Posted on 04/29/2009 6:18:44 PM PDT by seanmerc
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obamas 100 days in office have not shaken the world, but he has been compelled to focus on the legacy bequeathed by former President George W. Bush: the worst economic slump since the Great Depression and two wars.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, avoiding any credibility-destroying urge to praise his boss with ridiculous extravagance, gives the president a "B-plus" on his report card. "What the president has achieved is something were proud of," Gibbs said, adding: "There is room for improvement."
Probably the biggest change Obama has brought about is the countrys new hopeful spirit, an attitude that we can deal with these problems and that government action can help solve societys ills.
That view is in sharp contrast to the Republican political philosophy that government is the problem. That laissez faire perception led us down the garden path -- to the extent that our present economic crisis was brought about by the loosening of regulations on business and banking.
In his short time as the nations chief executive, Obama has rammed through Congress a nearly $800-billion stimulus package and started the ball rolling in health care reform, energy and education.
Among his legislative victories was passage of a bill to expand child health insurance -- which Bush had vetoed -- and a bill ensuring equal pay for women workers. He also reversed limits on stem cell research and is moving ahead to fight global warming and other environmental challenges.
Domestically, he is living up to his promise of "change" but on the war front, he is following in the footsteps of Bush, who to this day has not explained his tragic decision to invade Iraq.
Obama expects to pull American combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010 but will keep 50,000 U.S. military men and women there -- just in case.
But he is repeating Bushs huge mistake by sending thousands more Americans into the Afghanistan quagmire. The tribal religious extremists know their impossible turf of caves and mountains far better than any American could possible learn.
Just ask the heavily armed Russians who were forced to retreat in the 1980s after several years of bitter fighting there. And before them in the 19th century, the British conquerors learned the same painful lesson.
If we do not learn from the mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them.
Now we hear that the U.S. is building a mammoth embassy in Kabul, supposedly a symbol of long-term commitment, just as we did in Baghdad. The questions are: Why? And what price are we willing pay in human and financial costs to maintain our long-term neo-colonial presence there?
Obama has already made several trips abroad to embellish Americas image with allies and foes. He has won respect from world leaders by banishing torture of prisoners and by releasing damaging Bush administration legal memos designed to justify the abuse of captives at prisons under our control.
Obama is using his honeymoon to reach out and start new chapters in relationships with those who were enemies of past U.S. regimes.
He has already started edging toward an eventual diplomatic relationship again with Cuba.
Reversing the tide after 47 years of hostility with the island nation 90 miles from Florida, Obama is now permitting travel between Cuban-Americans and their families and allowing financial support to families in Cuba.
Obama also wants to "reset" relations with Russia and plans to start out with disarmament talks to shrink the nuclear arsenals of both superpowers.
He will travel to Moscow in July to seal a new arms reduction treaty and to confirm a new post-Cold War relationship.
On the incendiary Middle East, Obama faces a major problem if he pushes a two-state solution and demands a halt to the Israeli land grab for more settlements on the West Bank, a step he should take. The new Tel Aviv government is dominated by hardliners opposed to a Palestinian state.
Obama has established himself as the man in command. His eloquence which enchanted the nation during his presidential campaign remains his chief asset and he is out on the road at least once a week to bring his bully pulpit to the public.
His speeches are laced with the big "I" to stress who is in charge. Outwardly he maintains his cool and self restraint. Hes walking softly and trying to carry a big stick.
Now that right there is FUNNY!
Probably the biggest change Obama has brought about is the countryâs new hopeful spirit, an attitude that we can deal with these problems and that government action can help solve societyâs ills. That view is in sharp contrast to the Republican political philosophy that government is the problem. That laissez faire perception led us down the garden path -- to the extent that our present economic crisis was brought about by the loosening of regulations on business and banking.The lies just keep on coming.
The over sight is forgiven. I was over joyed to see the warning before I was ambushed by the Horror.
: )
5.56mm
Nobody I know of has ever accused Helen Thomas of being particularly intelligent or on intimate terms with reality, but her assertion that Zero is ‘compelled’ to ‘deal’ with the ‘Bush legacy’ shows she is becoming delusional/senile.
Helen of Thomas: The face that launched a thousand quips.
Fixed it.
I had a pretty good idea what was in store for me, so I made sure the kids were in bed before I clicked on this thread. Ugh!
Yeah, well, I had a two-year old child that was real proud, every time he "made doody".
All rama-lama-ding-dong obongo obama has done is make doody.
Shitty grammar like that is a sign of senile dementia.
Helen Thomas: Hearst’s worst needs a hearse.
Thanks. I needed that.
if she was any younger i’d say she’s angling for knee pads
“For those on the East Coast, pleasant dreams! For those on the West Coast, enjoy your dinner!”
Now that made me laugh; good 1! LOL
Please. People like that make me sick. Bush said within days of 9/11 that there was an “axis of evil” that included Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
Whew; she’s lucky Bush never did attack the latter 2, for some strange reason. What would she think? She’d been apopletic and be dead by now, that’s what.
Uummm....Enjoy your prime-time shows?
“enjoy your dinner!”
Yikes! I needed to lose a few pounds anyway.
I did not watch any prime-time shows tonight. Obama’s Alynski double talk makes my WI. Blood boil! Therefore,I watched the movie Fargo Dontcha know.
U betcha!
Oh, why not. Would you ping me?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.