Let's Fail like Obama

While the rest of us were trying to dig out of a record snow storm in D.C., our President held a concert at the White House with Bob Dylan, interrupting his endless tour to sing "The Times They Are A Changin'. " The Associated press and other media outlets have been leading a drumbeat about how inadequate Obama has been for his first year in office. At this rate, he may go down in history as another James Buchanan or ,say, a George W. Bush. In this age of spectacle, Sarah Palin is seen as successful and Mitch McConnell is a national security expert. Now with the Republican super-majority of 41 Senators, Obama stands forlorn, a lame duck. Well, let's look at the videotape.



President Obama, who did come to office with more popular votes than anyone in American history--lest you forget, set a historic record of passing 97% of his legislation this year, surpassing LBJ. That is a record for any year in any administration.



But what did we get for all this effort:



The first bill President Obama signed into law on January 29, 2009 was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which expands the rights of workers to sue employers over wage discrimination claims.



On February 17, 2009, Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus bill into law. In December 2009,the CBO issued a report estimating that "in the third quarter of calender year 2009, an additional 600,000 to 1.6 million people were employed in the United States" due to that legislation. The CBO raised these estimates to 800,000 to 2.4 million through the fourth quarter. A survey of economists claims that without the stimulus at least another 1.2 million would have lost their jobs. The Recovery Act is credited by a large consensus of economists of saving the United States from plunging into another Great Depression.



On February 5, 2009, Obama signed a bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover 4 million more lower income children.



On March 30, Obama signed an omnibus public lands bill, which allows for 2 million more acres to be declared wilderness with more than 1,000 miles designated as scenic rivers and adds lands for national trails.



On April 21, 2009, Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which expands the scope of Americorps and provides opportunities for young people and senior citizens to join service programs.



On May 9, 2009, Obama signed an executive order easing restrictions on the use of federal funds on embryonic stem cell research.



On May 21, 2009, Obama signed into law a bill providing what USA Today called "the most sweeping changes to the credit card industry in 40 years".



On May 26, 2009, Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court to replace Justice David Souter, making her the first Hispanic justice and only the third woman to serve on the court.



On June 22, 2009, Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which, for the first time, gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco.



Obama was able to achieve some significant cuts in wasteful spending --most notably the elimination of the F-22 fighter jet program. He was credited by the Washington Times with winning 60% of his proposed cuts in the defense budget.



The Washington Post reported on moves by the Obama administration to imporve government transparency "included a ban on lobbyist gifts; restrictions on the hiring of lobbyists; publication of White House visitor logs and other records; and a move to bar lobbyists from serving on advisory boards." A report by Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and the U.S. PIRG stated that: "The cumuluative effect of the Administration's actions has been to adopt the strongest and most comprehensive lobbying, ethics and transparency rules and policies ever established by an Administration to govern its own activities."



President Obama made the largest investment in history in scientific research and development, a large part of which goes to Green technology.



President Obama made the largest investment in education in history and started a process to streamline the process for federal aid to students and access student loans at a reasonable rate.



President Obama raised fuel standards for cars after years of inaction.



President Obama provided the largest tax cuts to the middle class in American history. Every single Republican voted against it.



His policies have cut job losses from almost 800,000 a month to 20,000 a month.



President Obama saved the American auto industry, which forms 16% of the American economy, while all Republicans voted against it.



For the first time in a century, health care reform bills passed both the House and Senate.



Despite Republican opposition, President Obama through executive order created a bipartisan commission to deal with the future debt crisis.



The Obama Administration successfully managed the outbreak of the HINI epidemic.



The Obama Administration lifted the discriminatory , inhumane ban on immigration of those with HIV/AIDS.



Obama started the process to end the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy to allow patriotic Americans to serve in the military. The current policy cost billions of dollars to enforce.



The Obama Administration restored America's standing in the world as witnessed by the recent Gallup polls on the jump in positive ratings for America in the world.



For my neocon friends, Obama gave Israel the greatest increase in aid in history.



The Obama Administration outlawed torture as it was practiced during the Bush years. Against terrorism, the Obama Administration has sought prosecutions in American courts and has stepped up covert and overt actions against terrorists abroad. During the last month alone, the Obama Administration has eliminated dozens of Al Qaeda figures in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Two weeks ago, the Administration eliminated the head of the Taliban in Pakistan.



The Obama Administration has begun to responsibly wind down the war in Iraq. Amid criticism by both the left and the right, President Obama has implemented a new strategy for Afghanistan, creating a battleplan where once, according to Secretary of Gates, there was none.

Also, we should also note his speed in responding to the Haitian earthquake, which saw 3 million people homeless and over 200,000 dead. And his decision to make USAID the lead coordinating agency.

There is more. In case you want to know what the Stimulus Package did in your neighborhood, there is a map at the White House website where you can locate projects by district. I didn't include his performance at the G-8, his Nobel Peace Prize, his Cairo Speech. Also the effects of his Asian trip on stabilizing the world economy.

It is rather pathetic. It was better when our white Presidents were legacy children at Ivy schools or got their naval promotions through nepotism. This quality stuff is for the birds. Hopefully, Obama will continue to fail like he did this year.