Off Topic · OT: President Obama reelected (page 6)
arkrud wrote:ramtour420 wrote:arkrud wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:ramtour420 wrote:arkrud wrote:Obamas program is to increase entitlements by taxing the rich.
Taxing the rich meaning increase taxes on profits and estate because rich pay no income tax.
This means they will not invest in economy and jobs.
So we will need more money for pure unemployed people.
This how this country will eat itself.
Last 2 administrations get away with snatching money from middle class to the extent that nobody want to work.
Because it makes no sense to work just to support oversized government and bunch of losers who have no skills and no desire to produce anything for the society.
All they need is "bread and entertainment". So The Rome to be Damned!!!
why not ? Is this from the same opera as that guy saying " I fired 22 employees because Obama won? " I f is is then it defies logic, as any business owner will do what he must to grow his business. In order for the business to grow America needs to be able to spend $ in order to create demand. And to spend $ an average American needs to have some $ for the spending. Not just those that suck on the entitlement teat, but the middle class as well. So giving the average American the ability to have more $ for the spending is a win-win, no matter how you try to spin it.
Plus America has much lower taxes than countries doing better than we are have. Arkrud's basically got the standard Republican talking points down.I agree that if people will have more money to spend they will buy more stuff and generate demand. This is cool.
But this is only cool if the money they get are earned for productive work.
If the money are given to take them out of the streets or to roll around in government or corporate spin machines while producing nothing this system cannot last long. US cannot leave forever on money printed from thin air or wealth produced and sucked out from other countries.
At some point we have to produce goods and services of real value.
Sure we do some but less and less. The only 2 known ways to make people to do something is greed and fear.
We opted to use first and we are much more successful that Soviets/Nazi/Mullah who opted to use second.
Not sure why some want to dump the system which succeeded just because it forces people to compete to survive and excel.
Competition made humans out of monkeys. If we will not be forced to compete we will be back on the trees in no time.
America is a land of opportunity. This is what we "produce". If some part of the social program goes to people who abuse it that is a part of reality. The social programs help every kind of folk tho. No discrimination. Sometimes sh!t happens to people who are otherwise productive members of the society. Social programs help them to get back on their feet. When this happens the country is able to move forward.
Social help should be given to those in need - elderly, orphans, handicapped. All the rest of the people which have sh!t happened to them should be given some work to do and they should be paid for it. Same should go to criminals - give them the tools and let them work for their lunch and cigarettes. Of course it is a lot of trouble to organize... but what we have all this social workers for? To comfort people in sh!ty situations... I guess..
Sry, double post
arkrud wrote:I agree that if people will have more money to spend they will buy more stuff and generate demand. This is cool.
But this is only cool if the money they get are earned for productive work.
If the money are given to take them out of the streets or to roll around in government or corporate spin machines while producing nothing this system cannot last long. US cannot leave forever on money printed from thin air or wealth produced and sucked out from other countries.
At some point we have to produce goods and services of real value.
Sure we do some but less and less.
1st thing I wanna say is that you need to stop listening to guys like Rush Limbaugh, Fox news or any of the other many right wing pundits and news outlets. If you think that the country voted for Obama only because they think he's gonna be handing out checks and jobs doing nothing, then you really don't know anything about this president at all. What exactly have you been doing all these years that you don't know the truth about what Obama has actually done and what he wants to do for this country?
1. He's actually helped to increase this country's manufacturing production. He's invested in new technologies that will help this country to compete for the future markets and not live in the past.
Many of his accomplishments haven't really been fully enacted yet, but will now that he's been re-elected and his policies will go thru. He's not even done yet. This country just doesn't really know the full truth yet but they will. Everyone hated Obamacare, The Auto Bailout and his Stimulus Plan, but they all are working.
The Congressional Budget Office reports that the much-maligned stimulus placed up to 2 million people in jobs in December. It also prevented full-time workers from having their hours reduced and enabled more workers to log overtime. Not bad for a program that peaked in 2010, when up to 3.6 million people owed their jobs to the stimulus. In fact, the latest tally of jobs gained reflects the point at which 90 percent of the stimulus funds were already spent, according to the CBO. And the projection going forward in the current first quarter of 2012 is that 1.5 million more people will be employed because of the stimulus.
Obama's policies haven't been a complete failure either, says Michael Grunwald, senior national correspondent at Time Magazine and author of the "The New New Deal. Among the president's accomplishments: the $800 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill.Appearing on The Daily Ticker, Grunwald debunked five myths associated with the $800 billion stimulus:
The stimulus didn't create jobs:
Grunwald says the plan created two to three million jobs. The quarter after it was passed in February 2009 "had the biggest jobs gain in 30 years." However, that still doesn't make up for the eight million jobs lost in the recession.The stimulus was full of waste, pork and fraud:
Grunwald says investigators documented only about $10 million in losses through 2011, equivalent to about 0.001% of its total cost.
The stimulus should have been bigger:
Grunwald says the stimulus plan was 50% bigger than the New Deal during the Great Depression after adjusting for inflation. A larger stimulus would have created more jobs but politics prevented passage of an even bigger plan. Grunwald told The Daily Ticker, "It couldn't have been bigger. There were three Republicans in the Senate whose votes were absolutely necessary…and they said absolutely no more than $800 billion…and at least half a dozen Senate Democrats were drawing that same line in the sand."
Unlike the New Deal, the stimulus will leave no legacy:
Not true, says Grunwald. "The stimulus plan was the purest distillation of what Obama meant by change." It included $90 billion for clean energy, $27 billion for health IT to fund online medical records and the Race to the Top program to transform education.
The stimulus showed that Obama can't legislate:
Grunwald says the president made mistakes and miscalculated, such as announcing that the plan would drive unemployment down to under 8 percent. But ultimately Congress passed it. Should the president trumpet the stimulus in his campaign? "Even the president has stopped saying the word stimulus, says Grunwald. "It's become a dirty word."
ramtour420 wrote:arkrud wrote:ramtour420 wrote:arkrud wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:ramtour420 wrote:arkrud wrote:Obamas program is to increase entitlements by taxing the rich.
Taxing the rich meaning increase taxes on profits and estate because rich pay no income tax.
This means they will not invest in economy and jobs.
So we will need more money for pure unemployed people.
This how this country will eat itself.
Last 2 administrations get away with snatching money from middle class to the extent that nobody want to work.
Because it makes no sense to work just to support oversized government and bunch of losers who have no skills and no desire to produce anything for the society.
All they need is "bread and entertainment". So The Rome to be Damned!!!
why not ? Is this from the same opera as that guy saying " I fired 22 employees because Obama won? " I f is is then it defies logic, as any business owner will do what he must to grow his business. In order for the business to grow America needs to be able to spend $ in order to create demand. And to spend $ an average American needs to have some $ for the spending. Not just those that suck on the entitlement teat, but the middle class as well. So giving the average American the ability to have more $ for the spending is a win-win, no matter how you try to spin it.
Plus America has much lower taxes than countries doing better than we are have. Arkrud's basically got the standard Republican talking points down.I agree that if people will have more money to spend they will buy more stuff and generate demand. This is cool.
But this is only cool if the money they get are earned for productive work.
If the money are given to take them out of the streets or to roll around in government or corporate spin machines while producing nothing this system cannot last long. US cannot leave forever on money printed from thin air or wealth produced and sucked out from other countries.
At some point we have to produce goods and services of real value.
Sure we do some but less and less. The only 2 known ways to make people to do something is greed and fear.
We opted to use first and we are much more successful that Soviets/Nazi/Mullah who opted to use second.
Not sure why some want to dump the system which succeeded just because it forces people to compete to survive and excel.
Competition made humans out of monkeys. If we will not be forced to compete we will be back on the trees in no time.
America is a land of opportunity. This is what we "produce". If some part of the social program goes to people who abuse it that is a part of reality. The social programs help every kind of folk tho. No discrimination. Sometimes sh!t happens to people who are otherwise productive members of the society. Social programs help them to get back on their feet. When this happens the country is able to move forward.
Social help should be given to those in need - elderly, orphans, handicapped. All the rest of the people which have sh!t happened to them should be given some work to do and they should be paid for it. Same should go to criminals - give them the tools and let them work for their lunch and cigarettes. Of course it is a lot of trouble to organize... but what we have all this social workers for? To comfort people in sh!ty situations... I guess..
Those groups get different type of help already. I was talking about unemployment benefits, welfare, universal healthcare, or as they are known by the republicans as the evil horsemen of the apocalypse. Those programs not only prevent unnecessary bankruptcies but also help the economy
This is just empty propoganda statements.
unemployment benefits - should be as big as worker has collected while working. Why other people should pay somebody for doing nothing frok their paycheck?
welfare - should only be handed to those in need - no cent to people who can work.
universal healthcare is already there - tell me if there is any case when somebody was denied medical help? The thing is if somebody need help and cannot pay for coverage he get it anyways for free.
what are "unnecessary bankruptcies"? - if company is not able to survive the competition it must go away and leave the marketplace for thise who can.
"help the economy" - why you think this blanket statement is reflecting the reality?
nixluva wrote:arkrud wrote:I agree that if people will have more money to spend they will buy more stuff and generate demand. This is cool.
But this is only cool if the money they get are earned for productive work.
If the money are given to take them out of the streets or to roll around in government or corporate spin machines while producing nothing this system cannot last long. US cannot leave forever on money printed from thin air or wealth produced and sucked out from other countries.
At some point we have to produce goods and services of real value.
Sure we do some but less and less.1st thing I wanna say is that you need to stop listening to guys like Rush Limbaugh, Fox news or any of the other many right wing pundits and news outlets. If you think that the country voted for Obama only because they think he's gonna be handing out checks and jobs doing nothing, then you really don't know anything about this president at all. What exactly have you been doing all these years that you don't know the truth about what Obama has actually done and what he wants to do for this country?
1. He's actually helped to increase this country's manufacturing production. He's invested in new technologies that will help this country to compete for the future markets and not live in the past.
Many of his accomplishments haven't really been fully enacted yet, but will now that he's been re-elected and his policies will go thru. He's not even done yet. This country just doesn't really know the full truth yet but they will. Everyone hated Obamacare, The Auto Bailout and his Stimulus Plan, but they all are working.
The Congressional Budget Office reports that the much-maligned stimulus placed up to 2 million people in jobs in December. It also prevented full-time workers from having their hours reduced and enabled more workers to log overtime. Not bad for a program that peaked in 2010, when up to 3.6 million people owed their jobs to the stimulus. In fact, the latest tally of jobs gained reflects the point at which 90 percent of the stimulus funds were already spent, according to the CBO. And the projection going forward in the current first quarter of 2012 is that 1.5 million more people will be employed because of the stimulus.Obama's policies haven't been a complete failure either, says Michael Grunwald, senior national correspondent at Time Magazine and author of the "The New New Deal. Among the president's accomplishments: the $800 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill.Appearing on The Daily Ticker, Grunwald debunked five myths associated with the $800 billion stimulus:
The stimulus didn't create jobs:
Grunwald says the plan created two to three million jobs. The quarter after it was passed in February 2009 "had the biggest jobs gain in 30 years." However, that still doesn't make up for the eight million jobs lost in the recession.The stimulus was full of waste, pork and fraud:
Grunwald says investigators documented only about $10 million in losses through 2011, equivalent to about 0.001% of its total cost.
The stimulus should have been bigger:
Grunwald says the stimulus plan was 50% bigger than the New Deal during the Great Depression after adjusting for inflation. A larger stimulus would have created more jobs but politics prevented passage of an even bigger plan. Grunwald told The Daily Ticker, "It couldn't have been bigger. There were three Republicans in the Senate whose votes were absolutely necessary…and they said absolutely no more than $800 billion…and at least half a dozen Senate Democrats were drawing that same line in the sand."
Unlike the New Deal, the stimulus will leave no legacy:
Not true, says Grunwald. "The stimulus plan was the purest distillation of what Obama meant by change." It included $90 billion for clean energy, $27 billion for health IT to fund online medical records and the Race to the Top program to transform education.
The stimulus showed that Obama can't legislate:
Grunwald says the president made mistakes and miscalculated, such as announcing that the plan would drive unemployment down to under 8 percent. But ultimately Congress passed it. Should the president trumpet the stimulus in his campaign? "Even the president has stopped saying the word stimulus, says Grunwald. "It's become a dirty word."
Actually I never watched FOX. I am not watching TV at all except Knicks and Rangers games.
I am not reading the right or leftist news site on Internet also.
There are a lot of independent analysys on specific subjects.
I do not care who president is but what he does and what is the result of his body of work.
I like Obama because he managed to do nothing in 4 years and I am confident he will do nothing in another 4.
And when government does nothing the live is going its natural ways and everybody gets what he/she deserves.
Socialism is dead. It is proved again and again. We see the next example after Soviets collapsed in Eurozone as their socialist experiment is collapsing now.
misterearl wrote:"The most powerful and profound words of the 2012 election were spoken by Michelle Obama: “Being president,” she said, “doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are.” So does running for president. Character is shown in adversity, and President Obama, who took office in the most adverse of circumstances; who stumbled critically in the first debate; who was hit with a depression in his first days of his term and a hurricane in the last, has shown his character. With his relentless, gifted, remarkable team he has accomplished a near-miracle—winning a second term with neither peace nor prosperity to run on."- Paul Begala
+1
ramtour420 wrote:Why do I feel like I am wasting my time. Akrud, you have very strong opinions. Not gonna go into details anymore, I just wanted to compliment you on the strength of your beliefs. Facts are for Democrats and other socialists. Keep on keeping on.
I think it's best just to let those folk continue to become extinct.
arkrud wrote:Actually I never watched FOX. I am not watching TV at all except Knicks and Rangers games.
I am not reading the right or leftist news site on Internet also.
There are a lot of independent analysys on specific subjects.
I do not care who president is but what he does and what is the result of his body of work.
I like Obama because he managed to do nothing in 4 years and I am confident he will do nothing in another 4.
And when government does nothing the live is going its natural ways and everybody gets what he/she deserves.
Socialism is dead. It is proved again and again. We see the next example after Soviets collapsed in Eurozone as their socialist experiment is collapsing now.
I don't know what your "independent Analysis" is but it's information is flawed. As the saying goes we're all allowed to our own opinions but not our own facts!
As for Obama not doing anything that is HIGHLY incorrect! His 1st term legislative record is very high. He accomplished a lot and could've done even more if the Republicans weren't blocking him.
You've been living under this president and yet known next to nothing about what he's actually done. He's going to go down in history as one of the most accomplished presidents we've had. I'm tired of the BS here is a very long list of things Obama did and you can choose to ignore or open your eyes and see the truth.
He Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility After the Bush Debaclehttp://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main...1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5
2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1
3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx
4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending. http://www.cio.gov
5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd
6. Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa
He Improved the Economy, Preventing a Bush Depression7. Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk
8. The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE
9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6
10. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl
11. Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY
12. Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5 This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx Willard Romney, on the other hand, advocated for the entire industry to go belly-up. http://nyti.ms/k0zp
13. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf
14. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7
15. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS
16. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw
17. Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn
18. Through the Worker, Home ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL
19. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b20. Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov
21. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5
22. Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/f9xVE7
23. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd
24. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30Dc
25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu
26. Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR
27. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV
28. Crafted an Executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/eyqsNE
He Fostered Greater Transparency and Better Government, After the Excesses of the Bush Years29. Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN
30. Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV
31. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX
32. Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5
33. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov
34. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV
35. Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb
36. Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection37. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq
38. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD
39. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG
40. Through Dodd-Frank, the Executive Branch fashioned rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t
41. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers' interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
42. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
43. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM
44. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw
45. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq
46. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
47. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP
48. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals using money from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa
He Ushered Through Many Changes That Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
49. Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7
50. Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuH http://bit.ly/mZV4Pz
51. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj
52. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D
53. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/58zUp7
54. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP
55. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for the right to enter into a same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKp
56. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT
57. Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTk http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM
58. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg
59. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x
60. Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees' rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ
61. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS
62. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. reut.rs/llNJek
63. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0
64. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/th0JC8
He Made Major Improvements in Foreign Relations and American Status Around the World65. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda
66. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g
67. Helped to restore America's reputation around the world as a global leader that does the "right thing" in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://bit.ly/h743y7 http://bit.ly/ho4TCr
68. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj
69. Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l
70. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe
71. Pushed for military to emphasize development of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV
72. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh
73. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK
74. Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY
75. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP
76. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U
77. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde
78. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF
79. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called "enhanced interrogation." He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC
80. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax
81. Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0
82. On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zve http://nyti.ms/hzWWys
83. In response to the emerging "Arab Spring," he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/zfmGv9
84. Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT (The "fiscally conservative GOP fought to keep it.)
85. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb
86. Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS
87. Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz
88. Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj
He Took a More Realistic Approach to “Defense”89. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE
90. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2
91. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i
92. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw
93. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4
94. Through the Defense Authorization Act, reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ
95. Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs
96. Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna
97. Negotiated a deal with Afghan government, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an
98. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6
99. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn
100. Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj
101. Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ
102. In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneously engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi
His Administration Treated Soldiers and Veterans with Respect That Was Missing Previously103. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA
104. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo
105. Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h
106. Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW
107. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q
108. Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1
109. Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x
110. Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY
111. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi
112. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX
113. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX
He Refocused the Federal Government on Education114. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq
115. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt
116. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr
117. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/NHtZ7L
118. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide http://bit.ly/fNDcj3 ,
119. Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV
120. Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr
121. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://bit.ly/hPhG7J
122. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz
123. Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe
124. Took major new steps to protec students from ineffective for-profit colleges through "gainful employment" measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2
125. With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk
He Pushed Through Improvements in National Safety and Security126. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z
127. Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/efBO7B
128. Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i
129. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw
Reoriented Government to an Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care
130. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw
131. Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U
132. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge
133. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7
134. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb
135. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers. http://bit.ly/jRRRJc
136. Obama EPA reveresed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as "guinea pigs" in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS
137. Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC
138. Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr
139. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP
140. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
141. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA
142. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3
143. Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9
144. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b
145. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv
146. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C
147. Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/
148. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
149. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
150. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
151. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
152. Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh
153. Through the ACA, expanded space exploration and discovery options to more players http://bit.ly/PNTS7e
154. Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs
He Took Steps to Strengthen the Middle Class and Families, and to Fight Poverty155. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS
156. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj
157. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America's working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F
158. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
159. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP
160. Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz
161. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM
162. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8
He Took Concrete Steps to Improve Our Environment and Address Our Energy Needs163. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x
164. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM
165. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y
166. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL
167. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu
168. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
169. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R
170. Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5
171. Obama EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN
172. Oversaw doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE
173. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y
174. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq
175. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv
176. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO
177. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P
178. Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO
179. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV
180. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk
181. Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )
182. Oversaw and pushed through amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo
183. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3
184. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a
185. Through his EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own. http://bit.ly/ww8eMd
186. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH
187. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt
188. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2
189. Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/rQCIgA
190. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY
191. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K
192. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW
But That's Not All...193. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY
194. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv
195. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/dFb8qF
196. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6 http://bit.ly/i02wgP
197. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB
198. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF
199. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j
200. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5
201. Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe
202. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt
203. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first reponders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS
204. Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU
205. Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa
And Did You Know?
206. Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as supe
rior to Obama,President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY
FeltonandAmare wrote:Man how clueless ARE these libs. There's a reason Dumbocrat states are BROKE. NY, CA, PA, NJ, IL, MI. Get clue idiots.
dude, last chance. I think you should stop posting in political threads if all you can do is name call.
Whether or not you voted for Obama (I did not) you have to hope that he can succeedd in getting a compromise so that this uncertainty about our future direction goes away. Uncertainty can be just as damaging as bad policy.
FeltonandAmare wrote:Man how clueless ARE these libs. There's a reason Dumbocrat states are BROKE. NY, CA, PA, NJ, IL, MI. Get clue idiots.
Again, why don't you move to another country? Why would you want to stay in a country where you believe the majority of the electorate is idiots? That sounds, uh, idiotic!
Bonn1997 wrote:FeltonandAmare wrote:Man how clueless ARE these libs. There's a reason Dumbocrat states are BROKE. NY, CA, PA, NJ, IL, MI. Get clue idiots.
Again, why don't you move to another country? Why would you want to stay in a country where you believe the majority of the electorate is idiots? That sounds, uh, idiotic!
Also looking at the individual states and thinking that they haven't been impacted positively by the Obama policies is insane. No state operates independently of the rest of the country to that degree. If Obama's policies were truly as bad as the Right says then there would be no success for any state. In fact we would've gone into a great depression if Obama had failed. The very fact that we didn't go into depression is proof that his decisions were right. Clearly if we left in place all of Bush's policies and let them continue without action the country was done.
Right now there's a chance to get things going with just some basic things. Start with passing the middle class tax cut extension. Then work on a Grand Bargain to lower the deficit and reinvest in rebuilding America as the President has proposed. If the Republicans try obstructing progress again and it really will be over for them. Now the entire country is watching them. The American people voted in favor of Obama's policies and they want to see them be passed.
Bonn1997 wrote:ramtour420 wrote:Why do I feel like I am wasting my time. Akrud, you have very strong opinions. Not gonna go into details anymore, I just wanted to compliment you on the strength of your beliefs. Facts are for Democrats and other socialists. Keep on keeping on.
I think it's best just to let those folk continue to become extinct.
Now I see really strong arguments. 
I spend 33 years of my live in Soviet Union and I know how socialism looks like and sow firsthand how supper power is getting shattered as a house of cards.
Soviet Union and other such social experiments were a result of liberals and other social dreamers trying to fix the world ASAP.
All it leads to is to the use fear, establishment of tyranny, and destroying everybody who are in the way of "building the happy future". Hopefully this will not be the case in this country.
Democrats and Obama are not socialists but they are playing a dangerous game which was already lost in Europe. So all American people who care about our freedoms should be alert.
It is also important to keep in check right republicans who want to limit our right using terrorism mythology and manufacturing others "enemies".
nixluva wrote:arkrud wrote:Actually I never watched FOX. I am not watching TV at all except Knicks and Rangers games.
I am not reading the right or leftist news site on Internet also.
There are a lot of independent analysys on specific subjects.
I do not care who president is but what he does and what is the result of his body of work.
I like Obama because he managed to do nothing in 4 years and I am confident he will do nothing in another 4.
And when government does nothing the live is going its natural ways and everybody gets what he/she deserves.
Socialism is dead. It is proved again and again. We see the next example after Soviets collapsed in Eurozone as their socialist experiment is collapsing now.
I don't know what your "independent Analysis" is but it's information is flawed. As the saying goes we're all allowed to our own opinions but not our own facts!As for Obama not doing anything that is HIGHLY incorrect! His 1st term legislative record is very high. He accomplished a lot and could've done even more if the Republicans weren't blocking him.
You've been living under this president and yet known next to nothing about what he's actually done. He's going to go down in history as one of the most accomplished presidents we've had. I'm tired of the BS here is a very long list of things Obama did and you can choose to ignore or open your eyes and see the truth.
He Returned The Executive Branch To Fiscal Responsibility After the Bush Debaclehttp://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main...1. Within his first week, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5
2. Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1
3. On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx
4. He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending. http://www.cio.gov
5. He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems. To that end, he also signed the Democratic-sponsored Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which attempted to put a stop to waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd
6. Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa
He Improved the Economy, Preventing a Bush Depression7. Pushed through and signed the Democratic-sponsored American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package.” The bill passed, even though only three Republicans voted for it. In a major departure from the previous administration, he launched recovery.gov, a website that allows taxpayers to track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk
8. The Bush-led Great Recession was costing the economy nearly 800,000 jobs per month by the time President Obama took office. But by the end of his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE
9. Not only did he completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6
10. He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl
11. Oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY
12. Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5 This resulted in GM returning to its place as the top car company in the world. http://lat.ms/zIJuQx Willard Romney, on the other hand, advocated for the entire industry to go belly-up. http://nyti.ms/k0zp
13. Doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf
14. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system, and create a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7
15. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS
16. Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw
17. Signed the Democratic-sponsored and passed Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn
18. Through the Worker, Home ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL
19. Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses.
http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b20. Created business.gov, which allows for online collaboration between small businesses and experts re managing a business. (The program has since merged with SBA.gov.) http://www.business.gov
21. Played a lead role in getting the G-20 Summit to commit to a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. http://nyti.ms/gHlgp5
22. Took steps to improve minority access to capital. http://bit.ly/f9xVE7
23. Signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to review all federal regulations and remove any unnecessary and/or burdensome regulations from the books. http://1.usa.gov/Lpo5bd
24. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30Dc
25. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service, thereby cutting ties between energy companies and the government. http://nyti.ms/bw1MLu
26. Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR
27. Used recovered TARP money to fund programs at local housing finance agencies in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan. http://on.msnbc.com/i1i8eV
28. Crafted an Executive order establishing the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. http://bit.ly/eyqsNE
He Fostered Greater Transparency and Better Government, After the Excesses of the Bush Years29. Signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN
30. Signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years, and put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV
31. Held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX
32. Became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5
33. Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov
34. Provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV
35. Issued an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. Provides the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb
36. Improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent when processing FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection37. Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq
38. Along with Congressional Democrats, pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD
39. Through Dodd-Frank legislation, created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau http://1.usa.gov/j5onG
40. Through Dodd-Frank, the Executive Branch fashioned rules that reduce the influence of speculators in the oil market. http://bit.ly/MDnA1t
41. Fashioned rules so that banks can no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers' interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
42. Supported the concept of allowing stockholders to vote on executive compensation. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
43. Endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM
44. Negotiated a deal with Swiss banks that now permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw
45. Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore. http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq
46. Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
47. Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression. http://thedc.com/gxkCtP
48. Through the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, extended the False Claims Act to combat fraud by companies and individuals using money from the TARP and Stimulus programs. http://bit.ly/SLTcSa
He Ushered Through Many Changes That Enhanced Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
49. Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7
50. Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuH http://bit.ly/mZV4Pz
51. Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj
52. Appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D
53. Appointed first openly transgender Cabinet Official in History. http://bit.ly/58zUp7
54. Changed HUD rules to prohibit gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination in housing bit.ly/9RxEnP
55. Changed his mind and publicly expressed support for the right to enter into a same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/JsiFKp
56. Issued a Presidential Memorandum reaffirming the rights of gay couples to make medical decisions for each other. http://1.usa.gov/aUueGT
57. Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTk http://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM
58. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg
59. Expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x
60. Under his guidance, National Labor Relations Board issued final rules that require all employers to prominently post employees' rights where all employees or prospective employees can see it, including websites and intranets, beginning November 2011. http://1.usa.gov/qu2EhQ
61. Advocated that United Nations adopt a policy supporting gay rights worldwide. http://lat.ms/pQe1RS
62. Issued an order requiring hospitals to allow visitation by same-sex couples. reut.rs/llNJek
63. Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0
64. Helped Democrats in Congress pass and signed the Civil Rights History Act. http://bit.ly/th0JC8
He Made Major Improvements in Foreign Relations and American Status Around the World65. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda
66. As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g
67. Helped to restore America's reputation around the world as a global leader that does the "right thing" in world affairs, at least according to the rest of the world. http://bit.ly/h743y7 http://bit.ly/ho4TCr
68. Re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj
69. Closed a number of secret detention facilities. http://nyti.ms/rpUc9l
70. Improved relations with Middle East countries by appointing special envoys. http://1.usa.gov/tiGAGe
71. Pushed for military to emphasize development of foreign language skills. http://bit.ly/AxUCLV
72. Offered $400 million to the people living in Gaza, called on both Israel and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence. http://bit.ly/9axfWh
73. Refused to give Israel the green light to attack Iran over their possible nuclear program, and thus avoid another war that Republicans wanted. http://bit.ly/xVmSZK
74. Worked with Democratic Congress to make donations to Haiti tax deductible in 2009. http://huff.to/6YkAVY
75. Established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP
76. Issued Executive Order blocking interference and helping to stabilize Somalia. http://1.usa.gov/hxdf8U
77. Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde
78. Ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and, unfortunately, progressive Democrats) who prevented follow through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF
79. Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called "enhanced interrogation." He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC
80. Ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax
81. Released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0
82. On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zve http://nyti.ms/hzWWys
83. In response to the emerging "Arab Spring," he created a Rapid Response fund, to assist emerging democracies with foreign aid, debt relief, technical assistance and investment packages in order to show that the United States stands with them. http://bit.ly/zfmGv9
84. Ended the F-22 program, saving $4 billion. Though the single-seat, twin-engine, fighter aircraft cost $358 million each, and the military had 187 built, the F-22 never flew a combat mission. http://slate.me/PYzmzT (The "fiscally conservative GOP fought to keep it.)
85. Passed the Iran Sanctions Act, to prevent war, and to encourage Iran to give up their nuclear program. http://1.usa.gov/wLtNjb
86. Ended the Iraq War. http://tgr.ph/ru0tyS
87. Authorized and oversaw a secret mission by SEAL Team Six to rescue two hostages held by Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/y8c9Fz
88. Through United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, helped negotiate a peaceful split of Sudan into two countries, this allowing for the creation of an independent South Sudan. http://reut.rs/qzE0Tj
He Took a More Realistic Approach to “Defense”89. Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE
90. Authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2
91. Restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i
92. Signed and pushed through ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw
93. Negotiated and signed a new START Treaty that will lst until at least 2021. http://1.usa.gov/cI1bC4
94. Through the Defense Authorization Act, reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ
95. Developed first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs
96. Returned our focus to Afghanistan, stabilized the country, and began the process of withdrawing our troops from the country. http://bit.ly/lNXUna
97. Negotiated a deal with Afghan government, to withdraw troops and military support, while assisting in rebuilding and modernizing of the country. http://bit.ly/K362an
98. Took steps to severely weaken al Qaeda and limited their ability to terrorize the world. http://yhoo.it/n5lXs6
99. Negotiated and signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty with India. http://1.usa.gov/aHp0Cn
100. Took decisive action to use NATO to limit the slaughter of innocents in Libya, so that the Libyan people could topple the despotic Khadaffy government and determine their own fate. http://aje.me/qAh4Sj
101. Got Egyptian President/dictator Mubarak to leave the Egyptian government to the people, to determine their own fate. http://f24.my/efvgNZ
102. In 2011, reoriented American focus from the Middle East to the Asian-Pacific region by simultaneously engaging China and crafting new alliances with Asian countries uncomfortable with Chinese behavior. http://bit.ly/RGlMDi
His Administration Treated Soldiers and Veterans with Respect That Was Missing Previously103. Along with Congressional Democrats, not only reauthorized families of fallen soldiers to be able to visit when the body arrives at Dover AFB, but also provided funding for it. Ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA
104. Funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo
105. Provided active combat troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h
106. Created Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW
107. Put an end to the Bush-era stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan beyond their enlistment date. (personal note: my son will be in harm’s way for six fewer months with Obama as president, so you know I love this one.) http://nyti.ms/e2YQ7Q
108. Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1
109. Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x
110. Created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY
111. Initiated and signed a recruitment and employment plan to get more veterans into government jobs. http://bit.ly/b48coi
112. Oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX
113. Signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, which ensures that spouses of military personnel who are forced to move because their spouse is posted for military duty will be able to avoid state taxes in their temporary residence. http://bit.ly/1Gh0NX
He Refocused the Federal Government on Education114. Repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq
115. Reformed student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt
116. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , invested heavily in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. http://1.usa.gov/gGRIAr
117. Created the Race to the Top program, which encouraged states to come up with effective school reforms and rewards the best of them. http://bit.ly/NHtZ7L
118. Oversaw major expansion of broadband availability in K-12 schools nationwide http://bit.ly/fNDcj3 ,
119. Oversaw major expansion in school construction. http://bit.ly/fYwNrV
120. Also through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he put $5 billion into early education, including Head Start. http://1.usa.gov/tzT2Rr
121. Signed the Democratic-sponsored Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as GI Bill 2.0 http://bit.ly/hPhG7J
122. Oversaw expansion of the Pell Grants program, to expand opportunity for low income students to go to college. http://bit.ly/hI6tXz
123. Along with Democratic Congress, passed and signed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe
124. Took major new steps to protec students from ineffective for-profit colleges through "gainful employment" measures, whereby schools have to demonstrate that its students actually find work to get federal aid. http://1.usa.gov/jkzQe2
125. With First Lady Michelle Obama, passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which will improve nutrition in schools and make children healthier. http://1.usa.gov/GAXkSk
He Pushed Through Improvements in National Safety and Security126. Restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z
127. Authorized Navy SEALS to successfully secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates and increased patrols off the Somali coast. http://nyti.ms/efBO7B
128. Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i
129. Ordered and oversaw the Navy SEALS operation that killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw
Reoriented Government to an Adult View on Science, Technology and Health Care
130. Created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw
131. Opened up process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U
132. Eliminated Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, and provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge
133. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7
134. Signed Democratic-sponsored Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb
135. Expanded the Nurse-Family Partnership program, which provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families, to cover more first-time mothers. http://bit.ly/jRRRJc
136. Obama EPA reveresed research ethics standards which allowed humans to be used as "guinea pigs" in tests of the effects of chemicals, to comply with numerous codes of medical ethics. http://bit.ly/bKgqdS
137. Conducted a cyberspace policy review. http://1.usa.gov/gmbdvC
138. Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr
139. Oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP
140. Along with Democrats in Congress, ushered through and signed a bill authorizing FDA to regulate tobacco. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
141. Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA
142. Increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3
143. Oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9
144. Eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b
145. Two weeks after taking office, signed Democratic-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Re-authorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv
146. Urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Democratic Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C
147. Ushered through and signed Affordable Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to at least 30 million more people, ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established healthcare.gov, so that taxpayers could keep up with developments. http://www.healthcare.gov/
148. Through ACA, allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
149. Through the ACA, provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
150. Through the ACA, expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
151. Through the ACA, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
152. Provisions in the ACA have already resulted in Medicare costs actually declining slightly this fiscal year, for the first time in many years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The increase in 2011 was 4%, which is very low compared to the average 12% annual inflation rate during previous 40 years. http://1.usa.gov/oMxpTh
153. Through the ACA, expanded space exploration and discovery options to more players http://bit.ly/PNTS7e
154. Through the Connect America Fund, pushed through and received FCC approval for a move of $8 billion in subsidies away from telephone landlines to assist lower-income rural families in accessing broadband. http://lat.ms/vhRUEs
He Took Steps to Strengthen the Middle Class and Families, and to Fight Poverty155. Worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS
156. Cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj
157. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , cut taxes for 95% of America's working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F
158. Tax rates for average working families are the lowest since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
159. Extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP
160. Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz
161. Provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM
162. Signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8
He Took Concrete Steps to Improve Our Environment and Address Our Energy Needs163. Fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact fuel efficiency standards that exceeded federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x
164. Fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM
165. Oversaw establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, to create more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y
166. Obama EPA reversed a Bush-era decision to allow the largest mountaintop removal project in US history. http://bit.ly/lP3yEL
167. Ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu
168. Ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
169. Oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R
170. Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5
171. Obama EPA ruled that CO2 is a pollutant. http://bit.ly/iQTSNN
172. Oversaw doubling federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE
173. Pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y
174. Created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq
175. Reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv
176. Fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO
177. Required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P
178. Following the neglect of Bush’s eight year reign, he reengaged in a number of treaties and agreements designed to protect the Antarctic. http://bit.ly/fzQUFO
179. Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV
180. Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk
181. Got BP to cough up $20 billion to establish Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to reduce the need for taxpayer funds to be used for compensation and clean up. http://wapo.st/ds2BxT (Note: it took 20 years to get $1.3 billion for the Exxon Valdez spill. )
182. Oversaw and pushed through amendment to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 authorizing advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://1.usa.gov/yTRYVo
183. Actively tried to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to eliminate the liability limits for those companies responsible for large oil spills. http://nyti.ms/bxjDi3
184. Initiated Criminal and Civil inquiries into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. http://nyti.ms/bVuB7a
185. Through his EPA, he asserted federal legal supremacy, and barred Texas from authorizing new refinery permits on its own. http://bit.ly/ww8eMd
186. Strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH
187. Obama EPA improved boiler safety standards to improve air quality, and save 6500 lives per year. http://bit.ly/jYH7nt
188. Through the EPA, attemped to take steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2
189. Through new EPA regulations, he created a pretext for closing the dirtiest power plants in the country, by limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic gasses. http://bit.ly/rQCIgA
190. Increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY
191. Announced greatly improved commercial fuel efficiency standards. http://1.usa.gov/oQiC1K
192. Announced a huge increase in average fuel economy standards from 27.5mpg in 2010 to 35.5mpg starting in 2016 and 54.5 starting in 2025 http://1.usa.gov/qtghsW
But That's Not All...193. Expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY
194. Oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv
195. Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/dFb8qF
196. Nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6 http://bit.ly/i02wgP
197. Appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB
198. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF
199. Loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j
200. Signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5
201. Signed an Executive Order that will speed up deployment of a more comprehensive broadband infrastructure. http://1.usa.gov/M7rVpe
202. Signed an Executive Order creating jobs immediately by instructing them to reduce the time needed for review and permitting of infrastructure projects. http://1.usa.gov/GHxaYt
203. Signed a bill that provided $4.3 billion in additional assistance to 9/11 first reponders. http://bit.ly/o7cWYS
204. Signed an Executive Order pledging support for efforts to end the global problem of violence against women and girls. http://1.usa.gov/MHTRVU
205. Signed the Claims Resolution Act, which provided $4.6 billion in funding for a legal settlement with black and Native American farmers who had been cheated out of government loans and natural resource royalties in the past. http://1.usa.gov/dGppUa
And Did You Know?
206. Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as supe
rior to Obama,President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%. http://n.pr/i3d7cY
It is important to look at what Obama as a president achieved after all this mentioned above activities.
Are we as a nation better off? Are the issues solved? Are people back to work? Do we have less debt and deficit?
Do we have better education, more affordable healthcare, stable economy? Did we gain more respect from other nations and improved our security?
Not to say Obama is responsible for putting us into this hole. We all are. But I cannot see that he achieved any progress and doubt he will achieve anything any time soon.
arkrud wrote:Bonn1997 wrote:ramtour420 wrote:Why do I feel like I am wasting my time. Akrud, you have very strong opinions. Not gonna go into details anymore, I just wanted to compliment you on the strength of your beliefs. Facts are for Democrats and other socialists. Keep on keeping on.
I think it's best just to let those folk continue to become extinct.Now I see really strong arguments.
I spend 33 years of my live in Soviet Union and I know how socialism looks like and sow firsthand how supper power is getting shattered as a house of cards.
Soviet Union and other such social experiments were a result of liberals and other social dreamers trying to fix the world ASAP.
All it leads to is to the use fear, establishment of tyranny, and destroying everybody who are in the way of "building the happy future". Hopefully this will not be the case in this country.
Democrats and Obama are not socialists but they are playing a dangerous game which was already lost in Europe. So all American people who care about our freedoms should be alert.
It is also important to keep in check right republicans who want to limit our right using terrorism mythology and manufacturing others "enemies".
My parents are in the same boat Akrud. Fled the Soviet Union and have the same fears. Those fears are magnified to people like you and my parents because you lived thorugh one of the worst types of governments. I don't think the USA is in the same danger, but I don't blame you for feeling that way.
And you are correct. The economy should have been dealt with before healthcare. But the past is the past. If they do something to put us back on the right track immediately, even if it's raising taxes on higher income people, at least the country will have direction.
gunsnewing wrote:Universal health care has worked out pretty well in Brazil and England for years and will soon for China as well. All 3 economies in the top 5 in the world
And for-profit corporate health care has worked out pretty badly.
It is important to look at what Obama as a president achieved after all this mentioned above activities.
Are we as a nation better off?
Yes we are...Upon entering office, we were on the brink of a depression, Our banking system were about to collapse, Car Companies imploding..
Now the system has been stabilized and we have been adding jobs now 33 consecutive months
Are the issues solved?
Some are solved but it's a process..This isn't instant coffee...Bush managed to rack up a debt of 11 trillion dollars after inheriting no, zero,zilch debt from a so called Dummycrat...4 trillion is debt under this President is a result revenue shortfall due to the recession...1.5 trillion is due to Obama spending partially due to stimulate the economy and prevent a depression
Are people back to work?
5.4 million people are back to work since job losses stopped
Do we have less debt and deficit?
More debt due to revenue shortfall because people lost their jobs thus less revenue for the Treasury
Do we have better education?
Test scores in 43 states have improved..
more affordable healthcare?
Healthcare cost has increase in the last 4 years at the slower pace than a decade ago
The government and independent analysts have noted lower health-cost growth since the beginning of the decade. National health spending grew 9.5 percent in 2002, according the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a rate that slowed to 3.9 percent by 2010, the most recent year available.
stable economy?
A lot stable than where Obama met it...Dow traded down to 6,600 and was recently at high at 13,500.. More than doubled
Did we gain more respect from other nations and improved our security?
Affirmatively yes...Have you seen how many attempt have been foiled in NYC..By the way how is Al Qaeda these days??
I can get you articles stating foreign countries were concerned about Romney being elected
Again please see spending chart published by Forbes Magazine, Republican owned(Steve Forbes) publication....
Republicans has far outspent so called Dummycrats, social programs included, it's not even close and YET, YET, They call themselves fiscal conservatives...They are "suppose" to be the guardians of the national debt...
Please someone who supports the Republicans explain why it is that Republican Presidents have exploded the deficit and meanwhile Democratic Presidents have reduced the deficit? It's not true that Obama is some big spender. He's had to do spending just to save the country, but he wouldn't have had to if not for Bush's destruction of the economy. Still look at the TRUTH about deficit reduction by presidents:
