Like many in the Daily Kos community, I am extremely frustrated by the lack of progress on important Democratic priorities in the first year of the Obama presidency. A friend sent me this, and I think it is worth looking over. I'm just reproducing it without comment.
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
- Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut
wasteful spending and practices
- Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women
- Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
- Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when
the body arrives at Dover A.F.B.
- Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
- 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
- The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of
Information Act
- Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency
as much as possible
- Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
- Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their
tenure in the administration
- Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in
Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
- Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons
systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
- Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
- Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
- New federal funding for science and research labs
- States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards
above federal standards
- Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants)
after years of neglect
- Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
- New funds for school construction
- The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
- US Auto industry rescue plan
- Housing rescue plan
- $789 billion economic stimulus plan
- 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
- US financial and banking rescue plan
- The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are
being closed
- Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and
is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
- Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
30.The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
- Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up
the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
- Re-engaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
- Re-engaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse
gas emissions
- Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any
president in his first six months in office
- Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized
the SEALS to do their job
- US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
- Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
- Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel
inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
- Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for
the federal government
- Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more
children
- Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth
service program
- Instituted a new policy on Cuba , allowing Cuban families to return
home to visit loved ones
- Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon
dioxide emissions
- Expanding vaccination programs
- Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and
other natural disasters
- Closed offshore tax safe havens
- Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain
access to records of tax evaders and criminals
- 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
- Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in
place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's
predatory practices
- Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of
their energy from renewable sources
- Lower drug costs for seniors
- 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
- Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
- Improved housing for military personnel
- Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military
spouses
- Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other
military hospitals
- Increasing student loans
- Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
- 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
- Established a new cyber security office
- 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.
- Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
- Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
- Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the
federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
- Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their
loans refinanced
- Improving benefits for veterans
- Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media
access than previous administration
- Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
- The FDA is now regulating tobacco
- Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA
rules
- Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite
scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
- Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by
Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in
prisons
- Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to
secure the release of an American held captive
- Making more loans available to small businesses
- Established independent commission to make recommendations on
slowing the costs of Medicare
- Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
- Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to
care for veterans
- Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
- Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
- Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
- Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
- New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes
aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government
practices by Afghans
- Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with
renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
- Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices
and private living quarters
- Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own
pocket
- Held first Seder in White House
- 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
- Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
- Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
- 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