Accomplishments under less than a year and a half of Obama Presidency [View All]

[NJmaverick]

Passing the "largest" economic stimulus bill in American history.
Ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay military detention facility and abolishing "enhanced interrogation techniques."
Setting a fixed timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq.
Ordering 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and enlisting, with modest new assistance, European allies in a new multi-layered strategy there and in Pakistan.
"Returning science to its rightful place" by lifting the Bush restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
Signing laws to expand children's health insurance (financed by a 61-cent per pack increase in the federal cigarette tax the adviser did not tout).
Signing a law meant to improve the ability of women who allege pay discrimination to sue their employer.
Diminishing the role of lobbyists in the White House
"Forge a meaningful statement from the United Nations" criticizing North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile.
Lifting travel and remittance restrictions for Cuban Americans who seek to travel more frequently to the island and send more US currency to their immediate family.
Appointed the first Latina to the US Supreme Court
Engaging world leaders in Europe, Turkey, Latin American and the Caribbean with "strength and humility."

Plenty more accomplishments to consider:
Within one year, pulled the US economy out of its nose dive, revived credit markets & nudged the economy towards growth of 2.2% in final quarter
Also within one year, halted the devastating rate of monthly job losses he inherited, from an average 700,000 monthly in the first quarter of 2009, to 35,000 in first quarter 2010 - a major achievement the last administration was not capable of doing
Passed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 in February - has played a key role in turnaround of economy over the last 3 quarters www.recovery.org
Stopped decline & grew GDP - from a 6.4% drop in 1st Qtr 2009, to 0.7 rate in 2nd Qtr and +2.2% growth in 3rd Qtr
Further 2010 growth in GDP is estimated at 4.4% by year end
$90 billion invested in clean energy economy of the future - jobs, lower dependence on foreign oil, enhance national security, clean environment
$10.5 billion investment in modernization of national electric grid
$18 billion for upgrades & modernization of public transport systems, including new high speed rail
$23 billion investment incentives to small businesses
Over $1billion in job training grants for jobs in new clean energy sectors
Tax credits to stimulate development of clean energy manufacturing - wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries, etc
Distributed education grants to US states, to keep teachers in schools
$1 billion investment in advancing use of cutting edge Health IT - By 2014, HIT will be made available to 100,000 hospitals & physicians & thousands of people trained for careers in HIT & health care, from nurses and pharmacy techs to IT technicians and trainers.
$650 million for Communities Putting Prevention to Work, public health program to address obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking.
Subsidized extended COBRA benefits for unemployed
Passed the largest middle-class tax cut in history - $288 billion
Saved, or created around 2,000,000 US jobs
Cash for Clunkers Program:
690.114 new cars sold
Dept of Transportation claims 52,000 jobs were saved
Guided GM & Chrysler through bankruptcy
Passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Passed the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009
Passed the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights Act of 2009
Passed Ryan White CARE Act of 2009 - repealed HIV entry ban
Approved California's adoption of car emission standards for cleaner air & climate control - had been blocked by President Bush for 6 years
Launched the White House Food Safety Working Group - initiative to modernize the US food safety systems & better protect Americans www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.com
Lived up to campaign promise & helped file the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009, which
Repeal tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas & replace with incentives to create jobs in USA
Crack down on US citizens & companies using offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes -22,000 parties identified & $210 billion in back taxes and penalties to be collected over next 10 years
Collected $780 million fine from UBS for offshore banking violation

President Obama has cracked down on high level of financial losses from across-the-board fraud & abuse of Medicare (estimated $600 billion lost over last decade from inattention to Medicare fraud)
January 2010 National Summit on Health Care Fraud
New inter-agency Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) introduced - www.stopmedicarefraud.gov
5 new Strike Force Teams added in 5 new cities - 13 more to be added in 2011 (Strike Force teams have collected $250 million in restitutions, fines & penalties since 2008)
Expanded Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program - $13.1 billion has been returned to Medicare
7 new Obama initiatives, starting in 2010/2011 will generate a further $15 billion in savings for Medicare over next 10 years
Successful completion of largest pharmaceutical fraud case awards Medicare $2.5 billion from Pfizer
January 2010 launch of nation's first Health Security Strategy - comprehensive strategy to protect Americans' health during a national emergency

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/4/5/854279/-You-Pragmatists-are-trying-to-Accomplish-Things!!-:(!!1!