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"This was all done without a 2/3 majority in the Senate. And health care would have been a private option had not the Republicans fought it so hard.
1.. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
Otherwise known as executing the Bush/Gates SOFA.
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier’s family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
By allowing the DoD to classify the torture photos.
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
By negotiating a prohibition of drug price negotiation with Big Pharma in private and in secret.
10. Limits on lobbyist’s access to the White House
And immediately exempting several lobbyists from that limit.
11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
No. They are still buying all the planes that were originally scheduled. They just decided to end the purchase of any additional ones.
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
16. New federal funding for science and research labs
17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction
21 The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
No, it isn't. At best it is being relocated to Illinois. At worst, it will be there when his administration ends.
22. US Auto industry rescue plan
23. Housing rescue plan
What housing rescue plan. It's been a general failure at rescuing any significant number of homes. He did manage to rescue alot of bankers bonus plans though.
24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
Much of it in tax cuts. All of it vastly less than was needed.
25. 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
Yeah, another attempt that didn't really work out all that well. But those bonuses did get defended.
26. US financial and banking rescue plan
Otherwise known as the "bankers bonus assurance plan".
27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
Tell that to Bradley Manning. Or better yet, don't, cause you might get fired.
29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
In two unnecessary wars of choice, at this point HIS choice.
30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
31. Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
It is interesting that these are viewed as "accomplishments", especially ones having anything to do with senate representation.
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
And then there was this recent incident...
36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
More tax cuts.
38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
"Announce plans..." is now an accomplishment? And what does this have to do with the senate?
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
44. Expanding vaccination programs
45. Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
46. Closed offshore tax safe havens
While extending the Bush tax cuts.
7. Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
48. Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
49.. Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
50. Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
"Must begin preparing...".
Lower drug costs for seniors
While ensuring profits for the drug companies and preventing drug importation from Canada.
52. Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
Not exactly. They are limited in their ability to negotiate.
53. Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
54. Improved housing for military personnel
55. Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
56. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
And increased the number of patients they will receive by escalating the war in Afghanistan.
57 Increasing student loans
58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorpsprogram
59. 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
60. Established a new cyber security office
61. 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.
"...increasing the size of military...", while declaring that we have to have budget cuts in social programs and federal assistance for heating oil for the poor.
62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
No, limited them.
63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
Wow, ordered a review. The senate must have been up in arms.
64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
And has he?
65. Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66. Improving benefits for veterans
67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
Including one in front of cadets that couldn't object or otherwise comment, when he announced an escalation of the war in Afghanistan, and that he'd be sticking to the Bush/Gates SOFA.
68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
Which has resulted in......??????
69. The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70. Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71. Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
72. Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
73. Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
74. Making more loans available to small businesses
75. Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
Which locked out Single Payer advocates on day one.
76. Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
77. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
78. Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
79. Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
80. Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
And escalated the conflict to 3 times the size of Bush.
81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
3 times the size of Bush.
82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
And supports a corrupt Afghan government, and tripled the size of the the conflict under Bush.
83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
And increased drilling in the gulf because gulf drilling was so safe. And provided for government guarantees for nuclear power loans because nuclear power is so safe.
84. Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
85. Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
86. Held first Seder in White House
87. 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
And ended up with a system that guarantees Big Pharma profits for 10 years, mandates the purchase of health insurance with no guarantee of access to health care, and still predicts a rate of inflation of health care costs at 7% for the foreseeable future.
88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
It's always in play. McCain put it "in play" as well way back when.
89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform
Wow, announced his intentions. The senate must have been up in arms.
Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office"
Had built. I don't think he was swinging any hammers.
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