Obama Paradox

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Saturday, July 24, 2010 7:48 PM

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Originally posted by Niki2:
It's a paradox. In the past year and a half, the Obama Administration has tackled a number of "third-rail" issues o other president has been at all successful in dealing with...if they even tried. They've made strides in financial reform, health care, student loan reform, stimulus package, DADT, and at least tried on energy. And don't forget the Lilly Ledbetter. Yet all we hear is how "evil" they are.

You may not agree with what they've done--certainly I don't, in that the final bills have been so watered down as to be ineffective, and in some cases will have the opposite effect than intended, but it's a START, and some of it IS good.

So why do we hear nothing about that? Why is the grinding cry "bad President, bad President" ALL the time? Yeah, he's caved on too much, he hasn't done enough to repair the damages Dumbya left us with, and he's too wishy-washy. But how many Presidents have even TRIED this much in this short a time? And how much of it, now that it's law, can we improve to make what he (and we) wanted...which is the first step?

The hatred of Obama seems to be so strong that NOTHING is being seen as positive. Not only that, but the Repubs "party of no" tactics have made sure the bills ended up being only semi-helpful, even tho' they BACKED some of the ideas until he came into office. Anyone know who FIRST was in favor of Cap and Trade...who used it as a campaign promise? Clinton failed at health care; all Repub Presidents have wanted to do is privatize Social Security, Medicare, and keep the health-insurance companies Big Oil and Wall Street fat and happy. All three had carte blanche during Dumbya's time; Obama TRIED to get a moratorium to make sure things were safe and revisit the issue (anyone notice that judge's affiliations with Big Oil?).

Just think how GOOD those bills could have been if the Republicans had participated. As it was, a lot of their suggestions were incorporated, and still they voted "no".

What exactly is their platform on these issues, how do they suggest fixing things? I haven't heard anything from them except "Obama Bad"...I'd like to know what ideas they have, if any, to show their being in power would have improved this or WOULD improve things in the future.

Mind you, I am NOT happy, but I'm willing to give the man his due, and applaud him for at least TRYING.

Here are a few things he's begun or accomplished thus far:

•"Returning science to its rightful place" by lifting the Bush restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

•Signing laws to expand children's health insurance (financed by a 61-cent per pack increase in the federal cigarette tax the adviser did not tout).

•Signing a law meant to improve the ability of women who allege pay discrimination to sue their employer.

•Lifting travel and remittance restrictions for Cuban Americans who seek to travel more frequently to the island and send more US currency to their immediate family.

•signed a law supporting increased financial aid to severely injured war veterans, and their caretakers.

•Put a hold on Artic oil exploratory digging until environmental impacts are clear.

•Passed health care reform.

•signed a hate crime bill.

•passed financial reform.

•Passing the "largest" economic stimulus bill in American history.

•Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient. Reports to the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budgets. Specific duties require finding new efficient ways of operating.

•Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut future spending.

•Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices.

•Initiated changes in federal procurement policies and procedures.

•Implemented 'PayGo' procedures by telling congress that no bill will be signed if there is not a w

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