Identical mixes Nick? My condolences for your hearing loss.

I didn't listen, Jeremy. Last time they were so close I couldn't tell the difference (when you swapped hard drives).

Eric,

At least one place stays the same

I must say there is some interesting banter here and when someone does ask a DA7 question people do try to answer / help out.

Hey Eric, don't be a Dick,

Come on back and join our ragged band of idiots.
Your holier than thou stuff is impressive, but I think you are missing out on some good old fashioned barn burning discourse.

I for one have great respect for your credentials and expertise.
It would be great to have your enlightened presence on this forum.

Just sayin'

I agree with you about Obama. Had I voted for him and believed his talk about "hope and change" I would be irate that he is pretty much in step with Bush on a lot of things and is now just pandering.

The guy has had a rough first year. Pretty much everything he has tried to do has failed - sitting down with Iran, healthcare, the stimulus (I don't know how he blames Bush for all the jobs we lose every month but takes credit for all the jobs we don't lose), closing GITMO, the terrorist trials in NYC, etc....

I think he has to decide if he's going to go with the 10% lunatic fringe or if he's going to move more to center.

If he moves to center I think he'll be re-elected. If he sticks with the nuts on the far left (there are just as many nuts on the far right btw) he's toast.

I don't see any transparency from Obama. All I see are special deals for big business, unions and states that go along behind closed doors.

If he were Clinton or Bush I would understand it, but this guy was supposed to be different.

The war, fear, religion, and special interest machines have been working overtime, and have spent a ton of money making sure Obama doesn't make good on his positive change promises. Then they say, "see, he can't get anything done".

EXACTLY!

And we're supposed to be stupid enough to belive it.

But we KNEW the Republicans and hyper-conservatives were going to try and torpedo the guy.

That's just par for the course.

What we didn't expect is that he wouldn't be able to get his agenda through even with his own party, and with both houses of Congress controlled by his party.

You can't blame that on the conservative Republicans.

You HAVE to blame some of that just on him (and also some of his party members). He just hasn't been much of a "politician" since taking office. He's made a reputation for himself inside the beltway and among his own party as a stern idealist who is willing to sacrifice his constituency.

I agree with that, although I can blame them for being so cynical that they're willing to put their own interests (namely regaining power) over the interests of the people they're supposed to be fighting for. That applies to health insurance reform and also to the stimulus last year.

And I should add that it's much easier to destroy progress than it is to enact positive legislation.



I'm not sure if that's a fair criticism of Obama across the board, but no question, I blame many of his party members who are absolutely horrible!

It's also worth noting that he has accomplished a lot that isn't talked about in the media; they tend to report on health insurance reform and the stimulus only.

I'm not endorsing the following entire list - I've only skimmed it and it's cut and paste.





The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times.


Professor Watson writes:

Hi friends,

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.
As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).
Robert


1.Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover A.F.B.
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover A.F.B.; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
16. New federal funding for science and research labs
17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction
21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
22. US Auto industry rescue plan
23. Housing rescue plan
24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
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
26. US financial and banking rescue plan
27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
30.The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
31. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
32. Re-engaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
33. Re-engaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba , allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
44. Expanding vaccination programs
45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
46. Closed offshore tax safe havens
47. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
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
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
50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
51. Lower drug costs for seniors
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
53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
54. Improved housing for military personnel
55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
57. Increasing student loans
58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
59. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; re-engaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
60. Established a new cyber security office
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.
62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66. Improving benefits for veterans
67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
74. Making more loans available to small businesses
75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
86. Held first Seder in White House
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
88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!

by
Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University

It is pretty clear that Obama has pretty handily secured himself a reputation as someone who is insensitive to the political needs of not only his opposition, but of his colleagues and constituents, alike. That's essentially why Health Care reform didn't even get into/beyond the single party "resolution" process. He pissed off a bunch of his own party members by asking them to renege on promises he and they made to supporters, including general public promises and particular promises to special interests like pharma companies.

And that was just the latest and most graphic example of his unwillingness to understand and accommodate the political position of his own party members.

The whole SotU address was drafted largely as a response to that problem. The party basically said to him "You better not talk about health care reform. You better start helping us out and start talking about jobs and the economy."

After the bruising he took on health care and the Massachusetts special election, he's finally started to back up a little bit on the "I'm running the Democratic agenda. You all better get in line" posture. We'll see if it holds.

It is clear however, that he royally screwed up some major initiatives in his first year by being to brazen about how he was going to "change politics in Washington."

And that list of Presidential accomplishments is a lot of basically nothing/stuff he didn't actually DO, but that just occurred while he was in office. Pretty much ANY Presidential first 365 days can be summed up in a list like that.