Michael Barone‘s latest column posted at Human Events takes President Obama to task for sticking to a tradition first adopted during his days in Springfield, Ill.

In the Illinois legislature, state Sen. Barack Obama voted “present” 129 times. Today, he seems to be voting present on two major issues, Libya and the budget.

National Security Adviser Tom Donilon told reporters Thursday that the United States and other nations have “taken a range of steps … to squeeze (Moammar) Gadhafi, isolate him, really turn him into a pariah.”

But the steps the United States has taken may well have bolstered Gadhafi’s determination to crush the rebellion against his regime. …

… The White House has said the U.S. will send aid to the rebels and that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with their transitional council next week.

Aid, not arms — a meeting, but (unlike France and Portugal) no official recognition. The president seems to be voting “present” once again. …

… Obama seems to be voting “present” on the budget, as well. His proposed budget for 2012 failed to address the looming problem of entitlements identified as critical by his own bipartisan economic commission.