It's the end of the year, how did the Big Guy stack up?

[Number23]

I know everyone is a bit miffed at Politifact right now but I thought I'd check their Obama-meter to see where the president stands on promises kept/broken.

Promise Kept 159

Compromise 49

Promise Broken 56

Stalled 66

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/

Not bad at all, really. Interesting to note that he has more "Stalled" than "Broken" promises. But I have to say that as someone who had to send home money so that her 80 year old grandmother didn't lose her home because she (along with many other elderly, minority members) was targeted by unscrupulous lenders, the broken promise of "Create a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners" is a big one for me.

There are a few others I'm not happy with -- the non-closure of Guantanamo Bay for one -- but I balance out those disappointments by being really pleased with his handling of foreign policy, passage of health care reform, and his creation of the Consumer Protection Bureau. I also think that some of the Promises Broken was just him realizing the limitations of government (Huh? State of the World Address??) as well as the acknowledgement that there are only 365 days in the year.

Any promises broken/kept that you guys think stand out?

[Tx4obama]

1. And- In the Works: 176

The year isn't over yet

Oh, and be sure when you read the GITMO page at Politifact - read that page from the bottom up and it will be more clear how all the GOP obstruction 'F'd that one up

GITMO: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/177/close-the-guantanamo-bay-detention-center/

[zipplewrath]

2. Many democrats

Truth is, the democrats are almost more responsible for the Gitmo obstruction than the GOP. It was suppose to all be done that first year, back when the dems had clear control of all the chambers, and he had McCain on his side.

[Tx4obama]

5. Wrong. The dems had a filibuster proof majority for a total of only 14 weeks

"As Mother Jones‘ Kevin Drum points out, though, the actual amount of time the Democrats held a filibuster-proof majority, when you factor in the late Sen. Ted Kennedy‘s illness and the winter recess, amounts to 14 weeks." http://www.democraticunderground.com/10171995

[zipplewrath]

7. McCain agreed with Obama

The primary obstacle to reform was senate democrats that made it clear they would not accept major changes. Go back and look. It is why they never even really tried. Heck, Lindsay Graham was the guy working to try to fix it. There was enough (minority) support among the GOP, if a (few) dems hadn't stood in the way.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. Congress was the reason why we couldn't get GB closed. Really, I see people continue to blame

Obama for this, and yes, he has broken some promises that I'm disappointed about. But the GB non-closure meme is getting pretty tired. Blocked by Congress.

[Number23]

4. I'm aware that Congress blocked the Guantanamo closure

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/20/barack-obama-guantanamo-congress-veto
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704774604576036520690885858.html

But I'm still disappointed that it's not closed. Perhaps it should be put in the Stalled section and not Broken, but it still didn't happen.

[Tx4obama]

6. As Politifact says about their 'Broken Promise' ratings ....

How the promise meters work

SNIP

Promise Broken – There are several ways a promise could earn this rating. Congress might reject the proposal outright through votes in the House or Senate. It's also possible that the proposal could be determined to be dead before an actual vote. It might be referred to a committee but never get a vote, or congressional leaders might announce that the proposal won't be considered.

SNIP

More info here: http://www.politifact.com/about/

So, even IF a promise is rated 'broken' it does NOT mean that the fault was Obama's
I hope everyone all over the internet takes the time to realize that when looking at the promises.

p.s. Btw, I've exchanged MANY emails over the past couple of years with all the folks over at Politifact (Angie, Bill, Louis, Robert etc) and my 'urging' regarding moving the GITMO rating moved to 'still in the works' has not budged them

[Number23]

8. "So, even IF a promise is rated 'broken' it does NOT mean that the fault was Obama's"

Direct from their web site:

"An important point about Obameter ratings: A Promise Broken rating does not necessarily constitute failure or mean that Obama failed to be an advocate for his promises. He could put tremendous effort for any given promise but it could still die because of opposition in Congress. That might be a perfect example of the legislative checks and balances on the executive branch, or the impact of public opinion. A promise that was popular during the campaign could be less popular now because of changes in the economy. But for consistency, we are still rating every promise he made during the campaign. Individually and collectively, our ratings show the progress of Obama's presidency during changing times."

Describes the Guantanamo Bay situation precisely.

[Tx4obama]

9. Yep. :) n/t

[Cha]

13. Yes, it does! Thanks I had never read

that before.

One really does wonder how politicalfact came up with their stupid "biggest lie of the year."

It wasn't even even a "lie"..the Dems realized what they wrote and changed it right away to "as we know it". I think combing through mittmopper or newty's files would get some nasty whoppers ..so why waste it on something that made themselves look disingenuous in the process?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

19. Too many people, however, point at Obama as if he controls what Congress does. Yes, but in the

"stalled" section.

[dennis4868]

10. "the non-closure of Guantanamo Bay"

Until you explain to me how Obama is suppose to close Gittmo with his own money, then I refuse to blame Obama for not keeping this promise....CONGRESS (INCLUDING DEMS) WILL NOT FUND THIS even though Obama has repeatedly requested the funds. I don't think Obama is wealthy enough to afford closing Gittmo out of his own money. What do you think?

[Number23]

11. Now this is something I don't get

I post two things I'm not happy about and three things that I am, and for some reason people are harping on one of the two that I'm not happy about. Is there a particular reason for that? And I don't recall even so much as SUGGESTING that I blame the president for this.

I have also stated in the thread that I am aware that Congress was the reason that Guantanamo Bay was not closed. But this was a presidential promise and it has not been fulfilled even though it's not the president's fault. What exactly is the problem here?

[Wait Wut]

20. It's not you.

GB is a touchy subject for anyone that supports our President. I think many of his harshest (lefty) critics blame him completely for not closing it. Saying you're "disappointed" is opening old, nasty, arguments.

For the record, I'm disappointed that it isn't closed, too. I don't blame our President.

Or, it could be the holidays.

[Number23]

21. No, I get that. But anyone who has seen my name on this site

Knows that I'm not some embittered "leftist" looking for any reason to slam this president so that I can tout the virtues of some imaginary former president that never actually existed except in the minds of his admirers, or some obscure, mildly deranged third party candidate that doesn't have a chance in hell of ever getting more than a couple of dozen votes.

I am a very proud supporter of this president. And I grow prouder by the day.

For the record, I'm disappointed that it isn't closed, too. I don't blame our President.

That's exactly how I feel.

[Wait Wut]

23. We'd all be lying if we didn't agree...

...that there are things that disappoint us with this administration. But, I think most of us in this group (I'd like to think "all&quot would also agree that our President has fought an amazing battle, practically alone, against the obstruction of the GOP. Even the smallest accomplishments on "The List" have required an amazing amount of courage and tenacity. I have full faith in Pres. Obama and my battle is with the GOP, not other Democrats. Well, some maybe.

It's time to stop bickering amongst ourselves and take back the House and install more reliable Democrats into the Senate. This fight goes hand in hand with the reelection of Pres. Obama. While my fear of one of the RW loons taking over the White House is real, I will cast my vote not out of fear, but 100% support.

[Cha]

12. Hi 23, thanks for this..

I can see President Obama cares and is working hard for us..that's all I really ask of someone even Mr super-President.

Here's a link to a long page of good news today regarding President Obama & our country which is very good news for us!

"HONEST I TRIED TO FIND SOME BAD NEWS TODAY"

http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/20/catching-up-12/#comments

[Number23]

14. Good grief...that link is simply amazing!

One big scoop of good news after another one!

"President Obama’s resurgence in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll is built in no small part on a growing sentiment in the electorate that he is fighting for the middle class. Asked who they trust more to protect the middle class, 50 percent of respondents chose Obama while just 35 percent named “Republicans in Congress”.

"That’s the widest margin the President has enjoyed in Post-ABC polling on that question since December 2010"

"Top-level Jewish fundraisers from President Obama’s 2008 campaign are sticking with the president in 2012."

"Despite reports that President Obama faces a loss of Jewish funders due to his Middle East policy, analysis of a list of elite bundlers from his 2008 race shows no defections among the president’s top Jewish supporters in 2012."

"Unemployment rates fell in 43 states in November, the most number of states to report such declines in eight years."

EIGHT FREAKING YEARS!!!

So much WONDERFUL and encouraging news. Thanks for posting this, my sweet Cha!

[Cha]

22. I'm really

Glad you liked it, 23!~

Here's an OT vid I got via cbs and theobamadiary of PObama Christmas Shopping today with Bo at Pet Smart, for the girls at Best Buy, and a very Merry Pizza Encounter with supporters yelling "WE LOVE YOU, PRESIDENT OBAMA!'

For your enjoyment~

[great white snark]

15. Morning kick!

My fav is not really one promise but a package of promises pertaining to the military. Of course the largest being ending the war and bringing our women & men home.

There is no doubt of which party really supports the troops.

[Number23]

17. You are absolutely right

His ending of the war in Iraq should be at the top of everyone's "Great Promises Kept" list even though there are many that try to downplay even this achievement.

[treestar]

16. That is not even that much compromise for the alleged

caver-in-chief (which I use sarcastically, because I think that term is too often used to mean didn't take us to a dangerous brink).

[Number23]

18. I thought it was "Appeaser in Chief?"

No matter. The people who tout this line may as well brand a scarlet "D" on their foreheads for "Duh."

I always find it so fascinating to hear the "Caver in Chief" or other such nonsense and then read poll after poll after poll and article after article from Americans from all walks of life that want ONE THING from their elected reps and that's for them to get things done and learn to work with one another.

How anyone thinks that anyone can achieve this without compromise, negotiations and other such distasteful things is simply beyond me.