We have had eight years of a president who exudes a superb intellect, a quiet dignity, a calm rationality, and most of all, was able to accomplish a huge amount in the face of unprecedented obstruction on several governmental levels. I propose a letter writing campaign to express our gratitude- here is mine:
Dear President Obama;
I am completely heart sick and saddened to my core over the election results of 11/8. You should be extremely proud of all you were able to accomplish the last eight years, despite some of the most divisive obstructionism ever seen in American history; and I, as an immensely grateful American, can not thank you enough for what you have done.
There is a part of me who wants to think that the Americans who voted for Donald Trump have absolutely no idea what they’ve done. They fall for the propaganda and lies of the politicians on the Right and of the media. Democrats have never been very good at tooting their own horn, but history will remember dear Sir. History will not forget what you have done. With the obstacles you faced- you are going to go down as one of the greatest presidents we’ve ever had; if not the greatest.
I am wiping tears from my eyes as I write this; but at the same time am feeling a steely determination to not give into despair. There is work to be done and a battle to be waged in the coming years against the destruction of the GOP; who are hell bent on destroying everything with your name on it. I will do everything in my power to fight it. I will pay attention; I will write letters to the editor, I will write and call my congressman and senators, I will protest and correct lies and falsehoods whenever and wherever I can; and most of all; I will remember.
Thank you Sir for your service to this country and for this long and impartial list of accomplishments:
1. Passed Health Care Reform
2. Passed the Stimulus
3. Passed Wall Street Reform
4. Ended the War in Iraq
5. Began Drawdown of War in Afghanistan
6. Eliminated Osama bin laden
7. Turned Around U.S. Auto Industry
8. Recapitalized Banks
9. Repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
10. Toppled Moammar Gaddafi.
11. Told Mubarak to Go
12. Reversed Bush Torture Policies
13. Improved America’s Image Abroad
14. Kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program, Expanded Pell Grant Spending
15. Created Race to the Top
16. Boosted Fuel Efficiency Standards.
17. Coordinated International Response to Financial Crisis
18. Passed Mini Stimuli in 2010 & 2011
19. Began Asia “Pivot”
20. Increased Support for Veterans
21. Tightened Sanctions on Iran
22. Created Conditions to Begin Closing Dirtiest Power Plants
23. Passed Credit Card Reforms
24. Eliminated Catch-22 in Pay Equality Laws
25. Protected Two Liberal Seats on the U.S. Supreme Court
26. Improved Food Safety System
27. Achieved New START Treaty
28. Expanded National Service
29. Expanded Wilderness and Watershed Protection
30. Gave the FDA Power to Regulate Tobacco
31. Pushed Federal Agencies to Be Green Leaders
32. Passed Fair Sentencing Act
33. Trimmed and Reoriented Missile Defense
34. Began Post-Post-9/11 Military Builddown
35. Let Space Shuttle Die and Killed Planned Moon Mission
36. Invested Heavily in Renewable Technology
37. Crafting Next-Generation School Tests
38. Cracked Down on Bad For-Profit Colleges
39. Improved School Nutrition
40. Expanded Hate Crimes Protections
41. Avoided Scandal
42. Brokered Agreement for Speedy Compensation to Victims of Gulf Oil Spill
43. Created Recovery.gov
44. Pushed Broadband Coverage
45. Expanded Health Coverage for Children
46. Recognized the Dangers of Carbon Dioxide
47. Expanded Stem Cell Research
48. Provided Payment to Wronged Minority Farmers
49. Helped South Sudan Declare Independence
50. Killed the F-22
FY 2017 - $458 billion
FY 2016 - $531 billion
FY 2015 - $564 billion
FY 2014 - $649 billion
FY 2013 - $680 billion.
FY 2012: $3.7 trillion spending, creating a $1.09 trillion deficit
FY 2011: $3.8 trillion spending, creating a deficit of $1.3 trillion.
