Saturday, February 20, 2010
Lets Hope He Still...CAN
When it was first announced that Obama would become the first African American president elect of the United States, I cried. I remember being at work, seeing him win California, and knowing that was it, we had our first black president. Everyone was happy, people crying in the street, white and black college students here in Atlanta crying and hugging it was beautiful. But for me, after he was sworn, the celebrating was over. He was no longer the first african american president, he was simply a president and now was time to govern. I was still excited for him and anxious to see what he'd do, but the party was over. Two wars, an economy in the tank, it was time to get to work. I had high hopes. A 60 seat majority in the house, 70% approval rating, what could go wrong? And after his first year in office, my answer is... EVERYTHING. Instead of going full speed ahead with a plan for jobs, he throws a stimulus bill at the problem that didnt work. Tried to do too many things that didnt work. And focused mainly on healthcare and cap and trade, which is now dead and hes lost seats. The american people are freaking out, his ratings are in the tank, and NOTHING GOT DONE. He didnt even close Guantanomo. Which I dont agree with, but thats beside the point. Could you imagine what Reagan, Clinton, or even Bush could have done with a sixty seat majority? Maybe this first year was Obama's learning curve, I surely hope so, for the sake of his presidency.
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A lot of people say everything in Obama's first year went wrong. I don't understand how they've come to this conclusion.
ReplyDeleteObama and the Democratic Congress have passed many landmark pieces of legislation. In one year, bills have been passed to start government investing in the economy again, funding for green technology, repealing the ban of stem cell research, funding for state budgets, rights against the credit card companies, morgage reform, and much more.
To top all of that, America went from being the 11th most admired country in the world in 2007 to 1st in 2009. The strategy in Afghanistan has changed for the better, Haiti is getting help, and the economy has begun growing again for the past two quarters at +2% and +6%.
People are criticizing Barack Obama because he has struggled to get one piece of legislation passed--the Health Care Bill.
No president has ever been perfect, but Barack Obama has accomplished more in his first year than any president I'm aware of since Franklin Roosevelt.
I look forward to what more he will accomplish this year.