It was a defining moment for Barack Obama when, during his first presidential campaign, the charismatic new face of the Democrat Party promised an era of Hope and Change™. He certainly succeeded in that, but most Americans expected something much different.

To wit, consider what Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told a New Hampshire crowd on Sunday: “From coast to coast, the American people are crying out for change, for real change. They are tired of the same old, same old establishment politics, establishment economics and establishment foreign policy. They want this country to move in a new direction.”

If that’s not a critique of Obama’s seven years as president, we don’t know what is. Yet speaking from Paris on Tuesday, Obama said, “You know, just with respect to my successor, let me first of all say that I’m anticipating a Democrat succeeding me. I’m confident in the wisdom of the American people on that front.”

Sanders is right — Americans do crave change. And let’s hope Obama is wrong when he says a Democrat will succeed him. But it’s revealing of the change Obama didn’t bring that candidates from both parties are running against him.. As for Americans having the wisdom in deciding …. well, time will tell.