90 Accomplishments of Pres. Obama Which The Media Fails to Report....

[kpete]

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 Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan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!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/19/805925/-90-Accomplishments-of-Pres.-Obama-Which-The-Media-Fails-to-Report....


http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/whs-axelrod-says-obama-wasnt-expecting-immediate-gratification-from-asia-trip.php?ref=fpa

[barbtries]

1. number 90

my son's applying for college today. we need THAT help yesterday! hurry hurry.

thanks for posting; it is a good reminder that this president is actually at least trying to live up to his promises.

[goclark]

2. Outstanding! K and R

[jpljr77]

3. He passed what could be the largest tax cut in American history.

It was buried in #24, the stimulus package, and goes largely unreported. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-waldman/is-obamas-tax-cut-the-big_b_166337.html">A $282 billion tax cut for the middle class.

But as everyone knows, your paychecks every two weeks are a little larger thanks to the tax cut. It NEVER gets mentioned.

[annabanana]

4. The fact that *everyone knows this* is a testament to our

exemplary media!

[Romulox]

5. "Instituted a study", "lowered drug costs for seniors" (wtf?), "announced his intention"??? Unrec.

:shrug:

[Moosepoop]

6. Rec'd back. n/t

[Posteritatis]

16. A mere 87, then. What a failure! (nt)

[pnorman]

7. Thanks for that list!

this is NOT a "vanity post". I'm doing it so I can more easily locate this thread later on!

pnorman

[EnlightenedOne]

8. That's why I love this man

and know that we are soooo very lucky he was elected.

[Winterblues]

9. He is doing one of those "terrorist fist jabs" to the camera

:silly:

[sabra]

10. great list! k & r

[Toucano]

11. Thanks for this.

But can you honestly call "announced his intention to..." as an accomplishment?

If I announce my intention to complete my doctoral thesis, have I really accomplished anything? Can I put that on my resumé?

[treestar]

12. +1

And he seems to get along great with the SK PM!

[DearAbby]

13. Excellent :)

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. 90. The media has reported on his push for education reform:

Obama uses school dollars to prod states to change

WASHINGTON -States are jockeying for a new $5 billion pot of education money even before the contest has begun.

The Obama administration was opening the competition Thursday for grants for ideas like charter schools or judging teachers based on student test scores. Applications are due in January and the first round of grants will go out in April.

Fewer than half the states are likely to win the money, and several already have rewritten education laws and cut deals with unions to boost their chances.

"States have been doing some things to get in the ballpark," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Now states have to think about how they win. We're going to reward excellence here."

more: http://news.aol.com/article/obama-coaxes-states-to-change-with/586685?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_poldaily

[sabra]

15. kick for the list and the pic

:kick: