Obama's First Year

The author of the following is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times. 

Professor Watson writes:



Hi friends,



I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDR’s or LBJ’s, the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done.

Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).


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



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



9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible



10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House

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



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



22. US Auto industry rescue plan



23. Housing rescue plan



24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan



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



26. US financial and banking rescue 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



29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops



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



35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job



36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast



37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles



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



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



47. 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

51. Lower drug costs for seniors



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



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



57. Increasing student loans



58. Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program



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.



62. Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts



63. Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness



64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient



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



68. Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud



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



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


81. Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan



82. New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans



83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production



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 healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured



88. Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform



89. Has announced his intention to push for energy reform



90. Has announced his intention to push for education reform 



Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!



Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies


Lynn University