This is my personal opinion about the whole application/employment process that we are facing in the world and our culture today. We have become so "wrapped up" and enthralled with all of our modern technology and our electronic devices that the Human Resources offices/departments with most of our major companies and businessses have either consciously or unconsciously neglected and ignored the human element when it comes to the intricate art and business of hiirhg qualified personnel for their respective companies. A lot of this entire hiring process nowadays is so impersonal. Pjw.

 Lets face it, many businesses "prospect" for potential employees.  This is especially true in the field of contracting, where the actual job position has not had an actual contract awarded to it yet.  The company wants to be have a qualified candidate at the ready (just in case the actual position gets created, or a contract won).  This frequently results in responses from a potential employer which can take an extraordinary amount of time. 
This can be very frustrating, when a person is trying to keep their unemployment gap brief.  Sadly, the only winning strategy appears to start applying three months before your current job ends.  This means anyone following this advice needs to jump ship the moment the work environment even begins to become shaky.  
I am a bit old fashioned, and still believe in the concept of loyalty; this makes it quite difficult to follow my own advice. 

Craig, I agree with you. Hiring Manager are salaried staff. Most of them don't care if they trully hire any body because it's not for their own division. Generally the problem is lazy attitudes, nobody checks on their proven results. So, truly the problem starts from top down. If you're not desperate, act desperate, God has the job for you. I see positions recycling all the time. That's why America is going backwards in many ways. Too many skilled people unemployed. Not because they don't want to work, but because the hiring managers don't know how to recognize talent and skills.

Companies snooze, they lose. It's a gamble that both you and the potential employer take, but if they were truly interested in you, they would have pushed a little harder to secure your background info, paperwork or whatever else they may have needed.

And an explanation for what? Your taking the time out to call and thank him for the long-awaited response? If he needs an explanation as to why you find the timing of the response unacceptable, you didn't want to work with him any way :-\

Bold! Too bold for me.

GOOD for you Craig, I totally agree what makes some companies think you can just sit around waiting for whenever they get around to contacting you back. I have always applied to as many jobs as possible in a week & could get a job by the end of the week. Now times have changed where you have to apply online HATE It !. I like face to face contact. I too applied to a job I really wanted before the holidays only to be told they over hired for the position, Thank God ! I didn't quit my job I have now, they recently contacted me to offer me the same position but it's too late for me now. I don't want to EVER be someone's Second Choice. Good Luck ! I HOPE you find what you're looking for. :)

Sounds to me like you know your worth. Although, I'm mot sure that I would've said that to the Hiring Manger. I have experienced first-hand the frustration associated with waiting for a response back or an update from a potential employer. Some of the exchanges winded up being a bunch of complete BS. It leaves a very bad and bitter taste in one's mouth and mind. Keep in mind that there are those of us who have been looking and continue to look for employment for close to or even longer than a year. You just never know what may be develop on horizon. I agree the job search is a two way street in terms of the relationship; but one does not one to look at what should be perceived as a gift horse in the mouth. Patience more often than not sometimes doesn't pan out for our benefit.

I probably would not have said that to the hiring manager. Delays are caused for various reasons, some beyond the managers control. I once received an email 4 months after I applied that the position had been filled but they would keep my resume on file for a year. It took me a while to remember what the job was since I already had moved on.

Do you mind if I ask what you do that you can get a replacement job in less than a week? That is pretty impressive.

Good for you. That told him you are impulsive and they wouldn’t want you anyway. Not very smart to burn bridges.

They should NOT keep anyone waiting for 2 months, that's crazy!