I'm not all that political. As a matter of fact, I think yesterday was the first time I've even been to the 'Politics" section of GC. I knew people didn't like Obama but I never realized there were so many Obama haters. I never really get into political discussions so I guess I never noticed. Personally, I like the guy. The one thing I like most about him is the same thing that many hate the most. The fact that he changes his mind. Stubborn people drive me nuts. There's nothing I like better than someone who has an opinion, listens to the other side and analyzes the facts, then changes their mind. I think it's great that we have a president that's capable of doing this. Anyway, I was checking around the internet to find things that Obama has accomplished. I found this list. Lots of them I have no clue about. MANY of them I recognize as things he did do. Things that I feel are a job well done. I'm sure there has to be several accomplishments that even the haters agree were good? Read through them. If you don't agree, tell me your side. Maybe you can sway my 2012 vote for him. 1.\tSaved the collapse of the American automotive industry by making GM restructure before bailing them out, and putting incentive money to help the industry 2.\tShifted the focus of the war from Iraq to Afghanistan, and putting the emphasis on reducing terrorism where it should have been all along 3.\tRelaxed Anti-American tensions throughout the world 4.\tSigned order to close the prisoner “torture camp” at Guantanamo Bay 5.\tHas made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation 6.\tHas made education a national priority by putting emphasis and money behind new ideas like charter schools, but speaking directly to school children in telling them they have to do their part. 7.\tWon the Nobel Peace Prize 8.\t$789 billion economic stimulus plan 9.\tAppointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court 10.\tAttractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles 11.\tAuthorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans 12.\tRenewed dialogue with NATO and other allies and partners on strategic issues. 13.\tBeginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc. 14.\tBetter body armor is now being provided to our troops 15.\t“Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales 16.\tChanged the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan 17.\tClosed offshore tax safe havens 18.\tDeployed additional troops to Afghanistan 19.\tEnded media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information 20.\tEnded previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts 21.\t. Ended media blackout on war casualties and the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB. 22.\tEnded previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules 23.\tEnded previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings 24.\tEnded previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports 25.\tAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created 2.1 million jobs (as of 12/31/09). 26.\tEnded previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions 27.\tEnded previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back 28.\tEnded previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards 29.\t. Launched Recovery.gov to track spending from the Recovery Act, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology. 30.\tEnded previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices 31.\tEnded previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date 32.\tEnergy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources 33.\tEstablished a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient 34.\tEstablished a new cyber security office 35.\tExpanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children 36.\tExpanding vaccination programs 37.\tFamilies of fallen soldiers have expenses 38.\t. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans. 39.\tFederal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research 40.\tFunds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools 41.\tResponded with compassion and leadership to the earthquake in Haiti 42.\tImmediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters 43.\t. Launched Business.gov – enabling conversation and online collaboration between small business owners, government representatives and industry experts in discussion forums relevant to starting and managing a business. Great for the economy. 44.\tImproved housing for military personnel 45.\tImproved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals 46.\tChanged failing war strategy in Afghanistan. 47.\tImproving benefits for veterans 48.\tIncreased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect 49.\tDonated his $1.4 million Nobel Prize to nonprofits. 50.\tIncreasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program 51.\tProvided tax credits to first-time home buyers through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 to revitalize the U.S. housing market. 52.\tIncreasing pay and benefits for military personnel 53.\tIncreasing student loans 54.\tInstituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones 55.\tCracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers. 56.\tLimited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000 57.\tLimits on lobbyists’ access to the White House 58.\tProtected 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors through the Recovery Act that would have otherwise been lost. 59.\tLimits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration 60.\tChildren’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act on February 4, 2009, provides quality health care to 11 million kids – 4 million who were previously uninsured. 61.\tLower drug costs for seniors 62.\tMaking more loans available to small businesses 63.\tMany more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration 64.\t. Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis 65.\tNew Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans 66.\tAnnounced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care. 67.\tNew federal funding for science and research labs 68.\tNew funds for school construction 69.\tOrdered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending 70.\tOrdered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices 71.\t. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals. 72.\tPhasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan 73.\t Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions 74.\tProvided tax credit to workers thus cutting taxes for 95% of America's working families. 75.\t Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic 76.\t Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research 77.\t. Helped reverse a downward spiral of the stock market. On January 19, 2009, the last day of President Bush's presidency, the Dow closed at 8,218.22. In February 2010, the Dow closed at 10,309.24 78.\t Renewed loan guarantees for Israel 79.\t Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols 80.\tProvided attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles. 81.\t Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters 82.\tSent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy 83.\tUnveiled a program on Earth Day 2009 to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner. 84.\tSigned national service legislation; expanded national youth service program 85.\tStates are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards 86.\tStudents struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced 87.\tSuccessful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job 88.\tThe FDA is now regulating tobacco 89.\tEnded the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date. 90.\tThe missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010 91.\tThe public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying 92.\tThe “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed 93.\tUS financial and banking rescue plan 94.\tUS Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast 95.\t. Signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop fraud and wasteful spending in the defense procurement and contracting system. 96.\tVisited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office 97.\tImproved relations with Iran 98.\tImproved U.S. policy on climate change 99.\tSet timetable for exiting Iraq (already started removing troops) 100.\tImproved relations with Russia 101.\tImproved relations with the Islamic World 102.\tMade progress towards greater cooperation on limiting nuclear proliferation 103.\tEconomic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing) 104.\tDrastically slowed down the recession 105.\tSaved Wall Street 106.\tPassed the Lilly Ledbetter Act (equal work for equal pay) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 107.\tHEALTHCARE REFORM 108.\tOrdered the military operation that killed Osama Bin Laden
Dude you're my new favorite poster. #85 just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Edit: sorry I meant #86.
97.\tImproved relations with Iran (Yeah, right... ) 101.\tImproved relations with the Islamic World (This is fucking laughable as well) 103.\tEconomic stimulus plan has created jobs. (Unemployment rate decreasing) (0 Jobs were created in August ) 104.\tDrastically slowed down the recession (Oh really?) 105.\tSaved Wall Street I just looked at the end of the list, I am sure MJU and AW will be here to set you straight.
um, actually he is just as despised as bush was, if not more so rofl you believe everything you see on the internet?
Number 85 is protected by the Constitution anyway. Changing your mind about stuff is one thing. It can be a very good thing, and it allows you to be open to the best. But when you are a politician and you are running for president and people vote for you for certain things, then once you get into office you "change your mind", that's not acceptable; that completely undermines the democratic process; those people elected you for those specific ideas, not what your fickle mind may conjure. So yes, Democratic socialists will be very happy with the new social regulations he has put in place. Constitutional-Republicans will be mad that we still aren't following the Constitution and allowing those decisions to be up to the states. And both are probably mad that he didn't close Gitmo, has extended the wars to even more multiple countries (didn't bring any troops home; or at least replaced them with others), gave money to failing industries who either laid people off anyway or continued to fail, and renewed the Patriot Act. I think he is an abysmal failure, who lied about the promises he made that essentially got him into office.
I'm laughing at a good number of those proclamations. He continued and expanded the wars, he aggressively prosecutes the war on drugs, he re-signed the Patriot Act, he approves of the TSA molestation at the airports, he invaded a sovereign nation without even consulting Congress, and has sent Bush Jr's spending habits into over drive. ^Those reasons not to like him trump any of your hundred or so reasons to. Why would anyone like him, even if you're a Democrat?
No, those are things he PROMISED to do, but in the end, he ended up halfassing it, or straight up failed to follow though.
97. yeah, probably 101. yeah, kinda. on a don't talk shit basis 103. Nice job picking the 1 month no jobs were created. how about July? 104. yes really 105. what would you call the bailouts?
Thanks to MJU: The Humble Libertarian: Bush 2.0: 100 Ways Barack Obama Is Just Like George W. Bush The list goes on for those interested
We'll see how that plays out with the economy in the next 10 years. Honestly those companies kinda deserve to fail anyway. So hopefully we wont have a president in 10 years who will bail them out too.
I honestly don't think he's horrible just defiantly not the best and I hate his policy and ideas about drugs and the fact he hasn't changed as much as he said he would.
You really don't mind theft do you? Or is it just taking advantage of the system? Oh excuse Mr.Immoral over here stating his racist and unethical claims. Doesn't he know its for the good of the people!
God college is so expensive now it's not even worth it unless you wanna be a lawyer, doctor, scientist, etc.
I think if I work all day and my boss gets $1000, and he only gives me $100, that's theft. And no, I don't support it.