Ninety things Obama has done

Posted by Aaron Springer on November 18, 2009 under Commentary | Be the First to Comment

Former Vice President Dick Cheney accused President Obama of ‘dithering’.

Yeah, the reality is much different, as we have come to expect from Bush cronies.

Robert Watson, Ph.D., coordinator of American Studies at Lynn University has documented some of President Obama’s accomplishments between January-August 2009.

1. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
2. Announced his intention to push for energy reform
3. Announced his intention to push for education reform
4. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
5. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
6. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
7. Attempting to reform the nation’s health care system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under-insured
8. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
9. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
10. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Webb to secure the release of an American held captive
11. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
12. Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force… this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
13. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
14. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
15. “Cash for clunkers” program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulates auto sales
16. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
17. Closed offshore tax safe havens
18. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
19. Ended media “blackout” on war casualties; reporting full information
20. Ended media “blackout” on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover A.F.B.; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family
21. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
22. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
23. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
24. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
25. Ended previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
26. Ended previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
27. Ended previous policy on torture; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
28. Ended previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
29. Ended previous “stop-loss” policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
30. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
31. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
32. Established a new cyber security office
33. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
34. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
35. Expanding vaccination programs
36. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover A.F.B.
37. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
38. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
39. Held first Seder in White House
40. Housing rescue plan
41. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
42. Improved housing for military personnel
43. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
44. Improving benefits for veterans
45. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants…) after years of neglect
46. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
47. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
48. Increasing student loans
49. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
50. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
51. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return “home” to visit loved ones
52. Instituted enforcements for equal pay for women
53. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
54. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
55. Limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House
56. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
57. Lower drug costs for seniors
58. Making more loans available to small businesses
59. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
60. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
61. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
62. New federal funding for science and research labs
63. New funds for school construction
64. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
65. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
66. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
67. Paid for redecorations of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
68. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
69. Put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
70. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
71. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
72. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
73. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
74. Restarted the nuclear non-proliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
75. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
76. Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
77. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
78. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
79. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
80. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
81. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
82. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
83. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
84. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
85. The “secret detention” facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
86. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
87. US Auto industry rescue plan
88. US financial and banking rescue plan
89. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
90. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office

Share on Facebook