additional $750 billion.

"Although my new spending proposals may raise the federal deficit in my first year to $1.75 trillion, I promise the American people that by the end of my first term, I will halve the federal deficit — albeit adding another $3 to $5 trillion to the national debt.

It continues, but you get the idea.