they keep saying that Obama/Team hasn't accomplished much

[ensho]

which is so much hooey.

some time ago a DUer posted a thread with a list of everything they had done. It was quite long.

why couldn't this list be updated and expanded so we can post it where necessary. and wave in the face of naysayers?

why isn't something like this being done?

[phleshdef]

1. Its a mind blowing list of accomplishments and it should be pinned at the top of the threads list.

[ensho]

2. yes - and copies thumb tacked to bulletin boards everywhere

nt

[lbrtbell]

4. But there are some problems with that list

1. You need to compare that list with the list of more important things he hasn't done (DADT, Gitmo, other things he could do via executive order, without having to depend on a balky Congress).

2. You also need to compare that list with the list of bad things he has done, like stabbing his supporters in the back and using "bipartisanship" as an excuse to absolve himself of blame for catering to Republican corporatists. (See: How Health Care Reform Turned Into A Jackpot For Greedy Insurance Companies And Screwed Over The Poor And Middle Class.)

3. Lists are pretty hollow and irrelevant, when you're about to lose your job, your home, or are having trouble putting food on your table. Aside from Obama fans who have plenty of food and a roof over their heads, nobody gives a damn about lists. They want jobs. They want to earn more than 1.15% interest on their savings.

A stimulus isn't enough. We need to be bringing jobs back to America, not waiting on the report of a commission that's salivating over the chance to privatize and/or destroy Social Security.

As the saying goes (even though it was initially misquoted), "It's the economy, stupid."

Until Obama gets that through his skull, lists mean nothing. Nobody who's suffering wants to hear about his lame "accomplishments", when they're facing job losses, starvation, or homelessness.

The only list they care about is his to-do list, which should simply read, "Bring jobs back to America."

[phleshdef]

5. Not nearly as many problems as there are with your list.

[ensho]

6. this would be a list of things accomplished

the list stands alone. its fact. it doesn't need comparing to whatever.

and the list would be constantly updated.

[daleanime]

3. There's a difference between...

did and could. Now we told to be good, quiet little dems and many find this frustrating, why does our frustration seem to angry some others. Have you never been frustrated your selfs? How can we have calm debates with tea-baggers when we can't talk among ourselves?

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. The list is so big that it can be seen from space

In fact is, that the list of accomplishments is so big that it took the entire Sahara Forest to supply enough paper to write it all down. And, the list is still growing.

The list is so freakishly large that Stephen Hawking is reportedly working out a special theory to explain the awesome largeness of it all.

Some scientists predict that if the list continues to grow that it could actually begin to accumulate enough mass that its gravity could alter the Earth's orbit and throw the moon into the Sun.

That's how big the frickin' list is!

Now, about waving this list in front of people's faces there are a few problems. One, as discussed above, it is REALLY big list and hardly capable of being waved by anything less than 10,000 really big dudes. Second, we have no idea where the list is. Of course, if the list continues to grow, we will have no choice but to seeit as it will begin to blot out the Sun as it expands into our atmosphere.

Cheers!

[ensho]

8. you need to go back to bed

nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

9. I can't because I am too scared of the list.

:(

[LiberalFighter]

10. Give the list to Bayh

[denimgirly]

11. Accomplishments in terms of major Compromises then YES

Yes there have been accomplishments, several in fact, but many of them are tend to be due to major compromises that either favor the right (and hence, their corporate overlords), a small # of people, or no one at all. If the accomplishments usually involve big money/big business it will almost always go in favor of those who have the money e.g. healthcare, financial reform, more wars (for war contractors).

However, if we are talking about accomplishments that arent about big money then the WH/Obama will get it through with not much fuss or changes.

Seriously, anyone can accomplish a lot if you are willing to throw out the baby with the bathwater...its when you stand for what you believe in without compromises that you earn respect and truly can say you've accomplished much. I'd respect healthcare reform as a real accomplishment if it at least had the public option (the last thing that could have made it worth it for the people -- now it is just a giveaway to insurers).

[jaxx]

12. I would like to have that list linked so everyone could see all the good done.

Anyone have it?

[Phx_Dem]

13. Here's a list. Feel free to add to it.

- Signed Lilly Ledbetter Act improving women's right to sue employers for pay discrimination
- Signed order giving benefits to government-employed same sex partners
- Signed law meant to improve the ability of women who allege pay discrimination to sue their employer.
- Signed Matthew Shepard Act, a hate crime bill
- Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
- Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
- Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
- Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
- Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
- 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
- The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
- Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
- Limits on lobbyist’s access to the White House
- Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
- Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
- Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren’t even used or needed in
Iraq/Afghanistan
- Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
- Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
- New federal funding for science and research labs
- States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
- Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
- Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
- New funds for school construction
- The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
- Saved GM -- now reporting profits for first time in years
- Passed the largest economic stimulus plan in U.S. history
- 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
- Passed financial reform bill
- The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
- Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with theGeneva Convention standards
- Better body armor is now being provided to our troop
- The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
- Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols -- signed deal with Russia.
- Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
- Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
- Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
- Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
- US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
- Tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
- Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
- Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
- Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
- Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
- Lifted travel restricted on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
- Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
- Expanding vaccination programs
- Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
- Closed offshore tax safe havens
- Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
- 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
- Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices
- Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
- Lower drug costs for seniors
- 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
- Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
- Improved housing for military personnel
- Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
- Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
- Increased student loans
- Increased opportunities in AmeriCorps program
- 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
- Established a new cyber security office
- Beginning 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.
- End previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
- Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
- Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
- Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
- Improved benefits for veterans
- Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
- Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
- Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
- Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
- Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
- Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
- Made more loans available to small businesses
- Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
- Appointment of two women to U.S. Supreme Court -- one being the first Latina
- Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
- Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
- Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan'
- Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
- New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
- Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
- Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
- Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
- Held first Seder in White House
- Deported nearly 400,000 illegals with criminal past
- Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
- Has announced his intention to push for education reform
- Banned offshore drilling until parameters for deep well safety procedures are clarified.
- Put a hold on Artic oil exploratory digging until environmental impacts are clear.

[jaxx]

14. Thanks!

Huge list for only 19 months.

[ensho]

15. thanks for the list - you are a peach

nt