I like Numbers, Statistics, Facts.
They have a way of cutting through the Rhetoric.
Facts have a way of lifting the "fog of inaction".
So, it is within that context of "fog clearing", I present to you ...
The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises
PolitiFact.com -- St Petersburg Times
2009 Pulitizer Prize Winner
PolitiFact has compiled more than 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on our Obameter.
The Obameter Scorecard
* Promise Kept 122
* Compromise 39
* Promise Broken 22
* Stalled 82
* In the Works 238
So what are some of those Promises that President Obama, with the help of a Democratic Congress, has KEPT to the American People?
Promises Kept -- Page 1
Promise Kept
No. 6: Create an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processes
Promise Kept
No. 16: Increase minority access to capital
Promise Kept
No. 17: Require economic justification for tax changes
Promise Kept
No. 27: Change standards for determining broadband access
Promise Kept
No. 33: Establish a credit card bill of rights
Promise Kept
No. 36: Expand loan programs for small businesses
Promise Kept
No. 40: Extend and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch
Promise Kept
No. 48: Close the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug plan
Promise Kept
No. 50: Expand the Senior Corps volunteer program
Promise Kept
No. 51: Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
Promise Kept
No. 53: Give tax credits to those who need help to pay health premium
Promise Kept
No. 55: Require large employers to contribute to a national health plan
Promise Kept
No. 56: Require children to have health insurance coverage
Promise Kept
No. 57: Expand eligibility for Medicaid
Promise Kept
No. 58: Expand eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
Promise Kept
No. 63: Require health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient care
Promise Kept
No. 65: Establish an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective information
Promise Kept
No. 69: In non-competitive markets, force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care
Promise Kept
No. 70: Eliminate the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans
Promise Kept
No. 76: Expand funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners
-------- but wait there's more ---------
Promises Kept -- Page 2
Promise Kept
No. 77: Increase funding to expand community based prevention programs
Promise Kept
No. 93: Reinstate executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.
Promise Kept
No. 105: Increase the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionals
Promise Kept
No. 109: Fully fund the Veterans Administration
Promise Kept
No. 110: Assure that the Veterans Administration budget is prepared as 'must-pass' legislation
Promise Kept
No. 113: Expand the Veterans Administration's number of "centers of excellence" in specialty care
Promise Kept
No. 119: Appoint a special adviser to the president on violence against women
Promise Kept
No. 121: Fully fund the Violence Against Women Act
Promise Kept
No. 125: Direct military leaders to end war in Iraq
Promise Kept
No. 126: Begin removing combat brigades from Iraq
Promise Kept
No. 132: No permanent bases in Iraq
Promise Kept
No. 134: Send two additional brigades to Afghanistan
Promise Kept
No. 154: Strengthen and expand military exchange programs with other countries
Promise Kept
No. 156: Make greater investment in advanced military air technology
Promise Kept
No. 161: End the abuse of supplemental budgets for war
Promise Kept
No. 167: Make U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror efforts
Promise Kept
No. 174: Give a speech at a major Islamic forum in the first 100 days of his administration
Promise Kept
No. 182: Allocate Homeland Security funding according to risk
Promise Kept
No. 184: Create a real National Infrastructure Protection Plan
Promise Kept
No. 188: Increase funding for local emergency planning
-------- but wait there's more accomplishments to clear away the cobwebs of cynicism ---------
Promises Kept -- Page 3
Promise Kept
No. 197: Stand down nuclear forces to be reduced under the Moscow Treaty
Promise Kept
No. 200: Appoint a White House Coordinator for Nuclear Security
Promise Kept
No. 204: Initiate a grant and training program for law enforcement to deter cyber crime
Promise Kept
No. 208: Improve relations with Turkey, and its relations with Iraqi Kurds
Promise Kept
No. 212: Launch an international Add Value to Agriculture Initiative (AVTA)
Promise Kept
No. 215: Create a rapid response fund for emerging democracies
Promise Kept
No. 222: Grant Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba
Promise Kept
No. 224: Restore funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program
Promise Kept
No. 225: Establish an Energy Partnership for the Americas
Promise Kept
No. 229: Expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothers
Promise Kept
No. 239: Release presidential records
Promise Kept
No. 241: Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.
Promise Kept
No. 244: Provide affordable, high-quality child care
Promise Kept
No. 247: Recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession
Promise Kept
No. 259: Reduce subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowers
Promise Kept
No. 266: Encourage water-conservation efforts in the West
Promise Kept
No. 269: Increase funding for national parks and forests
Promise Kept
No. 270: Increase funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Promise Kept
No. 272: Encourage farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient
Promise Kept
No. 275: Expand Pell grants for low-income students
The List of Promises Kept, continues ...
Promises Kept -- Page 4
Promises Kept -- Page 5
Promises Kept -- Page 6
Promises Kept -- Page 7
==================
As great as that is to see the Progress a Democratic Administration has brought us --
The Promises Democrats HAVE Kept --
There are even more Reasons to Get Out and Vote -- to make a Citizen Statement in this Election by voting for Even More Democrats --
That Reason is because of the Promises, THEY.ARE.STILL.WORKING.ON Keeping.
(238 Reasons -- in the process of becoming Fact.)
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 1
In the Works
No. 1: Increase the capital gains and dividends taxes for higher-income taxpayers
In the Works
No. 2: Eliminate all oil and gas tax loopholes
In the Works
No. 4: Extend child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixes
In the Works
No. 7: Double funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiency
In the Works
No. 8: Include environmental and labor standards in trade agreements
In the Works
No. 12: Create an international tax haven watch list
In the Works
No. 18: Provide option for a pre-filled-out tax form
In the Works
No. 20: Make permanent the Research & Development tax credit
In the Works
No. 21: Require automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans
In the Works
No. 22: Require automatic enrollment in IRA plans
In the Works
No. 23: Create a retirement savings tax credit for low incomes
In the Works
No. 26: Implement "Women Owned Business" contracting program
In the Works
No. 28: Create a consumer-friendly credit card rating system
In the Works
No. 31: Create a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridges
In the Works
No. 37: Extend the Bush tax cuts for lower incomes
In the Works
No. 38: Repeal the Bush tax cuts for higher incomes
In the Works
No. 39: Phase out exemptions and deductions for higher earners
In the Works
No. 42: Tax carried interest as ordinary income
In the Works
No. 43: Sign the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to unionize
In the Works
No. 47: Require full disclosure of company pension investments to employees
----------- Yes, the work remaining is "in process" ----------
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 2
In the Works
No. 49: Provide easy-to-understand comparisons of the Medicare prescription drug plans
In the Works
No. 59: Invest in electronic health information systems
In the Works
No. 60: Phase in requirements for health information technology
In the Works
No. 61: Require that health plans utilize disease management programs
In the Works
No. 62: Require providers to report measures of health care costs and quality
In the Works
No. 66: Hold hospitals and health plans accountable for disparities in care
In the Works
No. 67: Implement and fund proven health intervention programs
In the Works
No. 72: Prevent drug companies from blocking generic drugs
In the Works
No. 73: Allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug prices
In the Works
No. 75: Work with schools to create more healthful environments for children
In the Works
No. 78: Improve recruitment of public health workers
In the Works
No. 80: Mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment
In the Works
No. 82: Fully fund the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives
In the Works
No. 84: Double federal funding for cancer research
In the Works
No. 85: Increase participation in cancer-related clinical trials
In the Works
No. 89: Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
In the Works
No. 91: Set a national goal to provide re-screening for all 2-year-olds for developmental disorders
In the Works
No. 92: Commission a study on students with disabilities and their transition to jobs or higher education
In the Works
No. 94: Set goals and timetables for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act
In the Works
No. 95: Create a best practices list for private businesses in accommodating workers with disabilities
The List of Promises 'In the Works', indicates WHY we need even MORE Democrats leading the effort ...
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 3
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 4
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 5
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 6
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 7
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 8
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 9
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 10
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 11
Promises 'In the Works' -- Page 12
-------------
Without your Vote, your Citizen Voice, being added to this grand American Experiment --
That grand List of "Works in Progress" will end up "Being Shelved" --
CANCELED, REVOKED, REPEALED ...
IF we let the Party of NO Ideas, Keep THEIR Pledges, Keep THEIR Promises;
to do to this Country, "the Very Same Things", they did before, in the last Decade.
This Must Not Happen. They must not be given the chance, to turn back the clock ... especially when the Time for Change, is so limited.
This Country's People will NOT survive another Decade of Millionaire Favoritism.
This Country's People -- the Working People -- must make OUR Voices heard -- as One Nation,
by Voting for the Party, that is "Working for you", for US the American People.
------------
"Works in Progress" take time.
Afterall it took the Republicans 8 years to crater the Economy --
It may take at least 4 years to fix it -- especially considering how the Only Word the GOP Knows --
is NO !!! (as in Hell No!!!)
Progress takes Time.
Progress takes Patience.
Progress takes Democrats being given the chance to become the Party of YES ...
the Party of YES ... WE CAN.
=======================
H/T to Progressive Thom Hartmann for pointing me to the PolitiFact website.
Facts are a wonderful thing.