Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Obama’s year of success

By

Like everyone else, I have my complaints about Barack Obam’s first year: the kid-glove treatment for banks, the Afghanistan escalation, the foot-dragging on gay rights. But it seems everyone is using this week’s inauguration anniversary as an occasion to chronicle their complaints.

So in my column this week, I chose to tell the mostly untold story of the things this administration has done right in the past year, and there are plenty: http://tinyurl.com/ycotbv2

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0

Comments

  1. I actually went and read your column, because I’ve been really wondering what anyone could think Obama has accomplished, and I saw another similar column recently that had essentially no accomplishments in it.  So, I figure, you’re going to get into some accomplishments!  Obama’s year of success, here we go:

    <

    p>Skipping the intro line, I read 3 paragraphs and no hint of any accomplishment yet.  Surely one must be coming soon.  4 more paragraphs.  Nothing.  Wait!  What’s that in paragraph 7 – a hint at an accomplishment?  Stated backwards of course

    But would the economy be better off if more banks went bankrupt, laying off thousands of financial industry workers and driving the Dow down another 1,000 points?

    <

    p>OK you might be hinting at an accomplishment there – continuing the TARP program started by Bush, is that right?

    <

    p>Now. paragraph 8 we have a claim:  

    He set a responsible schedule for turning Iraq back to the Iraqis and he’s keeping to it. He got serious about fighting the war in Afghanistan. He unequivocably renounced torture and is doing his best to shut down Gitmo.

    <

    p>So he’s having success in Iraq and Afghanistan and he promised to close Gitmo before this month.  OK.  But its still open.  And wtf is going on in Afghanistan that is so good?  Iraq not exactly getting better since Bush left, is it?  Torture?  Missed a chance to end rendition then, didn’t he?

    <

    p>But fine, at least you put in some things that you think are accomplishments, and/or success.  Kudos for trying.

    <

    p>

    Obama has single-handedly restored America’s respect around the world. In nearly every country, polls show renewed appreciation of America’s leadership. U.S. diplomats are engaging problems that had been left to fester.

    <

    p>LOL!  He polls well because he insults our country everywhere he goes.  Doesn’t seem to help him though, with Russia, China, Copenhagen, Olympics, Israel – come to think of it – can you name a single foreign policy success?  I can’t, off hand.  

    <

    p>OK then you get into bullet points, kudos again, some of which seem at least arguable – although the transparent govt thing in the face of shutting C-SPAN out of the health care debate is ridiculous, as you should realize.  

    <

    p>Stimulus?   The one that was supposed to stop unemployment from cresting 8%?  You point at that as a success?  The whitehouse won’t even use the word anymore, is how successful that was.

    <

    p>Aannnndd interspersed with some random drama, we have health care.  Well, that isn’t really done yet, is it?  And the best success we can all hope for is that THAT sausage factory gets closed down.

    <

    p>Amen.

    <

    p>ps:  are opinion editors always leftists, or is metro west daily news a left leaning paper?  

    • <

      p>1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending. And he has cut more spending than Bush:

      <

      p>http://www.washingtontimes.com…

      <

      p>2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices

      <

      p>3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women

      <

      p>4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

      <

      p>5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB

      <

      p>6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information

      <

      p>7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family

      <

      p>8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act

      <

      p>9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible

      <

      p>10. Limits on lobbyist’s access to the White House

      <

      p>11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration

      <

      p>12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date

      <

      p>13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan

      <

      p>14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research

      <

      p>15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research

      <

      p>16. New federal funding for science and research labs

      <

      p>17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards

      <

      p>18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect

      <

      p>19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools

      <

      p>20. New funds for school construction

      <

      p>21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out

      <

      p>22. US Auto industry rescue plan

      <

      p>23. Housing rescue plan

      <

      p>24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan

      <

      p>25. The 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

      <

      p>26. US financial and banking rescue plan

      <

      p>27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed

      <

      p>28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards

      <

      p>29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops

      <

      p>30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010

      <

      p>31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols

      <

      p>32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic

      <

      p>33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions

      <

      p>34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

      <

      p>35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job

      <

      p>36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast

      <

      p>37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles

      <

      p>38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales

      <

      p>39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government

      <

      p>40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children

      <

      p>41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program

      <

      p>42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones

      <

      p>43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions

      <

      p>44. Expanding vaccination programs

      <

      p>45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters

      <

      p>46. Closed offshore tax safe havens

      <

      p>47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals

      <

      p>48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back

      <

      p>49. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices

      <

      p>50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources

      <

      p>51. Lower drug costs for seniors

      <

      p>52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings

      <

      p>53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel

      <

      p>54. Improved housing for military personnel

      <

      p>55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses

      <

      p>56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals

      <

      p>57. Increasing student loans

      <

      p>58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program

      <

      p>59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy

      <

      p>60. Established a new cyber security office

      <

      p>61. Beginning 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.

      <

      p>62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts

      <

      p>63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness

      <

      p>64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient

      <

      p>65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced

      <

      p>66. Improving benefits for veterans

      <

      p>67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration

      <

      p>68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud

      <

      p>69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco

      <

      p>70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules

      <

      p>71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports

      <

      p>72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons

      <

      p>73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive

      <

      p>74. Making more loans available to small businesses

      <

      p>75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare

      <

      p>76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court

      <

      p>77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans

      <

      p>78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000

      <

      p>79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel

      <

      p>80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan

      <

      p>81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan

      <

      p>82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans

      <

      p>83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production

      <

      p>84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters

      <

      p>85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket

      <

      p>86. Held first Seder in White House

      <

      p>87. Attempting to reform the nation’s healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured

      <

      p>88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform

      <

      p>89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform

      <

      p>90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform

      • I have a sneaking suspicion that you did not write that yourself.

        <

        p>Beyond that, I can’t believe that you include in a list of either “accomplishments” or “successes” things like   “ordered a review of…”

        <

        p>Wow, that’ll go down in the history books.

        <

        p>On the other hand, if you could focus on the top 5 or 10 successful accomplishments that you believe Obama has to his credit in the past year, then you could surely back them up with explanations, links, or even a token amount of attention.

        <

        p>I have yet to see an original thought from you, Kathy.  But I’m still holding out hope.

        • from me. Funny, I only remember you from you asinine ‘post-n-runs’. And yes, I did re-post this from somewhere else, because I am busy right now making calls for Coakley.  I am also not good at memorizing and spewing talking points in lockstep like you guys.

  2. even if TeeVee constantly tells me to ask my doctor for.
    Acually I can’t go to the doctor anymore because I don’t want/can’t risk at my age wiping out the meager former estate I want to leave to my kids.
    I am not a citizen of Obama’s global world.  I do not endorse the leftist Marxist fascism of Obama’s thought control police.
    I dont’ endorse war with Yemen, Pakistan,Venezuela,Iran or any other country which does not agree with the globalist versions of western capitalism in all of it’s currently predatory states.

    <

    p>The biggest reason for my incoherent rage?  Obamacare.
    Do it and I stop filing returns.

Archives