Obama has delivered much of what he promised

[babylonsister]

Obama has delivered much of what he promised

In Print: Monday, January 24, 2011

Midway through his term, President Barack Obama has chalked up several significant achievements.


At the midpoint of his term, President Barack Obama has hewed close to what he promised voters. His achievements on economic stimulus, health reform, financial regulation and nuclear arms control are significant and ambitious. He is adapting to Republican gains in Congress. Now the question that looms before Tuesday's State of the Union address is whether the president can continue to tackle big issues such as energy, immigration and the federal deficit as he faces a Republican-controlled House and a re-election campaign.

It will take more time and a stronger economy for Americans to put into broader perspective how well the nation avoided a complete financial meltdown following the 2008 election. Many economists agree that the bank bailout started under President George W. Bush and handed off to Obama, as well as quick action by the Federal Reserve and Obama's moves to stimulate the economy, helped prevent another Great Depression. As it was, Obama came to office when the nation was in desperate financial straits, losing as many as 700,000 jobs per month.

Obama's efforts, including the $787 billion stimulus package, helped stanch the bleeding and began to gradually turn things around. The economy is slowly growing again and jobs are being gained, not lost, though job creation has a long way to go to absorb the millions of displaced workers. The president's decision to throw a financial lifeline to the auto industry helped the economy retain more than a million jobs and America's auto manufacturing base. And for those still unemployed, Obama fought for extended jobless benefits over Republican objections.

On foreign policy, Obama has fulfilled his promise to begin bringing combat troops out of Iraq. When he took office, there were about 142,000 troops there, and now that number is down to around 47,000. Obama also promised to shift the military's focus and commitment to the war in Afghanistan, which he has done, though significant success on the ground remains elusive.

Obama was able to shepherd through the Senate a nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, and his efforts to address loose nukes have borne fruit, with commitments from 47 countries to secure their nuclear material within four years.

more...

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/obama-has-delivered-much-of-what-he-promised/1146880

[AtomicKitten]

1. Stephanie Miller has a promo in which she accurately points out

that Pres Obama is the most progressive president in history yet he is being slammed by progressives. The insincere are easy to sort out; they ignore the excellent things he has done in favor of finding an angle to slam him 24/7.

K&R :hi:

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Obama is one of the best Presidents America has had

But that's not saying much because America is such a right-wing country. Obama would be considered a right-winger in European political circles.

Being labeled one of the best Presidents is not really something to crow about IMO. It's like winning the special Olympics. Obama's policies are not truly Progressive.

[AtomicKitten]

4. While Pres Obama may not fit the progressive mold that some people insist on imposing,

he is nonetheless the most progressive president to date in spite of the 24/7 harangue coming from both the right AND the left.

Rachel Maddow is a progressive commentator and I would suggest people study her as an example of progressive advocacy that takes care not to be toxic to Pres Obama politically.

The rightwing should be fought tooth and nail, not joined in their campaign to tear this president down. The alternative isn't pretty.

* edited for typo

[Cali_Democrat]

6. It's not really about imposing a progressive mold

It's about progressive values

- Keeping Gitmo open is not progressive
- Extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy is not progressive
- Pushing millions of uninsured Americans into private insurance plans while increasing insurance industry profits is not progressive
- Keeping thousands of US soldiers and contractors in Iraq is not progressive.
- Keeping many bases in Iraq is not progressive
- Expanding the war in Afghanistan and launching predator drone strikes against civilians is not progressive
- Having a JP Morgan bankster as your chief of staff is not progressive.
- Working with Republicans to reduce regulations n businesses is not progressive.

These are some of the most important issues right now and time and time again Obama has proven that he's not a progressive when it comes to these important issues.

Is he better than most US Presidents? Yes, but that's like winning the special Olympics.

[AtomicKitten]

7. Your list of grievances is sans consideration of mitigating circumstances and flat-out reality.

At some point before and up to the November 2012 election, you're going to have to decide if a less-than-progressive (as you define it, arguably) president is better than the GOP alternative. Rubber meets the road at the ballot box. The Naderesque "they are the same" argument was proved false by the tragic outcome of the 2000 election, and I hope that that kind of negative proselytizing falls on deaf ears.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. I will vote for Obama if he's the Democratic nominee

When did I say that I wouldn't? I never said that he will be the same as a Republican. He will be vastly better than any Republican.

But he's no Progressive and this has been proven on issue after issue.

[JamesA1102]

9. Well said AK nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. +10,000 (nt)

:thumbsup:

[polmaven]

11. I'm quite sure

you did not just slam the Special Olympics, right? I mean for a special needs child, winning the Special Olympics actually is something to "crow about" - very very LOUDLY.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. Winning the 100m sprint at the special olympics is good

But it hardly makes you capable of winning the 100m in the regular Olympics.

Obama is a good President if you compare him to Bush and other US Presidents, but he lacks when you look at his agenda in terms of real progressive values,

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[craigmatic]

5. Nobody's saying he did the wrong things. He's been good for the economy. The problem is

that he's given credit to terrible repub economic ideas like the tax cuts when he should've known better.

[AtomicKitten]

10. Standing alone, the 2-year extension of all tax cuts sucks ass.

However, the bargain facilitated ratification of the START Treaty, repeal of DADT, and healthcare for the 9/11 workers. In my view (and that of several economists that say the 2-year extension isn't catastrophic), the deal struck was well worth it.

[craigmatic]

13. Those were all things that should've happened on their own merits anyway.

That's how bad things have gotten we're calling measures that essentially do the right thing and should've been done anyways huge political accomplishments.

[DCBob]

14. Yes he has.. amd he still has two more years to do even more..

He may not be the progressive many progressives wanted but he is getting the job done so far... imo.